Back-to-school shopping has gotten a little out of hand.
What used to be notebooks, pencils, maybe a new pair of shoes has somehow turned into new backpacks, lunch bags, water bottles, full wardrobes, electronics, trendy supplies and enough “must-haves” to make you wonder if your kid is heading back to Grade 6 or moving into their first apartment.
And when every store, ad and social media post is telling you what your kids need before September, it’s really easy to overspend without even realizing it.
The good news?
You don’t have to suck all the fun out of back-to-school season to keep your spending under control.
Start by shopping your own house
Before you make a single shopping trip, figure out what you already have.
Check closets, junk drawers, desks, backpacks and last year’s school supplies.
You might already have:
- notebooks that were barely used
- pens, pencils and markers
- a perfectly good backpack
- lunch containers
- binders and folders
- clothes that still fit
- shoes that still have plenty of life left
There’s no reason to replace something just because September is coming.
A new school year does not automatically require all new stuff.
Separate “needs” from “nice-to-haves”
This is where back-to-school spending can get sneaky.
Your child might need running shoes.
They might want the trendy $120 pair everyone else has.
They might need a backpack.
They probably don’t need a brand-new one if the one from last year is still in great shape.
Try splitting your shopping list into three categories:
Need now
Things they genuinely need before the first day.
Can wait
Things they may need later in the fall.
Would be nice
Fun extras that can fit into the budget if there’s room.
That little bit of separation can save you from treating every item like an emergency.
You don’t have to buy everything before school starts
This one can save you a surprising amount.
You probably don’t need to buy an entire fall wardrobe in August.
Kids grow.
Weather changes.
Teachers sometimes send home more specific supply lists once school begins.
And stores will still exist in September.
Buy what’s needed to get started and fill in the gaps later.
There is no prize for having every possible school item purchased by Labour Day.
Give yourself a number before you shop
Walking into a store without a budget is basically telling Target, Walmart or Amazon:
“You decide how much I’m spending today.”
Dangerous game. 😂
Decide what you can realistically afford first.
Maybe it’s $100.
Maybe it’s $300.
Maybe you’ve been saving for this all year and have more room.
The number itself isn’t the important part.
Knowing the number before you start shopping is.
Because once you’ve already filled the cart, it becomes a lot harder to put things back.
Let your kids be part of the decision
Back-to-school shopping can actually be a great opportunity to teach kids about money.
If they want the more expensive backpack, shoes or outfit, show them the difference.
For example:
“We budgeted $50 for shoes. Those are $90. If you really want those ones, we’ll need to spend $40 less somewhere else.”
Now they get to make a decision.
That’s real-world money management.
And sometimes it’s amazing how quickly a “must-have” becomes less important when it affects something else they want.
Watch the “it’s only…” purchases
The $6 pencil case.
The $12 water bottle.
The $15 shirt.
The $8 pack of fancy pens.
The $20 little add-on at checkout.
None of those purchases looks scary by itself.
But ten little “it’s only…” purchases can add another $100 or $200 to your trip pretty quickly.
Small purchases count too.
And remember: back-to-school happens every year
If August always feels financially brutal, make a note for next year.
Even putting aside $25 or $50 a month starting earlier in the year can give you a decent back-to-school fund by summer.
Because school supplies, clothes and registration fees aren’t really unexpected expenses.
We know they’re coming.
The goal isn’t to make back-to-school boring or tell your kids they can’t have anything new.
Buy the cool shoes.
Let them pick out the ridiculous glitter notebook.
Make the first day feel special.
Just make sure you’re deciding what fits your budget, not the back-to-school marketing machine.
Your kids need supplies for school.
They don’t need you starting September with a credit card hangover.
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