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Money Saver: Cutting Back To School Shopping Costs

NEW YORK (CBS) ― It's only July, and we're already getting bombarded with 'back to school' ads. With the tough economy, a lot of parents plan to cutback when their kids head back to class. But you can shop early and save big.

The ads are all over the place, an early reminder that parents will soon be shelling out big bucks for back to school shopping. Some are starting earlier than usual, taking advantage of big summer sales.  
      
"[I'm] penny pinching, looking for anything that's reasonable not too outrageous, just because of the economy," said mom Melissa Simo.

"We're cutting back on everything," another mom told CBS 2 HD. "We came up here because they have good prices, 70 percent off on everything so we can't go wrong."

A back to school shopping survey found more than half of parents said current economic conditions will impact what they buy for their kids this year.

Fifty-five percent are cutting back on clothes, 25 percent on electronics and 41 percent plan to shop at discount retailers. Victoria Pericon, known as the Savvy Mommy, says hit the sales, but don't overstock on summer clothes they'll only be able to wear for the first few weeks of the school year.  

"It's good to find a couple of outfits that are summer outfits. They're on discount, they're on sale and then you're able to buy things as the school year goes through," she said.

Pericon added you can find less expensive school supplies at places that might surprise you.

"Like your pharmacy, at your supermarket, because a lot of these places want to have your business, so they're bringing in the things like your crayons and your notebooks and the rulers that the kids need for your school supply list," Pericon said.

Before you hit the stores get your coupons together, you can find them on line. All you have to do is type in "coupon code" and whatever store you like.

You can end up saving 50 percent off your bill.

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