‘Smart-shopping’ expert offers tips for parents when college shopping

(CBS, KYMA) - An emotional, and expensive, time for some parents is just about here: the day they move their kid into a college dorm room.

The National Retail Federation estimates students and their parents, on average, will spend more than $1,400 on dorm room essentials this year.

Trae Bodge is a "smart-shopping" expert and the mother of a college student. She recommends doing some planning before purchasing, take stock of what's in the home that can be reused, create a list of wants and needs, and set a budget and stick to it.

She also says not to spend that entire budget all at once because the child will likely end up seeing something that other students have that they want.

"A dorm room comes with a lot of things already, you get a wardrobe or closet, a desk, You get a bed. So what are the things you really need?" Bodge said. "I think it's items to make it feel really personally and homey, but that's all you really need."

When parents do shop, Bodge recommends using cash back and rewards cards, search coupon sites, find stores that price match, and see if your state has a "tax-free holiday" this month.