It's back-to-school season and you're just about ready to zip that backpack closed before tossing that supply list into the trash. You've been shopping for weeks to get the right pencils and pens, binders and the dozens of other must-haves. This, of course, is in addition to the perfect school shoes and autumn wardrobe. But now you're done, done, done! Your sanity and your budget are ready for a breather - at least until the Christmas shopping season starts.

But then your daughter comes home breathless from school telling you they've made it onto the school's pom pom team. She's thrilled and can't wait to start attending practices and games! Oh, and did she mention she'll need some money for her uniform and equipment?

Before you can finish digesting this piece of news, your son barrels through the door and announces he's decided to take drum lessons. It'll only be, say, $600 for the drum set, plus the price of lessons. But that's not a big deal for you, is it?

Ah, summer! It's the season of fireworks and fireflies, road trips and rocky road ice cream, baseball and beach balls, flip-flops and ice pops.

But, just as you're settling into the laid-back summer routine, retailers start rolling out their back-to-school displays, which may open that pit of dread into your stomach. Supply lists. New clothing. Backpacks, jeans, laptops and school shoes: It's endless. And it's so expensive!

In fact, according to the National Retail Federation, the average American parent will spend upward of $700 per child this shopping season.   

If that's enough to put a damper on your summer plans, take a deep breath and relax. You don't need to spend yourself into debt just because everyone else seems to be doing it. Instead, take a proactive, mindful approach when shopping for the new school year and spend hundreds less than the national average. Let Jolt Credit Union show you how!

Q: Back-to-school shopping kills my budget each year. Is there any way to start the year off right...without spending a small fortune?

A: Rows of freshly sharpened pencils, an unopened box of crayons and a pair of shiny, new shoes will provide a thrill for any child.

As the parent, though, you're the one footing the bill. If the thought of all that back-to-school spending makes your head pound, you're not alone. The National Retail Federation reports that parents of children entering kindergarten through 12th grade plan to spend nearly $700 per child on school supplies, new clothing and shoes this season. That's enough to fill any budgeting parent with dread.

No worries - as always, Catholic Federal has your back! Let us help you navigate the second-largest shopping season of the year with your budget and sanity intact. Read on for 12 ways to save on back-to-school shopping.

While the dust has barely settled on Independence Day festivities, the store shelves are already packed with back-to school supplies and clothes. The sales are underway online and in-store. So, while we still may be thinking sunscreen and summer fun, now is the time to think about saving money on the upcoming school year!

Whether you shop online or in the stores, a little planning can help you save a lot of money. Here’s some tips:

1. Start your shopping early! Doing your homework early can often help you spend less and choose from a better selection of supplies.

Whether you’re hit with a bout of nostalgia for those old school days, or breathe a sigh of relief thinking “Thank goodness, that’s over,” the school supply list that arrives faithfully in your mail or email probably evokes memories. If it’s not memories of your own school days, it’s memories of school supply shopping. And if you dread school supply shopping, you’re not alone.

My children are all grown now, but I can vividly remember our back-to-school shopping trips. I’d have the cart and all three of them would run up and down the aisles, grabbing things and dropping them in the cart while I was saying things like, “Do you really need SEVEN new folders?”and “Don’t you already own a pencil sharpener?”When we’d finally get up to the cash register, there would be a mound of supplies, a huge bill and one shocked mom. 

Pencils, paper and folders can add up really fast, especially if you’re shopping for more than one child. But if you’re careful, it doesn’t have to.