Parents tackle back-to-school shopping early to save money

In our Oklahoma's Own Focus on Kids, some parents already have their school supplies ready to go. They're back-to-school shopping early due to concerns about tariffs and inflation, although inflation is down from this time last year.

Summer is in full swing, but Andrea Cuneo has already tackled back-to-school shopping for her two kids.

"Except for shoes," she said. "I'll let the kids pick out their shoes, and then we're good to go."

Sixty-two percent of shoppers say they'll begin back-to-school shopping before August, up over 8 percentage points from last year, according to a report by Coresight Research.

Coresight's John Mercer says shoppers are seeking deals and value for money while anticipating tariff-driven price increases down the line.

"Tariffs have gone up, even if deals are struck," he said. "The baseline of tariffs has gone up. More tariffs are due to come in on August 1, and the flow-through to prices is really only going to be upward from tariffs."

Angela Ryan is focusing on comparison shopping.

"I wanted to make sure I was getting the lowest price," Ryan said. "With two kids, when you have to buy four sets of markers or four sets of crayons, and my fifth-grader needs a special case for all of her stuff at school, I want to make sure I'm paying the lowest price."

One strategy? Shop secondhand for durable items or use what you already have.

"We try to reuse backpacks. I don't need a new one every year unless it's worn out," Cuneo said.

Still, Mercer expects back-to-school spending to be up 3.3% compared to last year.

"We think higher-income consumers will drive retail growth. We think low-income consumers will be much more cautious," he said.

Bargain hunters can also use store apps, loyalty programs, and cashback offers to stack deals.

Early back-to-school shoppers took advantage of the extended Amazon Prime Day event and competing retail sales.

The National Retail Federation predicts Americans will spend more than $128 billion this year on back-to-school shopping.

The sales tax holiday weekend in Oklahoma is also next weekend, Friday through Sunday. All clothes and shoes under $100 are included, both online and in stores. However, athletic gear and accessories are not included.