Cash-saving secrets as shopping season reaches full swing

If there's a season to save, this is it. With the kids needing new clothes and supplies for school, and the holidays approaching, the coming months can be one of the costliest shopping times for families.

With everyone trying to save a little cash these days, there's no reason to pay full price on the items you'll need to buy. By shopping smart and being prepared, you'll be able to save significant money as you fulfill your family's wish list.

"As retailers look to get shoppers spending again after the recession, there are plenty of consumer-friendly deals to be had," says Ralph Bond, a Portland, Ore.-based consumer electronics reporter and radio personality. "Particularly in the area of electronics, there are always ways to shop smart and get more for your money."

Of course, nobody knows more about shopping and saving than parents themselves. A recent survey conducted in July by Haier America, a home appliance and consumer electronic company, asked 1,002 parents with kids in kindergarten through twelfth grade what their top three smartest steps are when the time comes to shop for back to school items. Here is how they responded:

* Compare prices (55 percent of respondents). By looking at newspaper ads and online resources that compare prices for certain products before you head out, you can save both money and time.

* Buy all or most of your purchases at sales (51 percent). Find information about when sales are occurring through your local newspaper, on television or on your favorite stores' websites.

* Shop at discount stores (42 percent). Discount stores can be a great resource, as many have good products that are either being discontinued or are sharply discounted for another reason.

"I also recommend shopping for products with multiple uses," says Bond. "This can especially be useful if you are looking at a few technological electronics upgrades for your home. For example, if you are looking for a new TV, consider one with multiple functions like the Haier Ultra Slim LED HDTV, which also functions as a computer monitor."

If you are in the market for a technology upgrade, you may want to consider how what you are purchasing can enhance your child's educational experience. As the numbers in the survey point out, children are using electronics to learn at home more than ever: 88 percent of parents responding to the survey considered television an educational tool, and 64 percent of parents say kids having their own computer or notebook is a necessity for kids' education. So while you might be buying a new TV for your own enjoyment, you could also consider it an educational aid for your children. For more information on these types of TVs, visit http://www.haieramerica.com/.

With a little savvy shopping and research, you can end up getting what you want out of one of the biggest shopping seasons and hopefully come out of it with some extra money that you can save or put toward next year's purchases.

Courtesy of ARAcontent