Back-to-School shopping is almost as big as Black Friday—learn how to save this year!

Ohioans may not be planning to spend as much as the national average on back-to-school shopping this year, but that doesn’t mean the supply run will be cheap.

The back-to-school season has become the second biggest shopping season of the year in the U.S., according to a Deloitte Back-to-School survey. American households were expected to spend about $27.6 billion on clothes and supplies for the new school year in 2018.

In the Ohio Credit Union League’s 2019 consumer survey, 36 percent of Ohioans polled reported they’d be spending between $100 and $300 during their back-to-school shopping trips for the 2019-2020 school year. Another 14 percent plan to spend between $300 and $400, while another 14 percent said they’d spend more than $400.

That could mean the average Ohioan’s back-to-school shopping trip isn’t quite as expensive as that of most Americans. According to a survey from the National Retail Federation, the average U.S. household planned to spend $685 on back-to-school clothes and supplies in 2018.

Still, Ohioans seem to be feeling increased pressures to spend before a new school season. In the Ohio Credit Union League survey, 85 percent of respondents agreed that parents are spending more on supplies for the classroom than in the past.

That’s not an unfair assessment. The National Retail Federation has been tracking the cost of back-to-school shopping since 2003. The data shows that ten years ago, Americans were expected to spend about $17.4 billion on back-to-school shopping, that’s $10.2 billion less than they were expected to spend last year.

Fourteen percent of Ohio Credit Union League survey respondents try to curtail back-to-school costs by shopping year-round for deals on clothing and supplies. Most respondents, 71 percent, said they try to find the best deals once they know what their children will need for the new year.

Nationally, 62 percent of parents plan to begin back-to-school shopping before August, according to the Deloitte survey. But the study also shows that planning ahead might not be the best strategy, as parents who begin shopping early tend to spend an average of $100 more than shoppers who get a later start.

 

Tips to Saving on Back-to-School

  • Check your house before you shop. Before spending on new school supplies, search around your home for supplies left over from last year. Also, consider sorting through your children’s closets before purchasing back-to-school outfits. There may be no need to hit the department store if your child can still fit into most of his or her clothes from the previous school year.
  • Focus on big-ticket item savings first. Your child may require big-ticket items, such as electronics, for back to school. While it might be tempting to price-check every pencil case and glue stick on the list, you’ll save more money if you spend your time searching for the best deals on more expensive items.
  • Check out the dollar store. Consider purchasing general items – such as pencils, glue, and markers – at your local dollar store, rather than at a big box store. You’ll save a few extra bucks you could put toward new clothes or bigger ticket items.
  • Follow stores on social media. Many stores will send followers coupon links and advanced notice of sales via social media. MoneyCrashers suggests following these Twitter accounts for back-to-school savings: Amazon (@amazondeals), Coupons.com (@coupons), Staples (@Staples), Office Max (@OfficeMax), Target (@Target).
  • Avoid impulse buys. With your budget in mind, make a list of what you need for the new school year before hitting the shops. Explain to your kids the importance of sticking to the list and try to avoid purchasing items just because they’re considered “trendy,” as they’ll likely also be more expensive.

 

Be sure to visit Midwest Community’s resource library for other money-saving tips.

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Imagine the possibilities. At Midwest Community, we are well-known for advancing our employees and promoting from within at all levels of the organization. Take the first step in starting your career and grow with us!

Float Member Service Representatives – may have days scheduled at any location (Defiance, Bryan, Napoleon). Computer literacy is required and cash handling or banking experience is preferred. Please see the job overview for a list of duties.

Starting pay is $17.44 an hour
$19.62 an hour after 180 days of service
$21.79 an hour after 1 year of service

Resumes may be submitted to Andrew Scharlacken at ascharlacken@midcomm.org.

All are welcome. Midwest Community Federal Credit Union is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We are growing!

Imagine the possibilities. At Midwest Community, we are well-known for advancing our employees and promoting from within at all levels of the organization. Take the first step in starting your career and grow with us!

Float Member Service Representatives may have days scheduled at any location (Defiance, Bryan, Napoleon). Computer literacy is required and cash handling or banking experience is preferred.

Starting pay is $17.44 an hour
$19.62 an hour after 180 days of service
$21.79 an hour after 1 year of service

Please see the job overview for a list of duties. Resumes may be submitted to Andrew Scharlacken at ascharlacken@midcomm.org and are kept on file for one year.

All are welcome. Midwest Community Federal Credit Union is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Investment Representative

The primary purpose of this position is to assist Midwest Community Federal Credit Union by delivering outstanding service to both internal and external members. A key element of excellent service is to identify the financial needs of each member and recommend an appropriate credit union solution. In addition, receives members in person and by telephone. Helps Member Investors reach financial goals utilizing our consultative sales process. In addition, responsible for ensuring that outstanding service is delivered to both internal and external members. A key component of this service is to provide proactive guidance on investment solutions via a needs-based consultative selling approach to both current and prospective Members who have placed an inbound call or referral to the Investment Representative.

For more details, please contact lfrysinger@midcomm.org.

Midwest Community Federal Credit Union is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Member Service Representative

Midwest Community Federal Credit Union is looking for a Member Service Representative to process transactions, accurately perform end of day balancing procedures, follow company policies and utilize the core data processing system and various software applications, including electronic banking services. We are seeking candidates who are punctual, honest, friendly, and have outstanding communication skills. Please see the job description for a full list of duties. Resumes may be submitted to Sondra Manon at smanon@midcomm.org.

Midwest Community Federal Credit Union is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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