Back-To-School Shopping & Budgeting

Turn back-to-school shopping into a lesson on budgeting, saving, and distinguishing between needs and wants.

A new school year is right around the corner, which means it’s time to gear up with school supplies, clothes, and other essentials. But back-to-school shopping isn’t just another item on your to-do list – it’s a great opportunity to teach kids about budgeting, making smart financial choices, and understanding the difference between needs and wants.

While this activity is best suited for children who can count and do simple math, even younger ones can join in with a little help and encouragement from parents/guardians.

Why Back-To-School Budgeting Matters

From notebooks and backpacks to laptops and lunchboxes, school expenses can quickly add up. Having a clear plan not only helps families stay on track financially, but it also gives kids an early understanding of how money works.

Key benefits include:

• Learning how to set and stick to a budget
• Understanding the value of money and mindful spending
• Practicing prioritization (needs vs. wants)
• Reducing stress and impulse purchases

Where Do You Begin?

Before heading to the store or filling an online cart, take a few minutes to talk with your child about expectations. Setting clear rules and spending limits ahead of time helps avoid confusion, reduces impulse purchases, and creates valuable teaching moments.

Here’s how to get started:

• Review your overall budget. Decide how much you can realistically spend based on your current situation.
• Break it down. Allocate funds by category – such as supplies, clothing, and technology – so your child sees how each part of the budget fits into the bigger picture.
• Set rules together. For example, you might agree to buy one name-brand item, or that anything not on the list comes from their savings.
• Discuss priorities. Talk through the difference between needs and wants so your child knows what to shop for first.
• Give them some control. Let older kids manage a portion of the budget themselves. This builds independence and accountability.

By involving your child early in the process, you empower them to make thoughtful decisions and prepare them for more complex money management down the road.

Back-To-School Budgeting In 6 Steps

With a little planning and a step-by-step approach, you can stay on budget, reduce stress, and even turn shopping into a meaningful learning experience for your child.

Use the following tips to keep your back-to-school spending smart, simple, and intentional.

1. Create A Budget That Works For Your Family

Once you’ve set expectations with your child, it’s time to put numbers to your plan. A realistic budget doesn’t just keep your spending in check – it also helps your child see how financial decisions are made and why limits matter.

Here are some ideas to help you build a budget together that’s practical and easy to stick to:

• Start with last year’s expenses. Look back at receipts or bank statements to get a general sense of how much you spent and where your money went.
• Adjust based on current needs. Are there new requirements this year, like a laptop or sports equipment? Factor in any changes in grade level, dress code, or extracurriculars.
• Account for all categories. Think beyond supplies – include clothing, shoes, tech, lunch gear, and activity fees so you’re not caught off guard later.
• Pad your total slightly. Build in a buffer (even $20-$50) for forgotten items or price differences. This helps reduce stress if costs come in higher than expected.
• Track it together. Use a budgeting app, spreadsheet, or printable worksheet to log purchases and see how much is left in each category.

By approaching the budget as a shared plan, you give your child a chance to learn about balancing needs with available funds and how thoughtful planning can prevent overspending.

2. Take Inventory Before Shopping

Be sure to take time to go through what you already have at home. This simple step can help you avoid buying duplicates and trim unnecessary spending.

Start by reviewing your current school supply list. As you and your child go through each item, check drawers, closets, backpacks, and storage bins to see what you already own. You both might be surprised to find:

• Unused notebooks or folders from last year
• Pens, pencils, highlighters, or art supplies in good condition
• Backpacks, lunchboxes, or water bottles that still work
• Clothing and shoes that still fit or can be repurposed

If you find partially used items like notebooks with only a few pages written on, consider tearing out those pages and using the remaining ones. This is a great way to model resourcefulness for your child.

Taking inventory not only saves money, it also helps you create a more accurate and focused shopping list – making the entire process quicker and easier.

3. Create A Shopping List Together

Once you’ve taken inventory, it’s time to build your shopping list. Using the school’s official supply list, sit down with your child and create a personalized checklist based on what they still need.

This step helps your child understand how to plan purchases around a goal and keeps both of you focused when shopping.

Here’s how to make it meaningful:

• Use the list to teach organization. Categorize items by type or by store to streamline the shopping trip and avoid missing anything.
• Involve your child. Let them check off items you already have and write down what’s left. This keeps them engaged and invested in the process.
• Assign estimated prices. For older kids, have them look up prices online or in store ads and write them next to each item. This helps them learn to compare costs and work within a budget.
• Discuss priorities. If your child wants something extra, talk about where it fits into the list and how it might affect the overall budget.

