Smart Shopper Back-to-School

Smart Shopper Back-to-School (Added: July 28, 2009)

Saving money on school shopping is a bi priority for most people this year. Here's one way to both buy and sell. (more)

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By: Michelle Carolla | SCNow
Published: July 28, 2009

It's that time of year where stores start to stock their shelves with back-to-school items.
In this economy, however, back-to-school shopping might get crossed off the list this year.
With one in nine people out of work in Horry County and unemployment numbers even higher in the Pee Dee, shopping for school isn't as easy as it once was.
We introduced a Horry County family, who is not out of work, but still likes to shop for a bargain. Kidzola.com is a consignment website featuring baby and kids items. The goal: to help them not only search for bargains, but possibly make money too.
Nikki Tarlton said buying for her two boys, one 12 and one 16, is just simply expensive.
"I can easily spend between clothes, both boys, school supplies, easily 200-300 dollars a child," said Tarlton.
Both boys play sports and of course are the age where what they wear matters. But they agreed this would be fine to try. "When we were growing up, we had a lot of hand-me-downs and we had bigger families, there were a lot of hand-me-downs in the family and it's almost like that," said Tarlton. "I think a lot of families are smaller now, a couple of children, so it's almost like getting hand-me-downs from your older brothers and sisters."
Kidzola.com is pretty simple to use. You create an account, choose a category and start shopping right away.
If you plan to sell, you need a good photo and a description. The site walks you though the rest. Then just check your email for notifications.
The site is free to use. You can upgrade your listings for a small fee, if you choose. You can either ship items or deliver them in person.
Jett Paradis, Nikki's 12-year old son, caught on very quickly to the possibility of making money. "I'll sell my baseball bats, my baseball glove, the keyboard on top of my TV stand that we don't ever use." He's a savvy money guy, even at 12. "I'll put 1/2 of it in the bank and keep 1/2 of it at home."
His profits will probably go towards outfitting him for school in a few weeks. Jett didn’t sell anything as of the time this story aired, but the listing is for 30 days, so there's still time.
The recession pushed consignment shops into the spotlight across the country. You can buy things for a fraction of the price. With a quick online search, you can find high-end designer clothes, accessories, formal wear and a lot of children's sites.
Just make sure the site is legitimate before giving out your personal information to buy or sell.