Back to School: Plan Your Budget

by Center for Personal Finance editors

Back to school means expenses! Clothes, shoes, and school supplies can drain a budget quickly. With the average family with school-aged children spending $483 on back-to-school items each year, it's no wonder setting a budget is essential for all parents with school-bound youngsters.

To avoid falling into debt at back-to-school time, plan ahead for how much you want to spend. In recent years, the average consumer has spent $220 on clothing, $90 on shoes, and $73 on school supplies for each child.

You also may want to budget for the changing technology of school supplies. More classrooms are using computers and computer-related study materials. And with many electronics now somewhat affordable to most families, classrooms may be requiring or recommending tech-smart supplies and materials.

Also, don't forget about doctor checkups, school fees, and athletics or other extracurricular fees, which often are overlooked when setting a back-to-school budget.

Your credit union can help with all your financial needs.

July 10, 2005