Special thanks to UPromise by Sallie Mae for partnering with Stuff Parents Need to help us all make saving for college easier than ever! If you aren’t signed up for Upromise yet, I strongly encourage that you do so. Those savings add up surprisingly fast!

With a new school year around the corner, approximately 86 million students from pre-kindergarten to college are about to begin the next chapter of their academic careers.  As they gear up, families with children of all ages can earn cash back to save for their kids’ future education by making back-to-school purchases via Upromise by Sallie Mae.

From notebooks, to jeans, to backpacks and colored pencils, Upromise is a free rewards program that harnesses the purchasing power of parents, extended family, and students to earn rewards to pay for college when you shop at hundreds of popular retailers such as Target.com, Staples, Bed, Bath & Beyond and more. Even if you’re ordering a new computer or dorm essentials, you can earn 5% or more back towards Sallie Mae savings accounts, 529 plans, student loan repayment or even returned in CASH.

To date, Upromise members have earned more than $750 million in cash back for college, simply by spending money on the things they need.

Back to school is the second busiest shopping season of the year, with the average American family spending $634 on school supplies, according to the National Retail Federation.

Before hitting the mall or making online purchases, here are tips from Upromise on shopping smart this upcoming school year:

• Plan ahead – before you begin shopping for back to school, gather your school supply lists and take an inventory of items you already have.

• Create a budget – monitor your spending and involve your children so they know the boundaries and benefits of budgeting.

• Research sales and deals – scope out online sales and deals to get the best bang for your buck. Download RewardU, a free toolbar that reminds you of cash back opportunities from Upromise and alerts you to additional coupons and deals.

• Create a family calendar – post a calendar in the kitchen or family room to keep track of extracurricular activities and school project deadlines.

• Reach out to new roommates – as the approximately two thirds of the high school class of 2013 become college freshmen, they can save by coordinating with their new roommates before heading off to campus.  There is no need for two dorm refrigerators, microwaves or televisions in a tight space.

For more information on saving and planning for college, visit Upromise.com and CollegeAnswer.com, or visit us at Facebook.com/Upromise.