subject: Moms Cutting Back on Back-to-School Shopping [print this page] Moms Cutting Back on Back-to-School Shopping
Before the start of school, mothers start to budget their money for their children's back-to-school shopping. The children are all excited because they can have new clothes, shoes, bags, books and other school supplies. However, due to the recent economic downturn, mothers should cut back on their expenses with shopping for their kids this year.
Instead of buying new clothes and shoes, why don't you ask your older children to give their old things to their younger siblings. I know it can be annoying when your younger child rolls her eyes and asks why her things are always hand-me-downs. Or she starts crying and saying you love your other children more than you love her. It's heartbreaking to hear these things coming from your child, but you have to explain to her that you love her as much as her siblings, and you just don't have the funds to get her new clothes. And if it helps, you can give her a treat now and then to show her how special she is to you.
With the economic crisis, it's wise for everyone to spend their money on more important things. In the survey funded by Current Lifestyle Marketing and Weber Shandwick, it seems that mothers are spending wisely because it was found out that moms plan to cut back on their school shopping this fall, especially when it comes to clothing for kids.
This year, spending is expected to decrease 10 percent for kids 7-12 and 12 percent for teenagers 13-17 compared to last year. Moms of 7-12 year olds report average spending of $440 for 2010, compared to $487 in 2009. Moms of teenagers 13-17 will spend $479 compared to $548 last year.
Across age brackets, spending on school supplies, electronics like calculators, and school activities will likely remain flat this year, with the biggest cutback coming in clothing. Among moms of 7-12 year olds, half (50%) say they will spend less than $100 on clothing a 10 percent increase from 2009.
As spending levels decrease, school volunteering is increasing. More than 90 percent of moms with kids aged 7-17 say they will have the same or greater involvement in their child's school this year.
"Our research shows that families are still cautious about buying and are sticking to essentials for their kids," said Maria Bailey, CEO of BSM Media and founding member of the Marketing to Moms Coalition. "But they want to be involved and help as much as they can. As school systems face cutbacks, moms are stepping up by giving their time to help their children's education."
As has been the trend in recent years, moms plan to do most of their shopping in retail stores versus online. Online shopping for back to school has been trending down among moms for the past four years, according to Marketing to Moms Coalition reports.
For more information on the 2010 Back to School Report or the Marketing to Moms Coalition, go to marketingtomomscoalition.org.
