As local schools prepare to open its classroom doors over the next few weeks, Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington aims to help prepare students and parents on how not to break the bank with back to school shopping.

According to the National Retail Federation, back to school spending is second only to the Christmas holiday shopping season. This year, parents are expected to spend $68 billion.

Better Business Bureau offers the following advice to help families save money and shop wisely:

• Create a budget and shopping list. It’s easy to get caught up with “wants” versus “needs” while walking through shopping mall aisles. Writing a shopping list ahead of time will help limit purchases. Having a budget will also allow consumers to put money towards items of higher priority.
• Shop at home. Look through items from last year and see if there are any left overs that could be reused.
• Research major purchases. Laptops, calculators and dorm furnishings come in an array of prices. Research brands and options to choose one that meets expectations and budgets. Shop from a BBB Accredited Business for peace of mind.
• Check for educational discounts. Many computer and software companies offer discounts to students. Retail stores often have coupons and rebate offers as well.
• Buy in bulk. Get together with other parents and split up buying items that could be used by the entire class. For example, snacks, tissues and hand sanitizers are less expensive when bought in large quantities.

For more information on back to school spending trends, head to the National Retail Federation website. Consumers can also stay up-to-date on the latest news from BBB on its News and Events page.