Back-to-School Shopping Tips to Save Money in 2026

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It's almost time for kids to head back to school. While many parents welcome the return of structure to their daily lives, they're not always so excited about the expenses that come with this season. According to the National Retail Federation's 2026 back-to-school survey, families with K-12 students plan to spend an average of $863.86 this year on clothing, shoes, school supplies, and electronics, pushing total back-to-school spending to a record $43.3 billion nationwide. Between the supply list, new clothes, and registration fees, the costs add up fast. This month, we're pulling some back-to-school savings tips from our backpacks to help keep your wallet out of detention.

Key Takeaways

The average family with K-12 students is expected to spend nearly $864 this school year, so a plan for the whole season matters more than a single shopping trip.
Many states hold sales tax holidays in late July and August, and stacking these with store sales and coupons can add up to real savings.
A clear shopping list is your best defense against impulse buys and colorful in-store displays.
Involving your kids in the budgeting process teaches money skills that will stick with them well beyond the school year.
Comparing prices across a few retailers before you buy can uncover savings that a tax holiday alone won't.
Looking past the supply list to registration fees, activity costs, and clothing helps you avoid surprise expenses later in the semester.

Shop During Tax-Free Holidays

Between notebooks, pens, markers, and everything else on the classroom supply list, back-to-school shopping can leave you and your wallet feeling fatigued. The good news is that most states offer a sales tax holiday sometime in late July or August, and the list of qualifying items usually goes well beyond basic supplies to include clothing, footwear, and sometimes even computers.

Dates and rules vary quite a bit by state. For example, several states including Tennessee, New Mexico, and West Virginia kick off their tax-free weekends toward the end of July, while a bigger group, including Texas, Ohio, Missouri, Virginia, and South Carolina, holds theirs the first full weekend of August. Illinois brought back its back-to-school sales tax holiday for 2026 as well, running for about a week and a half in early August. Florida's holiday tends to run the longest, spanning most of the month.

Because the details differ so much from state to state (price caps, qualifying items, and even how online orders are treated), it's worth checking your state's Department of Revenue website before you shop. Once you know your dates, pair them with store sales and coupons for the biggest impact. A tax exemption is nice on its own, but layered on top of an existing sale, it can mean real savings on a full cart of school supplies. For more everyday ways to trim costs beyond this season, check out 100 Small Ways to Save BIG.

Stay on Track

Stores are very good at setting up colorful displays with eye-catching products, and school supply aisles are no exception. There will be plenty of cute items you'll be tempted to buy to help get your child excited about the new school year, but it pays to stick to your list.

Unnecessary supplies tend to go unused, add clutter to your child's desk or backpack, and quietly drive up your total more than you'd expect. Before you head to the store, pull the official supply list from your child's school and treat it as your budget's north star. If a display item isn't on that list, give yourself a day to think it over before buying it. Most of the time, the urge to buy passes once you're out of the store.

Get Your Kids Involved

Back-to-school shopping can be a great opportunity to teach kids important skills about budgeting and prioritizing. Your children's required school supplies may be set in stone, but there are still areas where you can let them have some ownership over the decisions.

Set a fixed budget for your child's backpack, for example, and let them choose how to use it. If they pick something that costs less than the budget, let them keep the difference to save or spend elsewhere. It might seem like a small exercise, but it introduces a lesson that applies to so many financial situations later in life: you have a limited amount of money, and the choices you make with it have real trade-offs. For younger kids, our illustrated storybook Kathryn & Elizabeth Go Shopping is a fun, age-appropriate way to introduce these same ideas. And if you're looking to build on these habits year-round, our post on 11 good financial habits is a great next step for the whole family.

Compare Prices Before You Commit

It's tempting to buy everything in one trip at the first store you visit, but a little comparison shopping goes a long way. Prices on backpacks, shoes, and electronics in particular can vary significantly from one retailer to the next, even during a tax-free weekend.

Before you shop, spend a few minutes checking prices at two or three retailers, either online or through their weekly ads. Many stores will also price-match a competitor's advertised price, so it's worth asking if you find a better deal elsewhere after you've already made a purchase. This step takes a little extra time up front, but it can meaningfully lower your total spend, especially on the bigger-ticket items on your list.

