More Bang for Your Buck: Back to School

(WSVN) Whether it's a trip to the mall or the tradiitonal hand-me down, every family has their own back to school ritual.

For the Roy family, the bargain hunting begins early.

Mother Gabriela Roy says, "it's less crowded...its hard to pick when everybody is buying at the same time..its qiuet and you get a lot of colors to pick."

Those colorful supplies will be scarce soon.

This year, the average family will spend nearly five hundred thirty dollars heading back to school.

"The hard part of back to school is you get your list of supplies and things they need after school has started."

So why wait for the list?

Much of what you need can be bought in bulk in advance.

A large order of paper, pencils, and pens will not only save you money, it will save you a return trip.

"I always check the bargains."

"We check every sunday for the specials."

Back to school is also a prime time if you want to buy a computer.

Plus, the technology can come in handy.

Websites like Barnes and Noble are selling used textbooks.

So not only are you saving money, you're saving time.

"Every one needs the same thing so they run out."

That's especially true if your school requires uniforms.

So if you want the right size and the right color at the right price, a little comparitive shopping never hurt.

"You can buy your uniforms at target, k-mart, jc penny, they have all kinds of uniforms."

And if you go to the right place, your shoping can do some good too.

Laura McGinnes, Manager, says "We have a "tico" program which is take charge of education and any thing you purchase on your target guest card or target visa card 1% goes back to the school of your choice."

And who said back to school was for the children?