It's Back to School time! I remember well the excitement of the first day of school. New books, new clothes, new shoes, new backpack and the smell of disinfectant in every classroom. Then came the first day of college. Driving there, getting to my dorm (and all the interesting smells lingering in there, too), setting up my room, making new friends. So exciting and so fun. I truly sometimes wish I could do it all over again. (Except for the bad 80s hair and fashions, no one needs to repeat that experience.)
And in my professional career, I still get excited about back-to-school time, encouraging back-to-school media guides that include my client's best products. But in today's economy, experts say back-to-school spending is being hit hard. According to a recent National Retail Federation (NRF) survey, the rules of back-to-school shopping have officially changed: buy only what you need, check for coupons and sales before hitting the stores, and, if you can find the perfect computer at the right price, grab it! Many states are also offering tax-free holidays this fall, much of which focuses on electronics. With spending in most back-to-school categories is expected to decrease, electronics is one bright spot. With personal laptops and desktop computers increasingly affordable for most families, spending on electronics and computer equipment is expected to increase 11 percent.
The economy has also impacted lifestyle school spending decisions, with 11.4 percent of parents saying their children will cut back on extracurricular activities or sports (according to the same NRF survey). And more and more college students are opting to live at home to save money vs. living in the dorms, which in my mind diminishes a critical part of the college experience.
But young people are less touched by the stresses of our current economy -- they still want and need to look "cool" when school starts. A recent survey by CNW Marketing Research revealed cell phones as the most popular possession among youth, followed by electronic games, footwear, computers and then cars. In fact, 32 percent of all 16- to 29-year-olds surveyed said a cell phone is much more impressive than a car!
Yes, times have changed since I was in school, that's certain. At any point in my academic life, the thought of me having the flashiest, coolest, trendiest products never crossed my mind (because I knew my parents wouldn't purchase them-it was Levi's, not Gloria Vanderbilt jeans for me!). But the good news for me is that what's in my bank account has changed since then too. And while I'm pinching pennies like the rest of America, I can certainly afford more than I could during my college "salad days."
So, Mom, I've moved beyond the Trapper Keeper. Here's my current Back to School Wish List:
Wheego Car - Imagine me whipping around campus in this awesome electric vehicle! No gas to buy, I'd never be late for class again and I could park it almost anywhere on the small streets of my campus. Awesome!
Blackberry Tour 9630 Smartphone - how much easier would college have been with this gadget on my hip? Man . . . Whether at home or studying abroad I could chat with friends, email colleagues, share pictures, and listen to favorite tunes. The BlackBerry Tour features 3G technology, a 3.2-MP camera with geo-tagging functionality, BlackBerry push technology, VZ NavigatorT Global, Visual Voice Mail, V CAST Music w/Rhapsody, Mobile Broadband Connect and support for popular apps like Facebook, MySpace, and Flickr.
The JanSport Reclaimed Backpack: Not only would I look good carrying one of these stylish backpacks around campus, I would satisfy my earth-friendliness too! They take old backpacks and design one-of-a-kind new ones. Too cool!
MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot: If I had this baby in my pocket, no matter where I went or chose to study, I'd be online anywhere with this personal Wi-Fi hotspot. The MiFi connects to a notebook, camera and even an MP3 player. I can also share the connection with friends and roommates since the MiFi 2200 supports up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices. The MiFi creates a personal Wi-Fi cloud capable of sharing the reliability and high-speed Internet connectivity. I didn't even have EMAIL in college . . . not to date myself or anything.
Impromptu Gourmet deliveries: If I had these delicious-looking meals delivered to my rinky-dink apartment kitchen while I was in school . . . yum! Yes, I would have missed out on dining on a regular meals of Raman Noodles or Kraft Mac-n-Cheese, but that's OK. I'll take Osso Buco or Lobster Pot Pies any day.
By Kira Perdue
