Back to School Money Tips: Get Financially Ready Now

School season is here! In this episode of Money Truth Moments, learn how to budget for school expenses, save on supplies, and plan ahead without financial stress. Judy Copenbarger and Carlos Garcia share real stories and practical tips to help you prepare for the months ahead.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

How to plan ahead for back-to-school costs

• The best times to shop for clothes and tech
• Hidden expenses parents often overlook
• How to get your kids involved in financial planning
• Student earning and saving ideas for teens and college-bound kids

🎧 Tune in now and visit www.judycopenbarger.today to access free resources.

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Visit my website at www.JudyCopenbarger.Today

Transcript

[00:00] Judy:

Hello, this is Judy Copenbarger, best-selling author, international speaker, money whisperer, financial guru, and creator of Money Truth and Life.

Welcome to the Money Truth and Life Podcast.

Well, here we are mid-July. Can you believe it? Hate to say it, but school’s coming. We want to get financially ready now — no surprises when school starts. Let’s be financially ready.

If you are really gung-ho, you could even be thinking about the holidays or maybe spring break. But for now, we are going to focus on wrapping up summer and being financially ready for what happens in the fall.

If you have kiddos, college students, or if you are a college student yourself, things are about to change. This is probably the time when you are pulling together tuition, getting registrations done, and figuring out who is going where.

Now it is time to deal with the disruption of the family spending plan. The budget is about to be turned on its head because there is a new normal coming — school is starting.

[02:30] Judy:

Let’s talk about some of the common school-related expenses that people overlook. It’s all those extras — the things that make life more meaningful that we still want our kids to enjoy.

Field trips, special shirts, uniforms, sporting equipment, holiday treats. Those extras add up, and they often do not fit in the regular spending plan.

If you know they are coming, even if you don’t know exactly what they will be or when, prepare now.

After-school activities, camps, science trips, or those state-history adventures — they all take money. If we plan for them, we can reduce or even eliminate the stress later. You do not want that stuff ending up on credit cards and becoming a negative in your mind.

[05:10] Judy:

Here is one simple trick. What if you added just ten percent to what you think you will need for the year?

If you believe your yearly school costs are around two or three thousand dollars, add ten percent for the surprises. That little cushion helps you stay positive when those unexpected costs appear.

When you plan ahead, those expenses do not become debt that you have to dig out of later.

[07:00] Judy:

Now, for the back-to-school supplies — technology, clothing, all of it — the best tip I can give you is buy early.

Secondhand is perfectly fine. Use your network. Share resources with other families. If you have neighbors or parents from school who are one or two grades ahead, connect with them.

They might have calculators, compasses, or uniforms that you can reuse. In return, you can pass down items to families with younger kids.

[09:00] Judy:

Larry and I learned this early in our marriage. When we did not have kids yet, we intentionally spent time with friends who did.

We watched what they bought, how they planned, how they handled surprises. Then, when we had babies, we hung around families with toddlers. And when we had toddlers, we spent time with families with school-age kids.

It helped us anticipate what was coming next — financially, emotionally, and logistically.

You can do that too. Talk to people who are a few steps ahead of you. Ask them what surprised them, what costs popped up that they did not expect. That is planning.

[12:30] Judy:

When you think about fees, sports, clubs, and extracurricular activities, add a line item to your spending plan.

A lot of people use the word “budget,” but I prefer “spending plan.” Budget sounds like diet — it focuses on what you cannot have. A spending plan is about choosing to spend money on things that bring value in.

Create a category for extras or surprises so that you are financially ready for whatever comes.

[15:00] Judy:

Don’t forget about lunch money, transportation, and tutoring. Think ahead to what life will look like in a few weeks, a few months, and even a few years.

If you are planning for college, private school, or trade school, my advice is always start early, plan often, and consider all resources.

Maybe you could not save much when your kids were younger — that’s okay. There are grants, scholarships, and creative on-campus jobs. Some of my own kids made great money taking notes for students with disabilities. They were paid well, learned the material, and earned great grades later.

There are always ways to earn, learn, and grow at the same time.

[18:20] Judy:

Include your kids in the process. Let them be part of the planning and allocation. Decide together what the priorities are for activities and where the money should go.

That involvement teaches life skills and builds healthy money habits.

[20:00] Judy:

So, don’t panic that it is already mid-July. Tuition is coming, uniforms are coming, supply shopping is coming — that’s the joy of this season.

It always sneaks up fast, but you can be ready.

If this information helps you, please subscribe to the Money Truth and Life Podcast and share it with friends. Visit www.judycopenbarger.today for resources, videos, and archived episodes that can help you in every area of finance — personal, business, or ministry.

You will also find my book Money Truth and Life and our online mastery program that covers every financial pillar — growth, protection, investments, insurance, estate planning, and more.

Until next time, make it a great day. I’m Judy Copenbarger. God bless.