Mitchell & Nemitz, PA

You’ve bought the pencils, notebooks, and glue sticks. You survived the school supply aisle and think you're done. The truth is the upcoming school year's costs are just getting started! Here’s some other elements of the school year's true costs and how to stay ahead financially this upcoming school year.

• Field trips, activity fees, and the mystery of the suggested donation. Some schools frame field trip fees as suggested contributions. Translation: We really need this money but legally can’t require it. Other times it’s an after-school art program with a sliding-scale fee, or a club that requires a registration charge for a free event.
  
  What it costs: $10–$100 per trip or activity
  
  How to plan: Request a calendar of planned field trips and extracurricular activities early in the year if it’s not automatically shared. Spread out your budget across upcoming months to plan for the expense. And if you have problems making ends meet, ask the school if they have funds to assist in paying for these activities.

• School lunches: Where costs stack up fast. Packing lunch every day takes time, energy, and negotiation (Yes, you have to eat something green). But school lunches aren't always the cheaper alternative, especially if your child buys them regularly and grabs extras like snacks or drinks.
  
  What it costs: $2 to $5 per day, per child = Up to $100 per month, per child
  
  How to plan: Compare monthly costs of school lunches versus packing from home. If your child qualifies for free or reduced lunches, apply early. And if you’re packing meals, create a rotating plan of simple, budget-friendly lunches to avoid rushed, last-minute purchases or uneaten leftovers.

• The sports and activities funds. Sports used to mean a ball and a team t-shirt. Now it’s custom gear, team jackets, tournament fees, and optional team bonding events. Even non-athletic activities like band, theater, or robotics, can create equipment costs, performance uniforms, or competition entry fees.
  
  What it costs: Anywhere from $100 to $1,000+ a season depending on the sport or activity
  
  How to plan: Before your child signs up, ask for a full-season cost breakdown. Factor in travel, gear, meals, renting band equipment and team contributions, in addition to the initial sign-up fee. And for younger kids, leverage slightly used equipment. This comes in handy as kids often outgrow spikes, skates and shoes before they wear them out!

• Smile! You're spending again. Picture Day can introduce an order form that charges $50 for an 8x10 and some wallet-sized prints you don’t need. But you must also plan for things like the costs of a yearbook and holiday performance DVDs.
  
  What it costs: $30–$80+ per event per child depending on the package
  
  How to plan: Decide early what you actually want to keep and skip the rest guilt-free. You can always take your own photo on Picture Day and buy the digital download later (if it’s even slightly more affordable).

Be prepared, not overwhelmed

The truth is that school is expensive even when it's free. But it is possible to manage if you plan for the entirety of expenses, not just the ones printed on the supply list. Create a separate school year fund in your budget, track spending per child, and have monthly check-ins to adjust.

And most of all, remember: You don't have to do it all, you just have to do what works for your family. Enjoy the new school year!