Back-to-school on a budget

Back-to-school spending sneaks up every year. A little planning in early summer spreads the cost and avoids buying things you already have.

Steps

1. Take inventory: what fits, what still works, what's left from last year
2. Get the school supply list and buy only what's on it
3. Check whether your state has a sales tax holiday for school supplies and clothes
4. Buy basics in bulk with another family and split them
5. Give older kids a fixed clothing budget to manage themselves

Hand-me-downs and swaps

Clothing swaps with friends, school uniform exchanges and buy-nothing groups can cover a lot of what growing kids need.

General educational information, not financial advice. Your Money Stretcher isn't paid by any bank, lender or company mentioned here.