Back to school: 5 ways to save when shopping for your children

Editor’s note: “Behind the News” is the product of Sun staff assisted by the Sun’s AI lab, which includes a variety of tools such as Anthropic’s Claude, Perplexity AI, Google Gemini and ChatGPT.

With classes set to resume Aug. 10 across Las Vegas, many families are going out for back-to-school shopping trips. 

Financial experts say a little planning can keep the bill from spiraling out of control. 

Here are five pointers to help shoppers find what they need, stay on budget, avoid crowds and overbuying, and get kids involved without breaking the bank:

Know what to look for — start with the list, not the display

Experts say the biggest mistake parents make is shopping without a plan. Impulse buys and duplicate purchases add up fast when shoppers wander the aisles without direction [1]. Most schools publish official supply lists in July, and sticking to that list — rather than everything featured in seasonal promotions — keeps spending under control [2]. Before buying anything new, take inventory at home first. Old backpacks, half-used glue sticks and leftover notebooks from last year often cover more of the list than parents expect, and checking supplies on hand before shopping is one of the simplest ways to trim costs [3]

Set a budget — and put a number on it before you shop

About a third of back-to-school shoppers set a firm budget before heading out, according to a survey [1]. Financial experts recommend deciding in advance exactly how much a family can spend, then breaking that total into categories such as clothing, supplies, shoes and electronics, so each area has its own limit [4]. Setting aside that amount in cash, or in a separate account, and stopping once it's gone is one habit that can prevent overspending more effectively than any coupon [5]. Building in a cushion of extra funds for unexpected costs — activity fees, a yearbook charge, sports gear — also helps avoid budget-busting surprises later in the school year [6][3].

Battle the crowds — shop early and use sales windows strategically

Over half of back-to-school shoppers said this summer, they planned purchases around major sales events such as Prime Day, Target Circle Week and Walmart deals [4]. Shopping earlier in the season — mid-July through early August — typically means better prices [7]. More than a quarter of shoppers also plan to use their state's sales-tax-free weekend [1][2].

Don't overbuy — buy only what's on the list, and buy it once

Cheap items such as pencils, erasers and glue sticks are easy to overbuy, but there is no need to stockpile months' worth of them in August [7]. Shopping in one focused trip with a list in hand, rather than several "quick runs," helps prevent the small impulse extras at checkout — an extra highlighter here, a novelty eraser there — that can turn a $100 plan into $160 [3]. Comparing prices across retailers, using digital coupons and checking for student or teacher discounts before buying can also help shoppers avoid paying full price for items they were always going to need [2].

Involve the kids — without losing control of the budget

Three in 10 shoppers say they've had or will talk to their students about a budget plan [1]. Experts recommend involving children directly in the planning and shopping process as a way to teach money lessons, including the difference between needs and wants [1]. Setting category limits in advance — for example, a set dollar amount for clothing or shoes — lets kids make their own choices about specific items while staying inside a number parents have already approved [4]. For teens, back-to-school season can also be a natural opening to discuss a part-time job to help cover discretionary extras that fall outside the family budget [1].

Sources

[1] https://www.nerdwallet.com/finance/studies/back-to-school-shopping-report

[2] https://www.advantageccs.org/blog/the-ultimate-2026-back-to-school-money-saving-guide-for-families/

[3] https://www.spendwisecents.com/blog/back-to-school-on-a-budget

[4] https://pocketclear.app/blog/back-to-school-budget-2026.html

[5] https://budget-calm.com/blog/back-to-school-budget-2026-usa

[6] https://www.jll.com/en-us/insights/back-to-school-2026-shopping-report

[7] https://sonsnotebooks.com/the-ultimate-back-to-school-supply-checklist-for-parents-in-2026/