Back-to-School Shopping Budget Worksheet

To budget for back to school, take stock of what you already have, set a total, then split it by child and category: supplies, clothes, fees, tech and extras. Buy the essentials first, wait for the teacher’s list for specifics and plan large purchases around any sales tax holiday in your state. Keep a small buffer for surprise requests, because there is almost always one.

Back-to-school budget worksheet

Copy this table into a notebook or a spreadsheet and fill in a budget and actual cost for each child. Do not worry if a line is zero.

Category	What to plan for	Budget	Actual
School supplies	Basics from the grade list, plus any items the teacher requests	$____	$____
Clothes and shoes	Fit check, outgrown items, weather-appropriate layers, gym clothes, uniforms if required	$____	$____
Backpack and lunch gear	Backpack, lunch box, water bottle, containers	$____	$____
Fees	Registration, activity, lab or art, yearbook, field trips, class dues	$____	$____
Tech	Headphones, calculator, charger, case, printer ink, a device only if the school requires one	$____	$____
Meals	School lunch account or packed lunch groceries	$____	$____
Activities and gear	Sports equipment, instruments, lessons, club dues	$____	$____
Buffer	A small cushion for surprise requests	$____	$____
Total		$____	$____

Step by step

Reuse first. Go through last year’s backpacks, binders, notebooks, art supplies and clothes before you shop. Hand-me-downs from siblings and friends count, too. Our school supply list by grade shows what is usually reusable.
Set a total. Decide what the family can afford, then divide it by child and category. If one child needs far more, such as a graduating senior with extra fees, adjust the split.
Wait for the official lists. Buy universal basics early, but hold off on class-specific items until the teacher posts the list.
Separate needs from wants. A backpack that fits is a need. A character-themed one may be a want. For older children, set a fixed amount and let them cover the difference from their own money. Our guide to allowance by age has ideas.
Plan around sales tax holidays. See the section below.
Buy clothes in phases. Buy the basics you need for the first few weeks. Wait to buy heavier items or sizes your child may still be growing into.
Read the fee notices. Registration, lab and activity fees often arrive as a separate list. Ask the school office about fee waivers or payment plans if you need them.
Track as you go. Fill in the Actual column after each trip. It takes a minute and prevents surprises.

Sales tax holidays: how to plan

Some states hold a temporary sales tax holiday around back-to-school time, when certain items, such as clothing, school supplies and sometimes computers, are exempt from state sales tax. In 2026, most states that offered one scheduled it between mid-July and late August, and several limited clothing to items priced under $100 each. Dates, price caps and covered items change from year to year, local taxes may or may not be included, and many states have no holiday at all. As of November 2026, the 2026 holidays have ended, so the practical step now is to find your state’s department of revenue website and look for the schedule each summer.

A sales tax holiday only saves the tax on what you buy. It is useful for items you were already going to buy, not a reason to buy more. Compare the price to a regular sale before you shop, because a sale price plus tax can beat a full price without tax.

Where to save

Store brands and multi-packs for pencils, paper, folders and glue sticks.
Secondhand and swaps for clothes, shoes, coats and backpacks. Check condition and fit, particularly for shoes.
Fewer, better items in a few colors that mix and match, rather than a large pile of one-off pieces.
Library and school resources for books, calculators or devices before buying your own. Ask what the school lends out.
Sharing across siblings: Buy one set of art supplies, reference books or a printer ink refill to share.
Lunch from home using the same containers all year, and a refillable water bottle.

Tech: buy only what is required

Check the school’s technology list before shopping. Many schools supply or lend devices, and some have a specific model or a minimum requirement. Do not buy a laptop or tablet for school until you know what is needed. If you need headphones or a calculator, a basic version is often enough unless the teacher names a model.

Do not forget the second half of the year

Costs do not end in August. Winter coats, boots, a sports season, field trips and project supplies show up later. Set aside a small amount each month so that midyear costs are not a surprise. For sports and activity fees in particular, see our look at what youth sports cost. And when closets and shelves overflow, the family declutter challenge can help you pass on what you no longer need.

Bottom line

Reuse first, set a total, split it by child and category, and buy specifics only after the lists arrive. Use a sales tax holiday for purchases you already planned, track the actual costs and keep a small buffer. A page of numbers and a bit of patience keep the cost down.

FAQ

How much should I budget per child?

There is no standard number. It depends on the grade, the school’s list, how much you can reuse and whether fees or a device are required. Build your own total from the worksheet rather than a national average.

Should I buy everything on one trip?

No. Buy basics early, wait for specific lists and buy clothes in phases. Several short trips with a list usually cost less than one big one.

What if I cannot afford the full supply list?

Talk to the teacher or school office. Many schools and local organizations have ways to help, and the staff can often tell you what is truly required and what is optional.

Is it worth waiting for a tax-free weekend?

If it is on items you need anyway and the sale prices are good, yes. If it makes you buy extras, probably not.