Tips to save some cash on back to school shopping - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

Undated (WXOW) - It's August and that means back to school shopping is in full swing.

The average parent with K through 12 kids is on track to spend more than $688 dollars on back to school clothes and supplies this year.  

Consumer report and Shop Smart magazine recommend a little planning before hitting the mall to get more bang for the buck.

Go through all of your supplies at home so you don't buy extra and buy basic supplies in bulk to use year round.

Retailers will deeply discount certain loss-leaders during the back to school season, things like notebooks, folders, and pens.  

Use the web to hunt for sales instead of going store to store. Spoofee puts deals from weekly circulars in one place. Pricegrabber and Nexttag allow you to compare prices and set up price alerts.

For the biggest share of back to school spending on clothing start small.

You don't have to start your child off with a full wardrobe. Kids love clothes, they like to have clothes going back to school,  but you don't have to go and buy everything all at once.  

After all, before you know it, summer will give way to fall, meaning clothes for colder temperatures, and Columbus day sales.