How to Save Money on Back to School When Your Kid Is in High School or College

Back to school used to mean a Target run for crayons and a new lunchbox.

Now it means dorm furniture, laptop upgrades, activity fees, a car on your insurance, maybe a first apartment. The list got shorter. The price tag did not.

I work with women every day who are doing the math on their own financial goals while also trying to launch their kids into the world. You want to show up for your family. You also need to protect your financial future. Both things are true at the same time.

Here are five ways to approach back to school spending at this stage of life.

1. Separate Needs From Wants Before You Open Your Wallet

Walk through the list before you buy anything.

Does your kid actually need a new laptop, or does last year's model still run fine? Do they need a full dorm refresh, or do they just want one? These are different questions with different answers.

College students especially should wait until syllabi are posted before buying supplies. You find out exactly what is required. You stop buying things you do not need.

For high schoolers, it helps to get clear on what the school actually requires versus what feels expected by the friend group. Those are two very different budgets.

2. Buy Used. Seriously.

Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, ThriftBooks, Chegg, your campus buy/sell groups. All of it.

Textbooks are the biggest opportunity. A single semester of college textbooks can run $300 to $700 if you buy new through the campus bookstore. Renting, buying used, or using digital versions through the library cuts that number significantly.

For dorm furniture, graduating seniors sell everything in May at rock-bottom prices. Set a reminder now so you are ready next spring.

3. Use Tax-Free Weekend Strategically

Most states have a sales tax holiday for back to school purchases in July or August. Ohio's typically falls in August and covers clothing, school supplies, and instructional materials.

The point is to time purchases you were already planning. Not to buy more because it feels like a deal.

Make the list. Then shop during the tax-free window. That is the order of operations.

4. Have a Real Money Conversation with Your Student

Not a vague "be responsible" talk. An actual number.

If your college student has a spending card or access to your account, they need to know the budget before they leave. Something like: here is $X per month. This covers personal spending. When it is gone, it is gone.

Students who understand the real constraints make better decisions. They also build the money skills they will carry for the rest of their lives. That conversation is one of the best things you can do for them, even when it is uncomfortable.

5. Back to School Spending Is a Budget Line, Not a Surprise

Back to school comes every August. It should never feel like a surprise.

Set aside $50 to $100 per month starting in January. By August you have $400 to $800 ready without touching your emergency fund or reaching for a credit card.

That is intentional financial planning. You see it coming. You prepare. You are not scrambling.

The Bottom Line

Back to school at this stage of life is a real expense. It does not have to derail your finances. A little planning goes a long way.

If you are navigating this while also building your own wealth, saving for retirement, and figuring out what your financial life looks like on the other side of raising kids, that is exactly what we do inside the Empowered Sisterhood.

It is a community of women who are serious about building wealth on their own terms. We talk about the real stuff. Budgets, transitions, investing, and building a financial life that actually reflects what you value.

Join the Empowered Sisterhood and let's do this together.

Leah Hadley, AFC, CDFA, MAFF is the founder of Intentional Wealth Partners and Watch Her Thrive. She helps women build wealth and navigate financial transitions with clarity and confidence.

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