A well-thought-out list prevents impulse purchases, shortens shopping time, and reinforces the importance of planning ahead – all while giving your child valuable real-life money skills.

4. Look For Deals

With your list and budget ready, the next step is to start shopping – but don’t rush. Taking the time to find the best deals can make a big difference, especially when buying for multiple kids or stocking up for the whole year.

Here are several ways to shop smart and get the most value for your money:

• Compare prices before you buy. Check store flyers, apps, and websites to find out who has the best deals on high-ticket items like backpacks, shoes, or tech. Some retailers even offer price matching.
• Take advantage of sales and promotions. Look for back-to-school sales, BOGO (buy one, get one) deals, and clearance sections. Plan your shopping around tax-free weekends if available in your state.
• Use coupons, promo codes, and cashback offers. Sign up for store emails or download apps to access exclusive discounts. If you use a rewards or cashback debit or credit card, you could save even more.
• Buy in bulk when it makes sense. For everyday essentials like pencils, glue sticks, and tissues, consider buying multi-packs and splitting the cost with another family, or save extras for later in the school year.
• Focus on quality for everyday items. It may be worth spending a little more on things like backpacks, lunchboxes, or shoes that need to last all year.
• Make the most of Tax-Free Weekend: Shop during your state’s tax holiday to save on eligible school supplies, clothing, and more – just be sure to check the official list of qualifying items

Smart shopping is also a chance to involve your child in real-world financial decision-making. Let them help search for deals, apply coupon codes, or calculate the cost per item when buying in bulk. These small actions build money confidence and show them that a little effort can go a long way when it comes to saving.

5. Teach Needs vs. Wants In Real Time

Back-to-school shopping presents the perfect opportunity to teach your child how to differentiate between needs – items that are necessary for school – and wants – things that are nice to have but not essential. This lesson is especially valuable during shopping, when emotions and marketing can influence decision-making.

As you go through your list, encourage your child to think critically about each item:

• “Do you need a new backpack, or can last year’s still be used?”
• “Would this notebook serve the same purpose as the more expensive one with a design?”
• “If we get this brand-name item now, will we need to skip something else later?”

These conversations don’t have to be long or complex, but they should be consistent. When kids see how trade-offs work in real time, they begin to understand that money is limited and decisions have consequences.

You can also give them opportunities to make low-risk choices. For example:

• Offer a budget for extras and let them decide how to spend it.
• Allow them to pick one or two “want” items, then talk about what made those their top choices.
• Encourage them to bring some of their own saved money for personal splurges.

By guiding kids through these decisions in the moment, you help them build self-control, learn delayed gratification, and develop a stronger sense of financial responsibility – skills that’ll benefit them far beyond the classroom.

6. Reflect, Save, & Celebrate

Once the shopping is done, take some time as a family to reflect on the experience. Talk about what went well, what was challenging, and what you might do differently next time. Ask your child questions like:

• “What did you learn about budgeting or making decisions?”
• “Was it hard to choose between needs and wants?”
• “What would you change about your shopping strategy next year?”

Reflection not only reinforces the lessons learned, but it also shows your child that managing money is a process – one they can continue to improve over time.

Finally, don’t forget to celebrate your teamwork and effort. Whether it’s a fun dinner, a favorite activity, or simply recognizing how much was accomplished, acknowledging the effort helps kids associate budgeting with something positive. Ending on a high note encourages them to keep practicing these smart financial habits all year long.

Use A+FCU Tools To Stay On Track

Budgeting doesn’t have to end after the school supplies are purchased. With A+FCU, kids and teens have access to tools that can help them manage their money, set savings goals, and build healthy financial habits.

A few of these tools include:

• Membership Savings Account: Introduce concepts like deposits, withdrawals, and interest earnings.
• StartUP Certificate: Encourage your child to save for a future goals – like a new phone or special school event – while earning higher dividends.
• A+ Online Banking and the A+ Mobile App: View balances and track spending in real time.
• eAlerts: If your child can receive texts or has a personal email, they can set up alerts to help monitor account activity.

Our handy tools offer a safe, educational environment for youth to learn by doing and make real-life money decisions with just the right amount of guidance.