Back-to-School Budgeting Guide

When temperatures (and your AC bill) start to rise, there’s no denying that summer has arrived and vacation season is in full swing. But time flies, and summer break doesn’t last forever. Back-to-school expenses will soon be upon us, so now is the time to start budgeting for school supplies, packed lunches, and more.

Your back-to-school budgeting guide

Wondering how to budget for school shopping? Origin Bank is here to help you save now so you can avoid the headache of unplanned costs in the coming months. Get started with this back-to-school financial checklist:

  1. Review past expenses. Take a look at what you spent on back-to-school purchases previously. By referencing expenses from the past year, you can get a better idea of what you typically spend. This gives you a strong baseline to start from. Then update for this year’s expenses to better reflect what you expect to spend and how much you’ll need to save.
  2. Create spending buckets. When it comes to back-to-school planning, expenses can usually be separated into one of four categories: clothing, shoes, technology, and basic supplies like paper and pencils. So before you hit the store, create a detailed shopping list that matches your school supply budget. This can help you avoid impulse buys and focus on the items you really need.
  3. Track your purchases and compare how much you’ve spent to what you have left to buy. This will help you decide if you need to make adjustments to your school supply budget or if you’re saving enough to cover your remaining back-to-school expenses.
  4. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Many back-to-school supplies like backpacks, folders, or extracurricular sports equipment can be reused from year to year. So before you go shopping, take an inventory of the items you have tucked away from last year. This can help significantly shave down your shopping list so your money goes further.
  5. Don’t miss tax-free shopping. For the best school supply deals, take advantage of tax-free shopping. Many states offer a sales-tax holiday or tax-free weekend to help lighten the financial load of back-to-school shopping. Before you start spending, check to see whether your state participates.
  6. Start saving for next year. Once your back-to-school budget is set, get a jump on next year and start planning now for things like home renovations, new car purchases, or even next year’s summer vacation expenses. 

 

Wondering how to teach teens financial responsibility? Back-to-school season is a great time to start modeling smart spending habits. Get your kids involved with building a budget to help them understand how to manage their money. This can help cultivate a real sense of financial responsibility for teens, empowering them to make smart choices later in life. 

 

Need help starting the conversation? Explore our blog for more family budgeting tips or checking account basics that you can use as a resource!

 

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I start back-to-school budgeting?

The earlier you can start, the better. This helps avoid the headache of unplanned costs in the coming months.

How can I manage my back-to-school shopping?

Review past expenses to create a baseline, then categorize your spending into broad categories like clothing or supplies. And don’t forget to check for local tax-free shopping weekends to save on costs!

How can I involve my children in building financial habits?

Back-to-school budgeting is a great opportunity to start teaching financial literacy. Consider opening a student checking account, setting savings goals together, or helping your child start to track their own spending.