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.
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 require...