While kids are probably not ready to give up on summer yet, it is important for families to start planning for back-to-school shopping. According to the National Retail Federation, families with children in K-12 plan to spend an average of $890.07 on back-to-school items this year, approximately $25 more than last year’s record of $864.35 and a new high. Get started by prioritizing your expenses and creating a budget!

1. Make a List.
You probably have tons of school supplies on your list and if you’re not organized, you can easily overspend or forget something. Before you head to the store or start shopping online, narrow down which expenses are your priorities. Set a spending amount for each category. Some of the most popular categories are classroom supplies, clothes/shoes, backpacks, lunchboxes, books, and technology. Make sure you include hidden costs like after-school activities, sports or band equipment fees, school/lunchroom, classroom fees, etc.

2. Take Inventory at Home
Before you start shopping, go through your supplies at home and see what you already have. Unload last year’s backpacks if you haven’t already. Go through your child’s closet. Find items from last school year that can go towards this year’s list.

3. Look for Sales or Deals
Make sure you take advantage of sales, tax-free weekends, or any coupons to save money. Stores like Walmart, office supply stores, and Target tend to have competitive back-to-school sales. You can also save money shopping from home. Sites like Rakuten are great for earning cash back on your purchases without having to use a credit card.