Back-to-School Savings Tips

Takeaways: Plan Your Back-to-School Budget Before You Shop

• Families expect to spend more this year, but they're working harder for it. Budget estimates run from $252 per child to $922 per household depending on who's counting.
• Most parents use at least one money-saving tactic, with some stacking three or more at once, including shopping sales, swapping brands and using cashback sites.
• Spending is shifting as parents defer device upgrades and optional purchases.

Getting kids geared up to go back to school is an annual tradition — and expense — for families with kids in elementary, middle and high school. Inflation has made affording school supplies more challenging for many people during the last few years.

A survey by the National Retail Federation shows 78% of shoppers expect higher prices on back-to-school items in 2026.

Around half of all parents this year are cutting back on other spending to make room for back-to-school shopping. Most back-to-school shoppers plan to use at least one strategy, such as switching to a cheaper brand or buying in bulk to save money.

Take some guesswork out of back-to-school shopping by pairing your shopping list with these savvy back-to-school shopping strategies:

Build a Back-to-School Budget

Only 36% of shoppers set a firm budget for back-to-school expenses, according to NerdWallet. Projected budgets range between $252 per child to $922 per household, depending on how the data was collected and analyzed.

Here's how to set your budget and reduce your spending.

1. Review Last Year's Expenses and Supplies

Last year's spending can help you set a baseline for this year's costs. Also take stock of what you already have on hand and figure out which expenses you can delay. Around 28% of parents plan to reuse existing school supplies this year, according to a study by commercial real estate company JLL.

For example, parents plan to spend around 22% more on clothing and accessories while deferring tech purchases (down about 16%), perhaps because last year's computer or phone is perfectly fine, but kids seem to outgrow clothing overnight.

2. Make a Shopping List

Try to think about everything your student needs and wants, including one-time and over-the-year expenses. In 2026, parents of all income levels are cutting back on extras beyond the required school list for the second consecutive year.

The National Retail Federation points out that nearly half of parents are focusing funds on essentials at first, then replenishing supplies throughout the year. Identify which items are essential and which items are popular or trendy. Focus on budgeting for the must-have items first.

3. Chat With Your Kids

Around one out of every three parents talk to their kids about their back-to-school budget upfront to set expectations and reduce in-store arguments, according to NerdWallet.

For older kids, work together to set a spending limit and let them do the planning. This will allow them to make decisions about needs versus wants.

4. Try Back-to-School Shopping Strategies To Save

Among parents worried about inflation, a third plan to stack three or more cost-saving methods simultaneously. Here are a few.

Shop Sales

Two out of three parents surveyed plan to shop sales and coupons this year, according to various surveys. More than half of shoppers scouted out early-summer sales in June, according to the National Retail Federation. You can also look for clearance sales on school supplies after school starts.

Around one-third of shoppers surveyed by the National Retail Federation said they'll rely on coupons to help save money. Many apps feature digital coupons that can help reduce costs.

Another 25% of parents plan to use cashback websites, according to a Deloitte survey.

Beware of the urge to splurge on items just because they are on sale. You might end up spending more on items you don't need. Focus on the essentials, your list and your budget.

Expand Your Destinations

Multiple surveys found that parents are looking for affordable one-stop shopping, with most parents headed to mass merchandisers such as Walmart.

Consider checking prices at multiple stores. Office supply stores, dollar stores, wholesale stores, department stores, drugstores and big-box stores carry various back-to-school items. Around 14% of parents plan to buy secondhand, JLL noted.

Compare Prices Online

Most shoppers say they'll compare prices online, according to the National Retail Federation survey. However, watch out for spending creep. The Deloitte survey found that respondents who use search engines, social media and AI search tools spend more than those who don't.

Swap for Generic or Store Brand Items

According to the JLL survey, 21% of parents plan to save by buying less expensive or more basic versions of brand-name items. Deloitte's survey of parents said 51% may switch to private label, and 71% will switch brands for a deal.

However, if you're shopping from a school list, check with the teacher as your school may expect students to have a specific type of organizer or calculator.

Buy in Bulk

Per-item costs could be lower if you buy in bulk versus buying individual items. Work with other families or neighbors to buy a batch of pens, notebooks and other supplies, then distribute the purchase.

5. Plan for the Future: Back to School Happens Every Year

After you've finished all your shopping, take time to compare your projected budget versus how much you actually spent, using a tool like BECU's Money Manager.

Review your spending on supplies, clothing, shoes and other costs. Were there any surprising categories? What led to overspending? Where did you save the most?

Think about including your child in this review. This is a great time to teach them about budgeting, spending, setting goals and how to evaluate purchases.

To get ahead of the game for next school year, start saving now. Divide the total cost you spent this year by 12 and put away that amount every month. You can create a physical or digital savings envelope or even open a separate savings account and set up automatic monthly transfers. Set it and forget it!

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