It seems like summer just started, but next month many parents will be sending the kids back to school.

Going back to school means it’s time for back-to-school shopping. Depending on what your child needs, back-to-school shopping can be expensive. On average, families of children in elementary school to high school plan to spend around $700, according to the National Retail Federation.

Better Business Bureau offers these tips for back-to-school shopping:

• Take inventory of what you already have. Reuse crayons, markers and pencils if they are still usable. Consider repackaging and cleaning out the old before you buy new supplies.

• Make a list of what you need and stick to it. Impulse buying can make your total cost increase in a hurry.

• Do your research and look for the deals. Determine which stores have the best sales, especially for the big-ticket items like laptops, tablets or dorm refrigerators. Look in sales ads for coupons to save more. Do stores price match?

• Buy for durability. Spending a bit more on high-quality products that will last longer can save money in the long run.

• Use coupons, discount codes and rebates programs when possible.

• Decide how much you should spend on each child and use it as teachable moment about creating a budget. Stick to the budget you set as well.

• Take advantage of the tax-free weekend. You can save some money on everything on your list. This year, it will be held Aug. 6-8. Ohio-back-to-school-tax-exempt items include clothing and shoes (less than $75 per item), school supplies (less than $20 per item) and instructional materials (less than $20 per item).

• Shop securely online. Make sure the URL starts with “https” and includes a lock symbol when shopping online. The s in “https” stands for secure.

• Make sure a sale is actually a sale. According to BBB’s Code of Advertising, the unqualified term “sale” may be used in advertising only if there is a significant reduction from the advertiser’s usual and customary price of the products or services offered and the sale is for a limited period of time. If you suspect that something labeled “sale” isn’t actually a sale, contact your BBB.

• Consider searching garage sales and thrift stores for items, specifically clothing.

• Know what your child can and can’t wear to school. Some clothing items may be off limits.

• Shop in bulk. Your child might run out of paper throughout the year or keep losing pencils. It’s good to have extra.

• Understand return policies and save your receipts. Keep in mind some items may be non-refundable or have restocking fees associated with them.

For more shopping advice, visit BBB.org or call 937-222-8525 or 800-776-5301. The Better Business Bureau can provide a list of BBB Accredited Businesses in specific industries and Business Profiles on ones you’re considering.