Students aren’t the only ones who’ll need to pull out the pens, paper and calculators for the back-to-school season.  Parents who want to keep back-to-school spending under control should consider doing the same.

Backpacks, paper, books, pens, calculators, computers clothes and shoes are basic necessities that can add up quickly and become significant expenses for any household. Developing and sticking to a solid spending plan is the key to avoiding overspending. If you are in charge of back-to-school shopping, here are tips to help keep your budget on track:

Develop a back-to-school budget

Take time to develop a monthly budget if you don’t already have one in place. review your income and regular expenses, and determine your back-to-school spending goal based on what you can afford.

Take an inventory of school necessities

If you missed spring-cleaning, this is a good time to pull out your child’s clothing, shoes and supplies for an inventory of what’s still useable. Have the kids try on clothes and shoes to see if they still fit. Consider donating clothes that no longer fit to Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Be sure to get a receipt, since the items could be applied to your personal income taxes as charitable contributions. Another option is to sell the old clothing to a store that specializes in reselling used clothing. Use the money to buy clothes for the new season.

Create a comprehensive shopping list

Now that you’ve taken inventory, create a shopping list of your child’s needs. The list should include additional clothing, school, athletic and scout uniforms, yearbooks, eyeglasses, classroom supplies and musical instruments. Write down your children’s sizes and special color needs for items like uniforms. Carry your shopping list to keep you on track.

Involve children in decision-making

Tell children what the spending goal is and how they can help meet the goal by choosing perhaps two outfits instead of three. Help them understand how recycling clothes, lunch boxes, book bags, and notebook binders is not only good for the environment, but also good for the household budget.

Shop for the best prices

Get the best value for your dollar by checking for coupons and sales. Listen for TV and radio commercials and check your local Sunday newspaper for back-to-school and clearance sales.

Use credit wisely

Pay with cash if possible. Try layaway if you need time to save up for purchases. If you have to use credit, limit purchases to items you can pay off in 90 days. If you have more than one credit card, use the card with the lowest interest rate to minimize the amount you’ll have to pay back. Remember, using a credit card is like taking out a short-term loan.

if you would like to discuss your back-to-school budget with someone, you can take advantage of the GreenPath Financial Wellness Program, a free financial education and counseling program from Health Care Family Credit Union. GreenPath counselors are available Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.(EST), Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. To use this service, simply call 1-8770337-3399 or visit the GreenPath Section of Health Care Family Credit Union’s website by clicking here.