The first day of school is quickly approaching and while classes are expected to look different in order to comply with COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, back-to-school shopping may still be a major expense for families this year. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) issued new tips, which are available in multiple languages, to help you save money and teach your children about making smart financial decisions.
“Back-to-school shopping can add a lot of financial stress for families, especially as we recover from the pandemic,” said DCWP Commissioner Lorelei Salas. “Just like the upcoming school year, back-to-school shopping will likely also look different this year whether your child attends in person or at home. Families may find themselves spending more money on safety and hygiene products, electronics, and home desk setups for remote learning rather than clothes and backpacks. Saving money is especially crucial right now and, with our quick tips, parents can avoid overspending and make smarter financial decisions.”
- Make a list and create a budget. Help kids make smart decisions when choosing which supplies to buy. Get the teacher’s supply list and then educate children about how to create a budget based on how much they have to spend and what they need to get. Whether you shop online or in-store, stick to the list and the budget.
Remember: In-store retail must limit the amount of people who can be indoors to ensure physical distancing. Wear a face covering, stay 6 feet from others, and follow other store protocols.
- Compare prices. Use websites, smartphone apps, and social media to research products, compare prices, and find sales and discounts. Avoid entering your personal information to get a coupon—some scammers use the promise of discounts to steal your information.
- Look for prices. Stores must post prices either on the item or on a sign where the item is displayed. It is illegal to charge more than that posted price.
Do you need items for a home school setup? Be sure to read our shopping tips for electronics and furniture at nyc.gov/dcwp.
- Beware of price gouging. It is illegal for businesses to charge excessive prices for goods or services essential to health, safety, or welfare during a declared state of emergency in New York City. Goods or services include disinfectants, soap, cleaning products, diagnostic products and services, and medicines.
You can file an overcharge complaint with DCWP. Visit nyc.gov/dcwp or call 311 and say “overcharge.” Be sure to include your receipt with your complaint.
- Ask for a receipt and save it. In New York City, you are entitled to a receipt automatically for purchases of more than $20 and upon request for purchases between $5 and $20. Protect your personal information—by law, a customer’s receipt must not show the credit card’s expiration date or more than its last five digits.
- Check store refund policies. Stores must post a sign detailing their policy. If they don’t, you are entitled to a refund within 30 days of your purchase.
- Protect yourself when shopping online. If you are planning to do your back-to-school shopping online, make sure to shop on secure websites only. Use familiar websites or research and read reviews of new websites and check that links start with https (not just http; the “s” stands for secure) or have a padlock icon. Avoid typing your personal information when using unsecured Wi-Fi. Also, don’t click on links in unsolicited emails or on social media sites—type the address directly into your browser. Visit OnGuardOnline.gov for more information on how to be safe, secure, and responsible online.
- Beware of scams involving remote learning. Be on alert if someone contacts you claiming to be from the NYC Department of Education (DOE) to request money in exchange for a product or service for a student. This is a scam. Also, do not click on any links in emails that do not come from official DOE email addresses. Any product or service offered by DOE during COVID-19, such as a laptop or a remote learning account, is provided at no cost. Learn more about remote learning at schools.nyc.gov/learn-at-home.
- Teach your children about credit and how it works. Explain that credit cards are not “free money,” and that what you pay for with the card must be paid back with interest. Teach them about paying minimum balances versus the full balance and about the consequences of using a credit card irresponsibly.
- Get free financial counseling by phone. Visit nyc.gov/TalkMoney to schedule an appointment with a professional financial counselor from the City’s Financial Empowerment Centers. Work with your counselor to manage sudden changes to your budget or income and set up a spending plan; open a bank account to set up direct deposit; contact creditors; and more. Financial counseling is free and confidential, regardless of income or immigration status, and offered in multiple languages.
Know your rights and responsibilities when it comes to student loans. Whether you are considering student loans for yourself or your child or already have student loan debt, be sure to read DCWP’s tips and resources at nyc.gov/StudentLoans.
For more consumer tips, including tips for young adults to help inform them of their rights and responsibilities when using a credit card, taking out a car loan, and learning about credit repair scams, visit nyc.gov/dcwp and join the conversation on Twitter by following @NYCDCA and using the hashtag #BacktoSchoolNYC.
The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) protects and enhances the daily economic lives of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. DCWP licenses more than 75,000 businesses in more than 50 industries and enforces key consumer protection, licensing, and workplace laws that apply to countless more. By supporting businesses through equitable enforcement and access to resources and, by helping to resolve complaints, DCWP protects the marketplace from predatory practices and strives to create a culture of compliance.
Through its community outreach and the work of its offices of Financial Empowerment and Labor Policy & Standards, DCWP empowers consumers and working families by providing the tools and resources they need to be educated consumers and to achieve financial health and work-life balance. DCWP also conducts research and advocates for public policy that furthers its work to support New York City’s communities. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp
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