AICCCA Advises Parents To Pace Themselves For Back To School Expenses


Fairfax, VA — August 6, 2004 — From athletic shoes to yearbooks, back to school expenses can quickly add up. However, parents do not have to buy a year's worth of school supplies in one week. With the correct strategies in place, parents can plan to equip their students with necessary school materials without placing themselves in debt.

"Back to school shoppers must remember to start with the basic supplies and treat them as a major annual expense," says Dave Jones, president of the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA). "To avoid money troubles, families must remember to plan ahead and pace themselves when equipping their students for the new school year."

AICCCA offers these back to school tips to help parents of students succeed in buying back to school items while preventing additional credit card debt:

Set a budget — While it may be impossible to assess every expense that your child may experience throughout the school year, it is possible to list all conceivable expenses. Begin budgeting early and include costs such as school supplies, lunch money, clothing, and even locks for lockers. Save up for these expenses as much as possible and remember to stick to the budgeted amount.

Search for previous school supplies — Parents may find that they have accumulated an abundance of map colors, folders, scissors, and rulers from previous school years. By continuing to use school supplies that are still in good condition from year to year, parents can save themselves from buying these same items. Conduct an inventory of your home and recover old school supplies that can be crossed off this year's supply list.

Allow older students to manage their expenses — An excellent exercise in fiscal responsibility can be arranged when parents allow the student to buy their own supplies with an allocated amount of money. This will not only teach the student to prioritize their supply lists, it will also teach them the costs of misplaced and broken supplies.

Pay with cash when possible. Stay away from credit or you may find that your cost-saving methods are being offset by interest payments. However, if you must use credit, charge on an account with the lowest interest rate and plan on paying off all these charges within 3 months. Otherwise, you may find that you are still paying for this year's school expenses throughout the next school year as well.

Do not forget to encourage your children to be responsible with their school supplies. The longer the supply lasts, the less you will have to spend next year. By following these back to school tips, you and your student will be well equipped to handle every back to school experience.

Founded in 1993, Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA) is a national membership organization, established to promote quality and consistent delivery of credit counseling services. AICCCA and its members are focused on improved creditor relations, efficient processes and advanced technology to best serve clients and creditors. AICCCA members are independent nonprofit agencies that advocate for debtors, counsel millions of consumers annually nationwide and provide debt management services to consumers with excessive unsecured debt. For more information or to contact an AICCCA member office call (800) 450-1794 or visit www.aiccca.org.