Back-to-school: How to shop smart and find help if you need it

(InvestigateTV) — Back-to-school shopping is no longer just about picking up pencils and notebooks, it’s also other supplies.

Cherry Dale, vice president of financial education at Virginia Credit Union, said school costs can vary depending on a child’s age and interests — and that new shoes and clothes add to the overall expense.

“Maybe just get a few things here and there and then it’s not so heavy,” Dale said. “When you are in the fall and thinking, ‘oh my goodness, I need to go.’ Now, some states do have that tax free weekend to go and get your supplies. So, if they do, you might want to take advantage of that and mark your calendar as of when that is.”

Dale said schools can be a resource for families facing financial hardship.

“If you’re struggling, I would reach directly to your school because many, many schools partner with different organizations and they are provided with free backpacks, with clothes, with extra supplies that they can help supply families with that would like assistance with the basics as far as that goes,” she said.

Dale said families should plan ahead, stick to a list and bring children along to teach them how to bargain shop at an early age. For older children, she said helping with the expense — or even getting a part-time job — is an option worth considering.