Page 16 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, AugusT 22, 2025 BBB Tip: Back to school shopping for tech supplies A s the back-to-school season approaches, parents and students are gearing up for the annual shopping spree. Whether you prefer in-person shopping or browsing online, staying informed and prepared can make this busy time more manageable and cost-eff ective. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has tips to help you navigate back-toschool shopping. What you’ll learn: • Steps to take to prepare for back-to-school shopping • How to maximize savings from sales and tax-free weekends • The types of sales and discounts you might be able to leverage Before determining what students might need for the year, set a budget. Planning ahead as much as possible will help keep expenses to a minimum and help everyone involved stay on task. BBB recommends the following tips when looking for school-related items, either in person or online: In-person shopping • Create a shopping list before heading to the store. This helps you to stay focused and avoid impulse purchases. • Shop early. To avoid crowds and ensure you get the best selection, start your shopping early in the season. • Compare prices between retailers, save coupons, sign up for email alerts and redeem any cash-back or rebate off ers. This will help you get the best deals and stay within budget. • Check store policies. Be aware of return policies, especially for electronics and clothing, in case you need to make exchanges or returns. Research big-ticket items • Read reviews. Look for reviews from credible sources to understand the pros and cons of diff erent models. • Check specifi cations. When buying new equipment, check with your child’s school to learn about any technical requirements and determine if any changes are necessary to the home’s high-speed internet. Before purchasing an expensive laptop, tablet or computer accessory, research the brands, warranty, customer reviews and prices at various stores to ensure the best deal. Also, look up the retailer’s reputation on BBB.org. • Look for student discounts. Many tech companies offer discounts for students. Verify eligibility and take advantage of these savings. Shop smart with sales and tax-free weekends • Plan ahead. Mark your calendar for upcoming sales and tax-free weekends. These are ideal times to buy school supplies, clothing and electronics without paying sales tax. Check out the Federation of Tax Administrators to see what your state off ers. • Make a priority list. Decide which items are most crucial to purchase during these sales to maximize your savings. • Combine discounts. Look for opportunities to combine store sales with manufacturer rebates or coupons. Asking for discounts • Don’t hesitate to ask. When shopping in person, inquire if there are any available discounts, especially for bulk purchases or fl oor models. • Leverage loyalty programs. Sign up for store loyalty programs, which can off er exclusive discounts and points on purchases. • Use student IDs. Some store discounts are available to students with either an “.edu” email address or a student ID. If you’re a student or you have a student in your family, ask if there are any student discounts available. • Visit school supply drives. Many communities and organizations host school supply drives where you can either donate or receive supplies. Check with local schools, community centers or nonprofi ts. Consider buying in bulk • Team up with other parents. Consider pooling resources with other parents to buy supplies (like paper towels, tissues, wipes, hand sanitizer) in bulk, which can be more cost-eff ective. • Warehouse stores. Check out warehouse clubs for bulk deals on school supplies and snacks. Shop wisely and safely online • When shopping online, be wary of ads that feature items that imply that you might want or need them based on your search history. Scammers could be trying to drive you to a diff erent website. Take note of the ad and go to the store’s website by directly typing into the search bar. Note the website’s privacy policy and contact information and always use a credit card when purchasing. • Shop on reputable websites. Ensure you are purchasing from well-known and trusted websites. Look for HTTPS in the URL. • Use secure payment methods. Opt for secure payment methods like credit cards or payment services that offer buyer protection. By following these tips, you can make your back-to-school shopping experience smoother, safer and more economical. Whether you’re shopping for essentials or splurging on big-ticket items, a little planning and research can go a long way in ensuring you get the best value for your money. For more information, read more tips at https://www.bbb.org/ all/back-to-school. Come sing with Polymnia Choral Society! It’s easy to join! D o you enjoy singing and meeting interesting people? Polymnia Choral Society is looking for singers of all skill levels. For more than 70 years, Polymnia has been entertaining audiences with performances that include pieces from a wide variety of musical styles: classical, pop, musical theater and more. Come join a community of more than 60 members who love to sing and have fun! We welcome participants from all over MassachuFBI WARNS | FROM PAGE 9 nancial accounts. Contact your local law enforcement agency, fi le a police report, and fi le a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov. Be sure to keep any financial transaction insetts. Currently, we have members from Melrose, Malden, Wakefi eld, Stoneham, Saugus, Acton and Hamilton. Our concert season runs from September until June. Polymnia rehearses every Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m., starting this year on September 2, at Melrose Highlands Congregational Church (355 Franklin St.). Come to any rehearsal and introduce yourself to Music Librarian Pam Ross, President Steve Francis or Vice Presformation, including prepaid cards and banking records, along with all telephone, text, or email communications. All types of fraud schemes and scams (even if there is no financial loss) should be reported to IC3. Filing a complaint allows analysts from the ident David Hammond. The 2025-2026 season is not to be missed! On December 6, Polymnia performs “Patterns in the Snow,” a wintry-themed concert featuring holiday favorites with enduring and uplifting music that warms the spirit. On March 7, 2026, Polymnia presents “An American Quilt,” highlighting the rich artistic and cultural heritage of our country in celebration of its 250th birthday. On June 6, 2026, “Polymnia FBI to identify leads and patterns from the hundreds of complaints that are received daily. The IC3 then refers the complaints, along with their analyses, to the relevant law enforcement agency to aid in public awareness and crime prevention education eff orts. Goes to Broadway” and will perform hit songs from popular past and present Broadway musicals. Come join the fun in singing in one or all three of these concerts! All singers are welcome. For more information about joining Polymnia, visit https:// polymnia.org/how-to-join/ or call Polymnia Board of Directors President Steve Francis at 617-633-5006. Accessibility Information: An ADA-compliant ramp is locatYOUR LOCAL NEWS & SPORTS IN SIX LANGUAGES. SUBSCRIBE TO THE ADVOCATE ONLINE BY SCANNING HERE! ed on the West Highland Avenue entrance of Melrose Highlands Congregational Church, between Ashland Street and Chipman Avenue. Any accessibility questions, requests or concerns can be emailed to accessibility@polymnia.org. Mark your calendars! Polymnia will be performing “Patterns in the Snow” at 7:30 p.m. on December 6, 2025, at St. Mary of the Annunciation Church (4 Herbert St. in Melrose).
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