As St. Lawrence County children head back to class on Thursday, parents are being warned to ask about return policies and research big purchases when buying school supplies.

The Better Business Bureau is offering the following tips for back to school shopping:

• Make a list. Even if you don’t have a school supply list yet, you can still purchase other items like clothing and other school essentials like pens, notebooks and binders. Make a list for each child, but start by “shopping at home” for items that you may already have left over from last year. For some items, it’s worth spending a bit more (a high quality backpack will last for years).

• Set a budget. Decide how much you are willing to spend. After taking inventory, create a shopping list and stick to it. Be sure to clip coupons and make a note of discount codes or rebate programs.

• Is it really a sale? BBB promotes honest advertising by working with businesses to help ensure ethical and truthful marketplace. According to BBB’s Code of Advertising, The unqualified term “sale” may be used in advertising only if there is a significant reduction from the advertiser's usual and customary price of the products or services offered and the sale is for a limited period of time. If you suspect a sale is not really a sale, contact BBB by sending an email to geninquiries@upstatenybbb.org or call us at 800-828-5000.

• Ask about returns and refunds. Shopping for new clothes, accessories and gadgets is one of the highlights of going back to school. When you buy your new gear, ask about the in-store and online return policy and always keep your receipts.

Find out the details about your new data plan. When it comes to cell phones and other devices, you don't want to sign up for something that you didn't want. Always check the fine print. Ask about the time commitment, billing details, replacement costs and how you can get out of the contract if you need to. It's time consuming but reading your contract carefully can really help you in the long run.

Read the fine print when getting a credit card. Credit cards can be very useful and people get offers for new cards all the time. Don't get yourself in a financial jam by signing up right away for a new card. Find out what the new card gives you and definitely make sure you know what the interest rates is, how long any introductory interest rates apply for and when interest begins.

• Do your research before buying a new computer. Before you get that new computer, decide what your needs will be and what the computer is to be used for, such as word processing, graphic/web design or gaming. This will determine the type of hardware and software that will be required and how much you will pay in the end. Shop around for a good price and find out what you have to do (and pay!) if your computer breaks down. Consider leasing to reduce the costs of upgrading your system but make sure you know the details of your contract.

According to the National Retail Federation, families are scaling back their back to school spending.

The average family with children in grades K-12 will spend $630.36 on apparel, shoes, supplies and electronics, down from $669.28 last year.

Total spending is expected to top out at $68 billion, the majority of which will be spent on apparel and electronics.

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Reporters: For more information or to schedule an interview with a BBB spokesperson, contact Peggy Penders at 800-303-4490.