If you’re in college, chances are you’re back in the dorms this week. And if you’ve got your eye on the new fall fashions and cool electronics, we’ve got news for you: Being cheap is in.

As the Oregonian reports:

Frugality is the new cool in this back-to-school shopping season, expected to be one of the slowest in a decade. With the recession pinching pennies, parents are bingeing with coupons, buy-one-get-one-free deals and last-minute Internet sales. Retailers are advertising layaway plans and slashing prices, hoping to boost dismal earnings reports.

And while Oregon shopping centers see an uptick in sales from Washington visitors trying to save a few bucks on sales tax, the biggest sign of the recession’s impact might be gleaned from the latest back-to-school fashion trend: No splashy logos, no brand names on anything, from necklaces to notebooks.

Back-to-school shopping is typically a big time for retailers. The National Retail Federation says the average family is expected to spend $618 this year on college students, up 3 percent from 2008. But part of the reason behind the increase is that expensive items — like notebook computers — have come way down in price.

If you’re in the market for some back-to-school gear, keep in mind these few key pointers for students:

• Don’t put anything on credit that you can’t afford to pay off at the end of the month. 
• If your parents have cosigned on a credit card for you, talk to them before you do something that will get you yelled at. 
• And definitely don’t spend excess student loan money on clothes — it’s still the beginning of the school year, so keep some on hand in case you need it down the road (because you probably will).

Be Sociable, Share!

•