At the height of the summer season, school is the last thing that children – and perhaps even parents – want to think about. However, stores across North Carolina are already displaying their “Back to School” selections.
If parents are unmarried and co-parenting, it pays to be prepared for the coming school year in advance. This is true particularly when it comes to determining how you will manage your child’s education expenses.
3 tips to handle school expenses
It will help to be on the same page with your child’s other parent as you get your child ready for school. Considering these three options can help you reduce the risk of conflict as well as the overall stress the looming school year can bring for your family:
- Set a budget: First, make sure you both have access to the list of supplies your child’s school may require. Then, you can work together to establish a budget. In recent years, back-to-school shopping has become more expensive for families across the nation. Sticking to a budget plan can help you save money and ensure you do not buy doubles of any items.
- Alternate or assign items: The plan for how you tackle the expenses will depend on what works best for your situation. One option could involve trading off expenses, especially if you go shopping with your child during your parenting time. Or you can designate which parent will pay for what items included on the list of supplies.
- Keep your receipts: Organization is key. Hold on to your receipts so you can review your spending. This can also help ensure that you and your child’s other parent divide expenses fairly.
These steps can help parents manage their finances for back-to-school shopping. However, there are potential external factors they should know about as well.
Beware of the “peer pressure” your kids might feel
When it comes to school shopping, co-parents should also be prepared to handle the effect of peer pressure on their children. They might want the newest clothes, the coolest-looking supplies or trending items that are all the rage among their friends or even on social media.
Feelings of competition between parents may arise if children share their desires to have the newest items. It is important to be aware of this reality and have a plan to handle it effectively while sticking to the budget.