Years ago, if you told me that I’d have to budget for back to school shopping, I’d think you were crazy. I mean, really, how expensive can pencils and paper be?
Oh, right – that was before I considered clothing, shoes, laptops, lunchboxes, fidget-spinners-cubes-whatever and about a hundred other things that all add up. There’s no doubt about it: back to school shopping is expensive.
However, this year, I’m doing things a little bit differently: I’m still crossing everything off my list – while paying less money out of pocket than ever! – with the help of RBC Rewards. Do you collect RBC Rewards points? Now’s a great time to redeem them, especially since there are so many ways they can help offset the cost of back to school shopping.
1. Stay ahead of the rush. The mall is probably my least favourite place to venture just before summer holidays end. In addition to the crowds, I’m also more likely to overspend at the mall when confronted with multiple sales and promotions, beckoning me to make that impulse purchase. This is why I love the RBC Rewards App. With products available from Best Buy, Apple, Herschel and more, I can redeem points for so many of my back to school essentials right from the palm of my hand. As a busy mom I like the convenience of being able to shop and track my points on the go.
2. Comparison shop ‘til you drop. With a wide variety of retailers available on one easy-to-navigate website, I can ensure I’m receiving the best value for my hard-earned rewards. RBC Rewards features more than 400 brands to shop from and gives me the opportunity to opt-in to earn bonus points from retailers like HBC and Apple on purchases I’d already be making for back to school! Because I’ve opted in to receive deals and promos, I always know when it’s the best time to shop.
3. Grab a gift card. Not sure what you want – or, would rather shop in-store the traditional way? You can easily redeem RBC Rewards for gift cards at your favourite stores to help you offset back to school shopping costs. You can currently earn bonus points when you redeem for an HBC or Home Outfitters gift card – now that’s a win-win!
4. Payback with Points. If you’ve already completed your shopping, it’s not too late to put some money back in your wallet. RBC Rewards also offers Payback with Points, where members can use the points they’ve earned on their back to school purchases to pay down their credit card balance. Then, the only thing you’ll need to decide is how to pamper yourself with all the money you’ve saved. Good job, mom!
Is this the year you reinvent the way you complete your back to school shopping? With RBC Rewards, it’s easier than ever to stay on budget while grabbing everything you need!
Click here to visit RBC Rewards.
This post is sponsored by RBC. The opinions on this blog, as always, are my own.