Back to school season is here and I have a free back to school budget planner and some back to school budgeting tips to help you stay organized and stick to your budget this year.
I created a free printable back to school budget planner to help you organize your budget, and I also included a printable cash envelope to help you track your spending and stick to your budget using cash.
Make sure you print out this fun and free back to school budget PDF printable planner and stick to these easy tips to save money on back to school shopping.
Back to School Budgeting Tips
Don’t forget these back to school budget busters when you’re creating your budget this season.
Back to school clothing and shoes
One of my most favorite memories of going back to school was definitely clothes shopping!
In order to save money on your back to school clothing budget, consider:
- Shopping thrift stores
- Checking out Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, and Mercari
- Use Rakutenand BeFrugal to get cash back on purchases
- Asking friends and family for hand me downs
- Shop off season clothing (it will be warm clear in to November here in Texas!)
Read: How to Save Money on Kid’s Clothes
Back to school supplies
School supplies can range from super expensive to surprisingly cheap!
I was shocked at how little we actually spent on things like glue, pens, and notebooks last year.
Consider buying in bulk, shopping at dollar stores, and buying generic in order to save money on school supplies this season.
Read: Best School Supplies to Buy on Amazon
Back to School Haircuts and Personal Care
Don’t forget to budget for those back to school hair cuts this year!
Personal care items like manicures, hair cut and color, and fresh deodorant and hair products might be important in your household depending on the age of your kids.
It’s okay to have a few back to school splurges, as long as it’s in the budget!
Teacher Appreciation Gifts for Back to School
Those teachers are working hard y’all.
Especially in this crazy online/offline COVID season that we are in.
Make sure to budget for any and all teacher appreciation gifts that you might decide to buy.
Back to School PTA, Sports, and Activity Fees
Fall sports and activity fees can add up fast! If you have multiple kids, it can get extremely costly. If you’re on a tight budget, try limiting your kids to one activity for the semester, and they can try something new and different in the spring.
Check and see what activities and sports your kids want to participate in this semester and budget accordingly.
Read: How to Save Money for Back to School
Face Masks, Hand Sanitizer, and Lysol Wipes for Back to School
Unfortunately, this is an extra important back to school budget category this year.
As the fall cold and flu season arrives, it will be even more important to ensure your family is fully stocked with hygiene and cleaning products.
Don’t forget to budget for this important category!
Back to School Backpacks and Lunchboxes
Check your child’s backpacks and lunchboxes from last year before running out to buy a new one.
Especially in this season, when the previous school year was cut short, your child’s backpacks and lunch boxes might be in perfect condition.
Read: Back to School Lunch Box Ideas
Back to School Technology and Books
Especially this year, your child might be in need of new technology to keep up with the online hustle and bustle.
If you are homeschooling, you can find many resources online for cheap or free.
Read: The Ultimate List of Homeschooling Printables and Resources
You might also like:
- Back to School Savings Tips & Hacks
- Back to School Organization Ideas
- Easy Back to School Lunch Box Ideas
- Best School Supplies on Amazon