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Worried About Back to School Shopping? Follow These Personal Finance Tips
It’s the tail-end of July, which means back-to-school shopping is right around the corner. That puts a lot of stress on parents who are just trying to get everything together so they can finally get their kids out of the house five days a week.
Kidding. It does add a lot of financial stress, though, considering all the books, supplies, clothing, and enrollment costs. That’s a lot to add on top of worrying about getting your kids ready and to school on time.
Don’t stress too much! Like any financial decision, there are steps you can take to better prepare you for what’s ahead. Let’s talk about that…
Start Off With a Budget
Actually, start off with a list of everything you’ll need for the school year. Prioritize the school supplies and then work your way up to the most exciting part, your child’s back-to-school clothes. Don’t forget masks and hand sanitizer, which is looking to be a long-term back-to-school expense.
Next, you need to establish your limit for spending. You don’t need to go overboard with spending on school supplies. Educational books might get expensive at times (if they’re not provided by the school), so prioritize what’s necessary and then think about going to the bargain bin for notebooks and pencils.