Back to School: Managing Costs and Making Smart Choices/Budgeting Tips for the Smart Student

It’s time to go back to school already.

(Sigh)

My true feelings about school and the cost of heading back.

Coming up!

 

Intro:

So, you got some cash, maybe from an allowance? Or, that money your grandma gave you for your seventh birthday.

 

Here ya go, sweetie! Woo hoo! Thanks, Grandma! Whatever it is, what are you gonna do with it? Spend it? Hide it away? Or maybe invest it? Let's start learning how to make that money grow. Time to learn how to be a Cash Kid. 

 

 

Hey, Cash Kids! Welcome back to another episode of the Cash Kid Podcast, where we teach you all the tips and tricks to becoming a money-savvy kid or teen.

 

I’m the Cash Kid and today we’re talking about something that’s on everyone’s mind this time of year—going back to school.

 

But not just any back-to-school talk—we’re diving into how to be mindful of the costs and expenses that come with it.

 

Where I live, we are already in week two of school and the idea for this episode actually came from a story one of my new teachers shared in class. We were having to glue some items into some pages in our binder and he was instructing us how to use the glue…we’re 7th graders so thought it was a little strange but then he shared this story how a boy saw this girl using too much glue on a project, and he asked, “Why do you use so much glue?”

 

And she replied, “Because glue is cheap!”

 

And he said, “It must be nice to live the 3-ply life.”

 

(sound effect after joke)

 

So, whether you can live a 3-ply life or not, you need to listen up to this episode.

 

 Whether you’re getting new supplies, new clothes, paying for lunch for yourself – or your friends, or just taking care of school property, there’s a lot to think about. So, let’s jump right in and see how we can be smart with our money as we head back to the classroom.

 

**[Sound Effect: School Bell Rings]**

 

**Segment 1: Back-to-School Shopping** 

 

Alright, first up, let’s talk about back-to-school shopping. It’s easy to get carried away with all the cool notebooks, backpacks, and gadgets. But before you start filling up your cart, take a moment to think about what you really need.

 

We’ve addressed these a few times already on the Cash Kid Podcast in understanding the difference between needs and wants.

 

Make a list of the essentials—things like pencils, notebooks, and folders. Then, check to see if you have any supplies left over from last year. Reusing what you already have is a great way to save money. We reused our backpacks, and water bottles from last year for instance.

 

Also, consider setting a budget with your parents. This way, you won’t be tempted to buy things that aren’t necessary.

 

Pro tip: Look for sales and discounts. Many stores offer back-to-school deals, so you can get what you need without breaking the bank.

 

**[Sound Effect: Cash Register Cha-Ching]**

 

**Segment 2: New Clothes and Shoes** 

 

Now, let’s talk about something that’s super exciting for a lot of us—new clothes and shoes! I made a deal with my parents if I made straight A’s last year could I have a pair of OnCloud Shoes. I already own 5 shares of their company’s stock too so I wanted a pair.  So, maybe you can make a deal like that. Maybe