Get Your Budget Ready for Back-to-School Shopping! | First Volunteer Bank

The team at First Volunteer Bank wants you to know that you are not alone when it comes to feeling overwhelmed about a new school year. How did we arrive at August so quickly? It seems like it was just last week we were beginning to talk about summer vacations! But in any case, the time has come. School is almost back in session, and it’s time to get your budget ready to tackle the supply list!

Save While Back-to-School Shopping

First, print out the list the school provides. However, once you do this, don’t immediately run to Target or Walmart. Instead, the first place you’re going to go back-to-school shopping is at your own home!

Yes, chances are, you have a number of items already at home that your kids can use for school this year, including:

• Pencils and pens
• Rulers
• Notebooks
• Paper
• Calculators
• Binders
• Folders

Therefore, why spend more when you can use what you already have at home?

Second, when it comes to back-to-school shopping, especially if your child has a certain dress code he or she has to abide by, then shop garage sales and thrift stores. Chances are, the polo shirts and khaki pants there are hardly worn (since kids grow so fast) and you can get them cheaper than at most retail stores, which means you can get more for your money when shopping for clothes and shoes.

Finally, have a budget and stick to it! Yes, the expensive backpack might be what your child wants, but does he or she want it because it’s a good backpack or because it’s what the cool kids have? Yes, kids want to fit in, but their purchases need to also fit in your budget. Talk to your children before going back-to-school shopping so that they know the expectations and limits for the budget just like you do.

Do you want to start your child his or her first bank account? Visit the First Volunteer Bank website to learn about our personal checking and savings options that can help you put some money aside for your children, starting today!