Back-to-school season can be exciting, but it can also strain your budget and schedule. These practical tips can help parents save on school supplies, build smoother routines, and turn everyday moments into money lessons for kids.
Before school starts, gather everyone for 15-20 minutes to review schedules, expectations, activities, pickup plans, and goals for the year. This works because it gives kids ownership and reduces first-week confusion.
At the meeting, introduce for the new school year a shared digital calendar or wall calendar you can start adding school events, sports practices, early dismissal days, parent-teacher conferences, and even assignment deadlines for older students.
Try this: Set three goals together:
These goals can provide an entryway to checking with your child about how they’re feeling. New teachers, new classmates, and new routines can bring excitement and nervousness. Let them know those feelings are normal.
Shopping for school supplies is a fun and potentially costly experience. Instead of simply swiping your credit card and going on with your day, you can involve your child in the purchasing process to start teaching your kids about money. Learning how quickly costs add up when buying a few notebooks and folders can be eye-opening. It can also introduce the concept of value, comparisons, and sticking to a budget.
Try this: Give your child a fixed school-supply budget and let them compare brands before choosing.
For your youngest ones, let them pick out their backpack and pencil case while you decide on the rest of the supplies. Teach them about the backpack's quality as you compare prices together with other front runners.
As children get older, expand their responsibility by giving them a set amount of money to purchase all the needed supplies. Although they will be completely in charge of budgeting their list, shopping with them will ensure they stay on track.
Back-to-school costs can add up quickly, especially for families buying supplies, clothing, and activity gear all at once. To combat this price increase, here's a tip to help you save.
Try this: Jot down a list of items from last year your child could reuse at the start of the school year. By using pens, pencils, and notebooks from the previous year, you can wait until the school supply sale hits two weeks after classes have begun. Then, stock up on everything you need to round out your shopping at a discount.
It is never too early or late to teach your child financial literacy. One of the best ways to start is by opening your child a savings account. With this account, you can begin teaching your child how to monitor their accounts, save money from allowances or birthday checks, and manage their money.
You can help your teen continue their smart money journey by opening a teen checking account to keep their allowance, paychecks, and gas and lunch money safe. This helps your teen have control over their own money and start to understand how to create budgets or save for larger purchases, such as a car.
Try this: Use a teen checking account to teach Independence, not just responsibility. Let teens manage portions of their spending, then expand to letting them manage their schedules and assignments on their own, too.
Do you really need name-brand crayons, or is it better to shop frugally with off-brand options? Some teachers suggest that higher quality products will save you more money in the long run for certain school supplies. When it comes to things like crayons, markers, and even pencils, teachers may suggest name brands seem to last longer, so you'll have to purchase them less often. For more costly items like graphing calculators, check to see if they're available at your local or school library.
For most kids, summer is a time to close the books and get outside to explore. But for many children, it can be hard to get back into the swing of reading by diving straight into homework materials at back-to-school time.
Try this: Challenge your kids to find a good book about something that interests them and have them devote 30 minutes daily to reading before school starts. Check your school's website for a suggested summer reading list or dive into this list curated by the American Library Association full of book recommendations for every grade level. Your local library may also have free, fun programs to help kids ease back into “school mode.”
Much like you enjoy a tidy desk and a quiet office space to work, your child can benefit from the same. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. high school students can receive between 6 and 7 hours of homework weekly from their teachers. And after a full day of learning, it can be hard to hunker down on homework.
Try this: Create an area with adequate lighting and table space where your child can complete homework and reading assignments without distractions and noise. Having all the supplies they will need available at their homework station can also reduce distractions created while searching for the tools they need to do their work.
“Homework supplies” does not include distractions like personal electronic devices. Be sure to establish family expectations for phone use while studying.
Nothing is as jolting as a 6:30 a.m. wake-up call after a summer of snoozing without alarms. Establishing and implementing your family's school sleep schedule two weeks before school can be a great way to start the year strong. Begin by cutting off screen time an hour before bed so that it's easier to fall asleep.
Try this: Going to bed at a decent time is only half the battle: Set an alarm to get used to waking up bright and early. By the time school starts, your family routine will be second nature. This also opens up an opportunity to practice the school morning routine a few days early, reducing more stress than sleep adjustments alone.
Kids involved in after-school activities often get better grades and have deeper connections with friends. Sit down and talk to your kids about what they're passionate about right now. It could be learning a new valuable skill like swimming, giving back to the community or participating in music. Note: Avoid filling every afternoon. Kids also benefit from downtime, family time, and opportunities for play.
Try this: You can search your local parent groups on social media for activities that may interest your children or visit your recreation center to check out their various programs. Set an activities budget, then compare seasonal vs. monthly fees, and ask if a rec center offers trial classes. Look for community or school-based low-cost options.
After a full day of learning, many kids want to unwind with tablets, phones, video games, or TV. Instead of making screens the default activity, establish a simple after-school routine before the school year begins.
Try this: Consider a "responsibilities before recreation" approach.
Having clear expectations can reduce daily negotiations and help children build healthy technology habits throughout the school year. For older students, involve them in creating screen-time guidelines so they feel ownership over the rules.
Back-to-school clothes shopping can be rough on any budget as purchases start piling up for the new school year. To space out these costly shopping trips, inventory what still fits, then take the kids to buy essentials, and wait to buy more until your child’s actual needs become clear. They'll have a special first-day item they chose so they can confidently walk into class, and you'll feel better by not overspending.
Try this: Additional outfits can be a great way to reward excellent grades or other accomplishments throughout the year.
Shopping for new backpacks and outfits is often many children's favorite part of the year. Still, for numerous families across America, back-to-school shopping is a huge financial burden many can't afford.
Try this: If teaching your children about giving is a priority for you, why not fill a backpack with school supplies and donate it to your local shelter with your child? Another opportunity to give may be available through your school. Check if your district participates in programs that donate a percentage of your everyday purchases toward your school.
Back-to-school season doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With a little planning, parents can stretch their budget, create smoother routines, and help kids build smart money habits that last beyond the first day of school.
A teen checking account to guide them on the road to success
Teach kids about money with an Alliant Kids Savings Account
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