There’s never a dull moment in Jordyn Finkel’s house. For many families, August is the time for back-to-school shopping.
“Buying school supplies is definitely expensive. We think about it all summer long before we actually do it. This year we paid $350 for two kids,” Finkel said.
Clothing is not included in this total.
“Last year we waited until the last minute because we had no money and had to go to so many different stores but couldn’t buy everything. Honestly, this year I put it on my credit card and will slowly pay it off because that was the best way we had,” Finkel said.
According to the National Retail Federation, back-to-school shopping will cost families an average of $875, $15 less than last year but still the second-highest estimate ever. But Finkel said there are ways to save money without breaking the bank.
“I would definitely recommend putting money aside throughout the year, even $10 a month if you have any left over, just to put it aside for back to school. So it’s not such a big amount when you need to shop. There are also a lot of different things and places that offer free materials. I know some places offer back to school backpacks with some materials in them, and sometimes that can work for families too,” Finkel said.
She advises focusing on buying high-quality items, even if they are a little more expensive at first. And if you feel overwhelmed, there is no shame in asking for help.
