Back-to-School on a Budget: How Parents Can Avoid Going into Debt This Year

If you’ve found yourself whispering “How is it already back-to-school season again?” while staring down a shopping list the length of your arm, you’re not alone. I remember the year my son entered the first grade and my complete shock at the number staring back at me as I checked out. I don’t recall the exact price, as I think I’ve forgotten it, but it was certainly over $125, and that was just for classroom supplies alone. Forget about the new shoes, backpack, lunch box, and water bottle. Those were additional costs on top of what he needed for the class. I do think the older he’s gotten, the less the actual pencils and notebook supplies have cost, but they are still quite expensive. I just returned from supply shopping, and while it was less than $100, it still came pretty darn close. And I’m already hearing requests for a new backpack, the coolest water bottle, and of course, those Nike socks and shoes. Some of it, I’m just going to have to say no. We are going to have to have that talk about how he will survive without having the coolest Nikes or the Circul water bottle. His water bottle from the last three years will be just fine. Every year around August, I feel the stress of having to set aside money for back-to-school shopping, and I only have one child. Those of you with multiple kids feel my pain… in multiples!

I conducted some research to determine if my overspending was a common issue or if back-to-school spending is particularly challenging for all households. Back-to-school spending is, indeed, higher than ever. The average family spends over $500 per child, and nearly half of U.S. parents expect to incur debt to cover these expenses. Between the required supplies, clothing, tech upgrades, and all those “optional but not really optional” fees (And trust me, I do feel for the teachers and those extra donations needed. They shouldn’t have to personally fund paper towels and Kleenex if the schools truly don’t provide that sort of thing.) The costs add up quickly!

But here’s the good news: you don’t need to break the bank to send your kids back to school prepared and well-dressed. Here are clever, doable ways to avoid back to school debt in 2025, without sacrificing style, quality, or your sanity. Some of these tips and tricks take more time than adding to your online cart and checking out, but, in my humble opinion, it’s worth the time to save the money.

Audit What You Already Own

• Raid backpacks for leftover supplies you forgot you bought in bulk (hello, 36-pack of glue sticks). I just pulled out all the used pages from my son’s old notebooks and he didn’t even go through 1/3 of the pages in most of the notebooks. He’s reusing the notebooks for all subjects!
• Check closets for clothes that still fit and make a list of what needs replacing.
• Reuse last year’s lunch gear if it’s still in good condition. A quick clean or fresh name label can make it feel new. I added two new patches to our lunchbox at the whopping cost of $4 and it makes it look like something new.

Shop the Back-to-School Sales but Don’t Panic Buy

Back-to-school deals start early now, but the biggest markdowns often occur in mid-to-late August, just before the start of school.

• Wait for clearance on clothing basics, which get overstocked and discounted right before Labor Day. If you’re like us, you go back before Labor Day. I will buy one new outfit for the first day and I wait until about 1-2 weeks into the school year and then I buy the new clothes on major markdowns. Your child does not need a pile of new, full-priced clothes before school actually starts.
• Use cashback apps like Rakuten, or browser extensions like Honey, to auto-apply coupon codes.
• Amazon, Target, and Walmart all have back-to-school price-match policies—use them!

Go Halfsies on Big-Ticket Items

If you need to buy a tablet, Chromebook, or headphones, check:

• Local school PTO groups for used gear
• Facebook Marketplace and Buy Nothing groups in your neighborhood
• Refurbished tech sites like Back Market or Apple’s Certified Refurb program

Or even better? Split the cost with grandparents or family members as a back-to-school gift if they are so inclined to pitch in.

Say Yes to Secondhand (Especially for Clothes)

Fast-growing kids = fast fashion waste. Instead of overspending on first-day outfits:

• Try Kidizen, Poshmark Kids, or ThredUp for gently used styles
• Host a neighborhood back-to-school clothing swap
• Focus new purchases on staples only. Think solid tees, jeans, and jackets that can stretch into fall

Apply for Local or National School Supply Assistance

Some communities offer supply giveaways or vouchers to ease the burden. Check:

• Your school’s social worker or counselor
• Local United Way or Salvation Army chapters
• Programs like Operation Homefront, Kids in Need Foundation, or Backpacks USA
• Keep an eye on your local news. Here in Detroit, I just saw a news segment reporting on an event on August 15, 2025 hosted by Volunteers of America Michigan’s Operation Backpack. All you have to do is pre-register and backpacks are given out which contain school supplies, tickets to the zoo, a haircut and books. You can also easily search for “local backpack giveaway” or “school supplies giveaway near me”. Get creative with those Google searches and you never know what sort of of assistance might pop up!

If you don’t need assistance, consider donating to these organizations, many parents are silently struggling.

Set a Realistic Budget and Stick to It

It’s not just about spending less, it’s about knowing what you plan to spend in the first place. Try:

• Creating categories: supplies, clothing, tech, extras
• Setting limits with kids: “You have $50 for a new backpack. Choose wisely.” I do this, and I tell my son whatever is left of the budgeted money is his to have. That pile of 6 new t-shirts in his hand will remarkably go down to his four favorites when he knows a little bit of cash may end up in his pocket.
• Using prepaid gift cards to stay on budget and avoid surprise totals.

Let Go of the Pinterest-Perfect Pressure

You don’t have to send your child back to school with monogrammed lunchboxes and color-coded snack containers. This particular area is hard for me. I get swept up in the Pinterest boards with the whole back-to-school aesthetic and I feel like I need to get it all to curate hte perfect look. But I have to remind myself that I’m not outfitting my son to be Instagram worthy – I’m outfitting him for success in school, and that t-shirt with his name on for gym class doesn’t need to be a $35 custom-ordered personalized shirt from someone on Etsy. He can do with a plain $3 shirt from Michaels with his name written on the back with sharpie. The kids? They don’t care (or notice) the things we, as parents, think need to be super cute at all costs. Here’s what they really need: a pack of pencils, a clean water bottle, and a parent who isn’t burned out by August 15. (Okay, maybe some fun new socks too. Kids love fun socks.)

Final Thought: You’re Doing Better Than You Think

If your back-to-school shopping cart is giving you anxiety, take a breath. Back-to-school isn’t a competition. It’s just another season of showing up for your kid, and for yourself.

So if this year looks like recycled folders, hand-me-down jeans, and a lunchbox with a Sharpie-ed name tag? That’s more than enough. You’re doing great!