Hey Taylor, my kids go back to school in a few weeks, and every store already has the displays out. Between clothes, supplies, and everything else on the list, it sneaks up on me every year and ends up costing more than I planned for. Any tips before I start shopping? - Shelby
Hey Shelby - Back-to-school season has a way of arriving all at once, even though we technically see it coming every summer. The good news is a little bit of structure now can help the next few weeks feel a lot less chaotic on your wallet.
Take inventory before you shop. Before adding anything to a cart, it can help to go through what’s already at home. Backpacks, binders, and even clothes from last year may still have some life left in them. A quick check through closets and supply drawers tends to shrink the list more than people expect, and it means you’re only buying what’s actually needed.
Set a per-kid budget and spread it out. Instead of one big shopping trip, breaking purchases into a few smaller ones across a couple of paychecks can make the total feel more manageable. Giving each child their own number to work with is also a good way to teach a little budgeting along the way, and it can help avoid the temptation to overspend on one and underspend on another.
Time it around the tax-free weekend. Texas usually holds its sales tax holiday in early August, and it’s one of the better windows to knock out clothes and school supplies without paying tax on qualifying items. Making a list ahead of time and shopping that weekend specifically tends to stretch a budget further than shopping whenever the mood strikes.
Back-to-school costs add up fast, but a little planning goes a long way toward keeping things on track. Spreading it out over a paycheck or two can make the whole season feel a lot less like a scramble. Thanks for the question, Shelby, and here’s to a smooth start to the school year!
