August Frugal Forecast: Savvy Back-To-School Shopping and Travel Tips

July 31, 2012 in Holiday & Seasonal, Savvy Shopping, Vacation & Travel Comments
By: Christian Gordun

Watching all the fans from far and wide celebrating at the 2012 London Olympics has left you craving a family trip of your own, so pack up the crew and take a quick vacation before back-to-school mayhem begins. We’ve got a slew of travel deals to share, plus tips on school shopping and snagging new clothes for less that’ll make August your biggest savings month yet. And, as always with our Frugal Forecasts, don’t miss our 5 new and expiring high value coupons of the month!

August Frugal Forecast Image

1. Get Out of Town

It seems that everyone plans a mass exodus out of town in August, so why not join ‘em? Whether it’s a trip to the shore, a weekend camp out in the mountains, or a foray over the border into Canada, you can enjoy a little rest and relaxation away from home while sticking to a budget.

Transportation

August is notorious for being the cheapest time to book a flight—especially if you fly on a weekday and are flexible with your travel dates. You’ll save an additional $10 off if you book through CheapOAir and $18 off your $50 airfare purchase through OneTravel. Pining to explore the open road instead? Save 5% off your bill on any vehicle at Thrifty – now’s the time to test drive that dream car you’ve been lusting after.

Accommodation

No matter where you go, a good night’s rest is crucial. Are you taking the kids to a weekend at an amusement park or playing tourist in a new city? Save 6% off all hotel reservations at Hotelopia or snag a $20-$200 rebate on your 3+ night hotel stay through Hotels.com. Pre-plan your trip with this handy Travel Budget Calculator to ensure that you’re staying on budget every step of the way.

2. Back-to-School

The cost for new school supplies and clothes really does add up, especially if you’ve got more than one kiddo, because they’ve just got to have the latest in clothing trends and school gear. Have no fear, we’ve brought you some dandy tips and deals that’ll keep everyone happy.

School Supplies

Take inventory of what you’ve already got at home before you hit up the supermarket for basic supplies, but for big purchases, like a laptop, visit Office Depot where you can save up to $150 on select computers. Replace that tired and worn knapsack from last year with a new one from Kohl’s, which is offering 10% off any purchase. Fill it before the school year begins with spiral notebooks and a calculator from Kmart.com, which will save you $5 when you make a $45 purchase.

Cool Clothes

New clothes don’t have to be brand new, as long as their “new” to your kids. Organize a clothing swap with other moms and refashion old items into cool new duds. If you’re gonna buy new duds, keep in mind that quality trumps quantity for longer-lasting wear. If you shop on Tuesdays with your Old Navy, Banana Republic, or Gap credit card you’ll save 10% off your purchase. Snag super cute shoes at 10% off from Shoes.com, and for everything else hit up the autumn clothing sale at Boden where you’ll get an additional 10% off, plus free shipping!

We wish everyone happy travels and savvy shopping this August!