Summer break is coming to an end, and parents, grandparents, guardians and children are all preparing for the kiddos’ return to school. Although a new school year stirs excitement, back-to-school spending can really add up, causing stressful financial situations. Is there a way to purchase all of your back-to-school items without breaking the bank? Stress less for school success by considering the following tips and tricks for your next school shopping trip.
- Establish your monthly budget.
Consider your monthly income, as well as all of your monthly expenses, including housing, transportation, food, healthcare, and “other” items, such as clothing, personal care, recreation, life insurance, retirement savings, education, etc. Determine how much money you are willing to spend on school supplies for each child.
What items are needed? Consider clothes, shoes, school supplies, backpacks, lunch boxes, school meals, technology, and extracurricular activities.
- Take advantage of coupons, deals, and Back-to-School sales.
Ohio Sale’s Tax Holiday is currently running from August 1st through August 14th, 2025. Goods of any kind priced at $500 or less are exempt from tax during the holiday period.
- Check out stores carrying gently used items and thrifting for supplies such as:
- Textbooks
- Uniforms
- Sports equipment
- Technology
- Create a back-to-school nest egg that you can contribute funds to each month to sustain your back-to-school trips annually.
Even contributing $50.00/month will accumulate to $600.00 of back-to-school funds in one year!
- Practice financial literacy with your children heading back to school.
Create their back-to-school list as a team, involving your child in the conversation and decision-making process about needs versus wants, allowing them to write the list, reviewing the list together, etc. Have a conversation with your children about money as you shop, highlighting topics such as over-spending, bargain-hunting, price comparison, prioritizing spending, etc. Recap the shopping experience with your child at the end of the trip.
Equip both you and your child for success this school year by practicing financial literacy strategies during your back-to-school shopping adventure. Super savings, super smiles!
Written by: Caitlin Smith, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Guernsey County
Reviewed by: Kate Shumaker, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Holmes County