Budgeting for the Full Season

It's easy to think of back-to-school costs as a single shopping trip, but the real expenses tend to stretch across the whole semester. According to NRF data, K-12 families are budgeting an average of $293.11 for electronics, $250.29 for clothing and accessories, $174.01 for shoes, and $146.45 for school supplies this year alone. That's before factoring in the costs that show up after the first day: registration and technology fees, sports or club dues, band or art supplies, field trips, and yearbook or picture day expenses.

Rather than budgeting for "back-to-school shopping" as one line item, it helps to map out the full season. Start by listing every expense you can anticipate between now and winter break, including the ones that feel small on their own, like a $15 club fee or a $40 pair of cleats. Grouped together, these costs can rival what you spend on the initial supply list.

Once you have the full picture, spread the total across your remaining paychecks between now and the due dates you're aware of. If a big expense like a laptop or a fall sports fee is coming later in the semester, setting aside a set amount each pay period is far less painful than covering it all at once. And if you're already feeling behind on this year's costs, it's not too late to build a plan. Our Budgeting 101 guide walks through how to build a monthly spending plan from scratch, and a quick review of your budget now can prevent a scramble in October when the next round of fees hits.

Bottom Line

Back-to-school shopping doesn't have to derail your budget. A little planning, like knowing your state's tax-free weekend, sticking to your supply list, comparing prices, and involving your kids in the process, can turn a stressful shopping trip into a manageable one. The goal isn't to cut every corner; it's to spend intentionally so the excitement of a new school year doesn't come with a financial hangover.

If back-to-school costs are part of a bigger picture of financial stress, know that you don't have to figure it out alone. Family Credit Management offers free debt counseling to help you build a plan that works for your whole family, not just this season.

Frequently Asked Questions

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When are the tax-free weekends in 2026?

Dates vary by state, but most fall between mid-July and mid-August. Several states hold theirs the last weekend of July, while a larger group of states, including Texas, Ohio, Missouri, and Virginia, holds theirs the first weekend of August. Check your state's Department of Revenue website for exact dates and qualifying items, since these change year to year.

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What items typically qualify for a sales tax holiday?

This also varies by state, but common categories include clothing and footwear under a certain price (often $100 or less per item), school supplies, and in some states, computers and other electronics. Some states set per-item price caps, so it's worth reviewing your state's list before you shop.

Can I combine a tax-free weekend with store coupons and sales?

In most cases, yes. Tax-free weekends exempt qualifying purchases from sales tax, and that's separate from any discount a retailer is already offering. Stacking a store sale with a tax exemption is one of the easiest ways to maximize your savings during this season.

How much can a family realistically save during back-to-school season?

It depends on how much you're spending and where you live, but combining a tax-free weekend with sales and coupons can save many families anywhere from $50 to a couple hundred dollars, particularly on bigger purchases like clothing bundles or a laptop.

What if I'm struggling to afford back-to-school expenses this year?

You're not alone, and there are options. Look into your school district's supply assistance programs, community organizations, or local nonprofits that often run backpack and supply drives. If the bigger issue is that your monthly budget feels stretched no matter the season, a free consultation with a certified credit counselor can help you build a realistic plan.

Do tax-free weekends apply to online purchases?

In most states, yes, as long as the order is placed and paid for during the holiday window, even if the item ships later. Some states also require that the retailer itself be based in or registered to collect tax in that state for the purchase to qualify. It's worth double-checking your state's rules before assuming an online order is covered.

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What if my state doesn't have a sales tax holiday?

Not every state offers one, and that's okay. You can still save meaningfully by timing purchases around store sales, using coupons or cashback apps, and comparing prices across a few retailers before you buy. Many of the biggest savings during back-to-school season come from timing and comparison shopping rather than the tax exemption alone.

Beyond supplies and clothes, what other costs should I plan for this season?

Registration fees, technology or lab fees, sports and club dues, instrument rentals, field trips, and yearbook or picture day costs are all common expenses that show up after the first day of school. Building these into your budget early, rather than treating them as surprises, makes the whole semester easier to manage.