According to the annual survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics, consumers are getting an early start on back-to-school shopping, with 62% of shoppers having already started shopping for the school year by early July. In looking at this year's survey results, Kansas State University professor and Extension family resource management specialist, Elizabeth Kiss (kish), says many consumers are delaying purchases until later in the school season or spreading out their shopping to better manage their budgets.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.