20 Things I Do Every August to Save Money Before School Starts

August sneaks up on me every single year. One week it still feels like summer, and the next week I’m looking at a growing list of expenses that all seem to hit at once. New clothes. Activity fees. Supplies. Snacks for lunches. It adds up fast, and if I’m not paying attention, September can blow a hole in the budget before it even really starts.

Full disclaimer – I actually homeschool instead of send my kids to public school. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t have a whole host of expenses for school. We still have activity and supply fees, lunch costs for all the homeschool activities we are out and about doing, and yes, the kids still need new clothes every year.

I’ve created this list with both homeschool and public school families in mind.

Over the years I’ve built a routine that helps me get ahead of it instead of scrambling through it. I like to prepare so I’m not making decisions in a rush at full price.

The biggest money leak in August isn’t overspending. It’s buying things you already have or paying full price when you could have got it on sale.

1. Inventory what you already have. Before I buy a single thing, I go through clothes, supplies, and activity gear from last year. It’s shocking how much is still perfectly usable once I actually look.
2. Sort repair from replace. Some things just need a quick fix, a missing button, a broken zipper, a wash. I separate those from the things that are genuinely done, so I’m not replacing something I could have fixed in five minutes.
3. Check the pantry and freezer first. Before I add lunch and snack items to my shopping list, I check what’s already sitting in the pantry or freezer. There’s almost always more than I remember.
4. Look back at what I overbought last year. I try to remember what ended up unused or wasted from last August. If I bought too much of something, that’s my cue to buy less this time.
5. Sort out sizes early. Kids grow over the summer, and the last thing I want is a surprise the week everything starts. Checking sizes ahead of time means I’m not making a panic purchase later.
6. Wait for the post clearance window. For anything that isn’t urgent, I wait until right after the big back to school rush. Prices drop fast once the initial demand passes.
7. Hit thrift stores first. For basics, especially things that get worn out or outgrown quickly, I check secondhand options before buying new.
8. Use cashback apps or price matching. For the bigger purchases, I take the extra few minutes to check prices elsewhere or use an app that gives cashback. It adds up more than people expect.
9. Split bulk multipacks with other parents. Some supplies only come in big packs. Splitting the cost and the pack with another family means neither of us pays for more than we need.
10. Buy ahead for what I know is coming. If I know certain items will be needed again in a couple of months, and they’re cheap right now, I grab a little extra while the price is good.
11. Meal plan around a busier calendar. I sit down and map out meals with the new schedule in mind, not the summer one. It keeps me from defaulting to takeout on the nights that catch me off guard.
12. Freezer prep for the busy nights. I set aside an afternoon to make a few freezer meals ahead of time, so the nights everyone is running in different directions don’t turn into an expensive scramble.
13. Set up a grab and go snack station. Having snacks already portioned and ready means nobody is buying convenience food out of desperation on the way out the door.
14. Create a landing zone for bags and gear. A simple spot by the door for bags, shoes, and gear cuts down on the time spent hunting for things, and on the money spent replacing things that get lost.
15. Set a weekly miscellaneous budget. There’s always something. A last minute item, a forgotten fee, a small thing that pops up. Having a small weekly cushion for that keeps it from feeling like a budget failure every time it happens. Grab your printable back to school budget here.
16. Review subscriptions and memberships. Before fall activities start adding their own costs, I go through what we’re currently paying for and cut anything that isn’t earning its place.
17. Budget for first month costs. Activity fees, registration costs, and small supply needs tend to show up quickly once things start. I plan for them ahead of time instead of being caught off guard.
18. Check community swap groups first. Before buying anything new, I check local Buy Nothing or swap groups. Someone nearby often has exactly what we need.
19. Set an activities budget before signing up for anything. It’s easy to say yes to everything in the excitement of a new season. Deciding on a number ahead of time helps me choose activities instead of just reacting to what’s available.
20. Do a mid August money check in. About halfway through the month, I sit down and look at where things stand. It’s a small habit, but it means September doesn’t blindside me.
    

None of these things are overwhelmingly difficult on their own but what makes a difference is doing them consistently, every year, before the spending season is already underway. A little planning in August goes a long way toward a smoother and less expensive September, no matter what your family’s schedule looks like this year.