Thursday, August 14th! Back To School! So what’s the average student cost getting ready for another school year? Plus ways to save, and the funniest excuses for being absent! “BUZZ” Shia LeBeouf back on “Transformers” set, and Madonna denies adoption rumors!

The National Retail Federation had BIGreserach conduct a survey to find out what the average consumer is spending on back to school:

” $234.51 for clothing
” $151.61 for electronics
” $109.75 for shoes
” $ 98.37 for school supplies

Here’s what the average consumer is spending on back to college:

” $555.69 spent on electronics
” $266.83 for dorm or apartment furnishing like bedspreads, posters, answering machine, or microwave and fridge
” $202.61 spent on clothing
” $97.35 spent on shoes
” $84.13 spent on school supplies
” $82.53 for Collegiate branded gear and supplies

Where do they shop?

” 73% shop in discount store
” 56.6% shop in department store
” 47.8% shop in clothing store
” 41.8% shop in office supply store
” 24.8% shop online
” 21.4% shop in electronics store
” 18.2% shop in drug store
” 46.4% shop 3 weeks to one month before school starts
” 30.5% shop 1 to 2 weeks before school starts
” 3.8% shop the week school starts

The Coupon Mom has some great advice for families can save as they start to shop for all those Back to School items. Stephanie Nelson has tips on how to save on clothes, shoes, school supplies and backpacks.

Families recently surveyed said they plan to spend much less this year on back to school. This is putting more pressure on retailers to discount clothing due to slow sales. So if people know where to find coupons to combine with those sales they may still be able to meet their budget!

The key to saving is planning: Before you even leave your house to start buying new school clothes, backpacks and supplies, sit down and plan what you need to buy with your student. Take time to discuss what your student wants, inventory what you already have, and make a specific list of what they need to buy to save money, time and stress. Consider these simple guidelines:

1. Inventory your students’ clothes to prevent overbuying: Go through drawers and closets to inventory your child’s current wardrobe. Sort out the items that are too small or never get worn at all and donate them to a local charity to help their clients. Older children’s acceptable outgrown clothes can go to a younger sibling, if possible. After determining the number of acceptable outfits you already have on hand, you can make a realistic list of specific items you need to buy.

I did this with both of my sons and learned they had more clothes than they realized, and they had plenty of outfits for this time of year. My younger son was thrilled to get three new shirts that his brother had outgrown. They each bought a couple of sale-priced summer items and decided to spend their new clothes money later in the season when the weather gets cooler.

2. Buying shoes with free coupons: The back to school season is the busiest time of year for shoe sales. As a result, stores have many special promotions to get our attention. Because common promotions are “buy one pair, get the second pair 50% off” it makes sense to take all of your children shoe shopping together. If you can find a coupon to use along with special promotions, you will really save.

3. Watch for special promotions in the newspaper ad circulars.

4. Check out shoe store websites where you can print a free coupon for stores immediately after signing up for the email newsletter such as www.rackroomshoes.com, www.payless.com, www.shoecarnival.com.

5. If you know the size and style of shoe you need, check online shoe retailers for bargain prices, such as zappos.com. With free shipping included and a 365-day return policy, you may save time and money.

6. School Supplies stock up at 90% off: Take advantage of price matching for school supplies. Basic school supplies are at their lowest price at this time of year (50-90% off) some items are as low as 5 cents each. Check the advertising circulars for grocery stores, drugstores, office supply stores and even dollar stores. Find the lowest advertised price for every item that you need, circle the item and price in each circular, and take all of the circulars to the closest store that “price matches,” meaning they will honor any other store’s lower price. Call stores ahead of time to ask if they price match. For example, if you have a Walmart store in your area, they have a national price matching policy. However, many stores will match competitors’ prices if you ask. You will save time, money and gas!

7. Backpacks: For younger children, the $5 backpacks on sale at discount and drugstores may be all they need. As students get older, it may be worth investing in a higher quality backpack to last several years. You can expect a good backpack to last a few years and provide the necessary support and padding for heavier books.

8. Buy School Clothes later in the year and find free coupons: Wait until a few weeks into the school year to stock up on new clothes, to take advantage of later-in-the-season sales and to give your child time to see what new styles they like. Do not overbuy, which is easy to do before you see what your children like. Once the school year is going for a few weeks you can sit down with your child and plan what they need and prefer.

9. Look for advertising circulars in the newspaper for your stores. Many will have generous coupons in addition to sale prices.

10. Check your store websites for coupons and promotions. Sign up for their email newsletter or credit card to get special coupons and discounts (as long as you pay off the credit card balance every month paying high interest charges to get coupons does not make sense).

11. Check coupon code websites for printed coupons or online codes at your favorite retailers.

12. Check sites and print free coupons from outlet mall websites www.premiumoutlets.com.

13. Subscribe to the email newsletter of your local mall. You will be sent information and free coupons for special promotions.

Rinkworks.com has complied a list of written school excuse notes parents have written for their kids at one time or another.

” “My son is under a doctor’s care and should not take P.E. today. Please execute him.”

” “Please excuse Lisa for being absent. She was sick, and I had her shot.”

” “Please excuse Gloria from Jim today. She is administrating.”

” “Dear School: Please ekscuse John being absent on Jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, and also 32.”

” “Please excuse Roland from P.E. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip.”

” “John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.”

” “Carlos was absent because when in playing football. He was hurt in the growing part.”

” “Megan could not come to school today because she’s bothered by very close veins.”

” “Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side.”

” “Please excuse Ray Friday from school. He has very loose vowels.”

” “Please excuse Tommy for being absent. He had diarrhea, and his boots leak.”

” “Irving was absent yesterday because he missed his bust.”

” “Please excuse Jimmy for being. It was his father’s fault.”

” “Please excuse Jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the Sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it Monday, we thought it was Sunday.”

” “Sally won’t be in school a week from Friday. We have to attend her funeral.”

” “My daughter was absent because she was tired after a weekend with the Marines.”

” “Please excuse Jason for being absent. He had a cold and could not breed well.”

” “Please excuse Mary for being absent yesterday. She was in bed with gramps.”

” “Gloria was absent yesterday as she was having a gangover.”

” “Please excuse Burma, she has been sick and under the doctor.”

” “Maryann was absent December 11-16, because she had a fever, sore throat, headache, and upset stomach. Her sister was also sick, fever, and sore throat, her brother had a low grade fever and ached all over. I wasn’t the best either, sore throat and fever. There must be something going around, her father even got hot last night.”