STYLE Savvy: Back-to-School Budget Battles

It's time to shop for school supplies! Lisa Hess offers some suggestions for STYLE on a budget. 

If you’ve already begun shopping for your child’s school supplies (as many families have), you’ve probably noticed that your dollar isn’t going as far as it used to. Overall prices for back-to-school supplies are up more than 7% from last year and more than 20% as compared to pre-COVID shopping trips.

For most families, this is likely to make conversations about needs vs. wants more challenging than ever. How do you buy supplies that fit your child’s styles without going broke in the process?

Do an Audit of Last Year’s Supplies

• What did your child actually use last year?

• What truly kept him or her organized, and what was just nice to look at?

• What do you still have enough of to start the year?

Replicate last year’s successes or even reuse last year’s stuff if you can get away with it while you wait to see if prices drop further. Whatever isn’t sold before school starts often gets even cheaper in September.

Keep an Eye on the Situation

If a trip to your go-to school supply store is part of your weekly routine (perhaps you buy groceries there as well), it’s relatively easy to see whether or not a store has enough of a coveted item that it’s safe to wait it out to see if the price drops. Tried-and-true items like binders and pocket folders are usually cheapest during back-to-school sales, and they work well for Type A organizers. Stock up on the necessities while the sales are good and wait to see if the optional or more style-friendly items go on clearance.

Let the Flyers Be your Guide

Back to school is big business, and everyone from dollar stores to office supply stores is promising to be your best resource. While you don’t want to drive all over town, keeping an eye on sales can help you batch your errands and maximize savings.

Get Crafty

Maybe your I need to see it child really does do better when his folders are color-coded, but the 25¢ pocket folders that come in a variety of colors aren’t a good fit. Buy a package of manila file folders (the dollar store might be cheapest here), then get out the markers and washi tape and let him customize his folders. Or use a stack of old magazines to create collage folders that really stand out. Plain binders with a plastic sleeve on the front cover have a built-in place to slide in those collages or a few favorite photos, and they’re often cheaper than fancier varieties.

In a perfect world, we can find ideal organizers for every child at a reasonable price. Until then, a little detective work and a little creativity can bring us closer to solutions that help our kids find what they need when they need it.

Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2026 Lisa Hess
Images: Canva