Make a Back to School Budget with Purchasing Power
August is finally here! Which means, kids (and maybe you) are heading back to school, and that means school supplies. This could be pens and paper, it could be textbooks, or it could be a laptop or software like Microsoft Word. These can be quite expensive, and their prices add up really quick, but luckily SDPEBA members can use Purchasing Power to help manage their budget.
Purchasing Power is a program we’ve partnered with that allows you to take payroll deductions in order to afford more expensive appliances, technology, and furniture. Through Purchasing Power, you can utilize your paycheck to budget appropriately and make purchases without having to dip into your savings.
August/September is an expensive time in most households as heading back to school might mean you have to spend a decent amount of money on books, technology, and other learning essentials. Purchasing power also offers 20% off your first order.
This offer can be applied to most of the catalog, but doesn’t apply to vacations or gaming consoles. I suppose neither of those are really an ideal way to make sure someone is focusing on their school work.
What is Purchasing Power?
Purchasing Power is an online catalogue similar to Amazon that helps ease the financial burden of large purchases and gets the products in your hands sooner rather than later. Unlike other credit or law-away services, items bought through Purchasing Power do not accrue interest, there are no changes to your rates once you make the purchase, and you are shipped the item as soon as you start making payments.
Note that while Purchasing Power is a great way to budget appropriately when you’re short on cash, it is not a discount service. Items listed on Purchasing Power will end up costing more than if you buy them outright. That being said, Purchasing Power is a great tool to use in order to afford something you need, like a large appliance or a laptop, without having to worry about debt or dipping into your savings.
Enrollment is year-round and you can sign up on their site! Just head to http://www.sdpeba.purchasingpower.com and click the “sign up” button. Fill in your information (for Employer/Organization put in SDPEBA) and then start shopping, it's that easy!