Back-to-School Shopping Tips

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The best way to begin back-to-school shopping starts at home. Take inventory of any school supplies you already have and create a list of items you still need. You want to make sure you aren’t buying supplies you already have accounted for.

When shopping for your child’s back-to-school essentials, looking for ways to save money is key. One example of this, is to consider buying generic merchandise over name-brand products. Generic school supplies can potentially save you more money and the quality can be similar, if not the same.

Another savings tip is to split bulk deals between students. If you have multiple children at home who all need similar school supplies, buying in bulk can save you more than buying each item separately. You can even get other friends or family members on board and split these bulk deals between families.

Finally, take back-to-school shopping as an opportunity to get your children involved in money management. Explain to them how to stay within a budget and buying what you need versus what you want. Start by giving your child a list of school supplies along with a total budget. As you shop, they can write down the price of each item. Challenge them to keep the total amount below your given budget. Before you know it, your child will be actively budgeting and saving with you.

At MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU), we encourage and teach youth money management skills through financial education programs and youth accounts.

MSUFCU provides five different types of youth savings accounts. Not only will your child start building their savings early, they will also have the chance to receive age-appropriate fun financial education opportunities. These youth accounts allow children of all ages to grow their money management skills through gaming apps, special events, and educational contests.

Saving money is an important habit to apply to your back-to-school spending and a great life lesson you can teach your children. Learn more about how MSUFCU can help you save during this school year at msufcu.org/savings