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10 Ways to Save on In-Store Back-to-School Shopping

Written by: Scott Gamm 08/28/12 - 11:34 AM EDT
NEW YORK (TheStreet ) -- As students head back to school, retailers are banking on strong sales at the stores, despite the flimsy economic recovery.

Even though back-to-school spending is expected to reach almost $84 billion this year, compared to $68.8 billion in 2011, about 85% of shoppers say the economy is impacting their spending habits, according to the National Retail Federation.


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When shopping the old-fashioned way -- in an actual store -- scoring the best deals should be the top priority. Here are 10 savings strategies when shopping in-store for back-to-school.

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1. Take advantage of student discounts

Retailers are offering exclusive discounts to students. Apple is giving away a $50-$200 iTunes gift card to those students who purchase a new computer or iPad for back-to-school.

And as TheStreet sister publication MainStreet mentioned in its recent article 30 Student Discount You'll Love, major clothing store like J. Crew, Banana Republic and Ann Taylor offer students 15%-20%-off items in the store.


2. Act quick, or ask for a rain check

If you spot an incredible deal, don't expect it to last.

"The best deals go out of stock in no time. Ask if the store will provide a rain check, which is where the store will honor the discount when the item comes back in stock," says savings expert Jeanette Pavini of Coupons.com.

Ask the salesperson for a rain check, but if you can't get a straight answer, try asking the manager, who will have more authority to give you the discounted price at a later date.

3. Keep those receipts

Holding onto your receipts is always a good idea, especially if the item is damaged or malfunctioning and needs to be returned. But that's not the only reason.