As the new school year approaches, parents may be spending money on books and stationery for their children. Try to get the children involved in the back-to-school budgeting exercise!
Come up with a budget for school items and encourage your child to think of ways to save money. For example, when shopping for school supplies, encourage the children to think what they really need, and compare the discounts and prices at different shops. You can also look for second-hand uniforms or second-hand books.
Work out the budget and expenses together
Come up with a list of the back-to-school items with your child and stick to the budget and the list. Help your child to decide which item can be cut back if overspend. That way, he/she can learn to spend within his/her means.
List of back-to-school expenses
| Items | Estimated expenses (HKD) | Actual expenses (HKD) |
|---|---|---|
| School fee | ||
| Books | ||
| Learning materials | ||
| Uniform | ||
| Shoes | ||
| Extracurricular activity costs | ||
| School supplies | ||
| School bag | ||
| Computer and other digital products | ||
| Others | ||
| Total estimated expenses | ||
| Total actual expenses | ||
|
Think of ways to reduce the actual expenses. |
Worksheet: My Shopping List (Download)
Prepare a shopping list with your children so that they can remind each other of not buying anything unnecessary.
Worksheet: Proper and Correct Spending Attitude (Download)
Guide the children to think about their attitude towards spending and develop a proper money concept.
15 July 2024
