Written by Manuel Alfaro

Back-to-school shopping can get expensive fast.

You walk into the store planning to buy pencils, notebooks, and a backpack. Somehow, twenty minutes later, the cart also contains new clothes, a lunchbox, markers, headphones, a water bottle, organizers, and maybe even a new tablet.

That is exactly why having a plan matters.

According to Deloitte's 2026 Back-to-School Survey, parents expect to spend about $557 per child this school year. The survey also found that families are becoming increasingly focused on value and are using multiple strategies to control back-to-school costs.

The good news is that your child probably does not need everything advertised as a back-to-school essential.

A better strategy is simple:

Buy what your child actually needs, reuse what still works, and wait on anything the school has not specifically requested.

Here are 10 back-to-school supplies that usually earn their place in the family budget, along with the things you can often skip.

Before You Shop: Start With the Teacher's List

Before buying anything, check your child's official school or teacher supply list.

This one step can prevent a surprising amount of wasted spending.

Different teachers may request:

• Composition books instead of spiral notebooks

• Specific folder colors

• Certain calculator models

• Dry-erase markers

• Headphones instead of earbuds

• Particular binder sizes

• Specific art supplies

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Buying a giant generic school-supply bundle before receiving the actual list can leave you with plenty of supplies but still missing the things your child needs.

Our budget rule:

School list first. Store display second.

Then walk through your house before shopping. Check drawers, backpacks, desks, closets, and last year's school supplies.

You may already own half the list.

1. A Durable Backpack

A backpack is one school item where buying purely on price can sometimes backfire.

Children carry books, folders, lunches, water bottles, Chromebooks, jackets, and supplies almost every day. Cheap seams, weak zippers, and thin shoulder straps can fail quickly.

Look for:

• Reinforced stitching

• Comfortable padded straps

• Strong zippers

• A water-bottle pocket

• Enough room for folders without bending them

• A separate device compartment if your child carries school technology

But do not automatically replace last year's backpack.

If the zipper works, straps are secure, and the bag can be cleaned, reuse it.

Family Finance Warriors Tip

Wash or wipe down last year's backpack before deciding whether it needs replacing.

Something that looks worn in June can look surprisingly good after a proper cleaning.

Buy: When the old backpack is damaged, too small, or uncomfortable.

Skip: A replacement just because a new character, color, or style came out.

2. Pencils, Pens and Erasers

Few supplies get used—or disappear—as quickly as pencils.

For elementary students, traditional wooden pencils are usually the safest starting point unless the teacher requests something different.

Older students may also need:

• Blue or black pens

• Mechanical pencils

• Extra lead

• Erasers

Instead of buying tiny novelty packages throughout the school year, consider keeping a basic supply at home.

That makes it much easier when your child announces at 8:30 p.m.:

"I need pencils tomorrow."

A home supply cabinet can also reduce emergency convenience-store runs where simple school supplies may cost much more.

3. Notebooks and Composition Books

Notebooks seem straightforward until the school list arrives.

Some teachers want:

• Wide-ruled notebooks

• College-ruled notebooks

• Composition books

• Spiral notebooks

• One notebook per subject

• Specific notebook colors

That is why notebooks are an excellent example of something you should not overbuy before receiving the teacher's list.

Once you know what is required, multipacks can sometimes offer better value.

Also check last year's supplies. A barely used notebook does not suddenly become worthless because the calendar changed.

Remove old pages if necessary, label it for the new subject, and put it back to work.

4. Folders and Binders

Folders are inexpensive individually, which makes them easy to overbuy.

Start with the exact number and colors requested by your child's teacher.

For younger students, simple two-pocket folders may be all that is necessary.

Middle-school and high-school students may need:

• Binders

• Dividers

• Loose-leaf paper

• Pocket folders

• Sheet protectors

If you have sturdy binders from last year, reuse them.

Replacing the paper label on a binder is much cheaper than replacing the entire binder.

Money-saving idea

Create a permanent supply box where usable folders, dividers, binders, and notebooks go at the end of every school year.

Next August, shop your house before shopping the store.

5. Highlighters, Colored Pencils and Markers

These supplies can be useful, but they are also one of the easiest categories to duplicate.

Before buying another package, check your child's desk or art supplies.

Test old markers.

Sharpen colored pencils.

Check whether highlighters still work.

You may discover that last year's supplies have plenty of life left.

Unless the teacher requests a large assortment, children generally do not need every possible color or specialty marker available.

Buy: The basic colors required by the school.

Skip: Huge premium sets unless your child genuinely uses them for art or school projects.

6. Glue Sticks, Scissors and Basic Art Supplies

Elementary classrooms commonly require simple craft supplies.

Depending on the teacher's list, that may include:

• Glue sticks

• Child-safe scissors

• Crayons

• Colored pencils

• Markers

• Construction paper

These are excellent supplies to buy in practical quantities because they can also be used for homework and projects at home.

But there is little reason to replace scissors every year if the pair your child already owns still works.

The same applies to rulers, pencil boxes, and other durable supplies.

One of the easiest ways to control your back-to-school budget is learning to distinguish between a consumable and a reusable.

Glue gets used up.

Scissors usually do not.

7. A Reusable Water Bottle

A reusable water bottle can be one of the most frequently used school items.

Look for something that is:

• Easy for your child to open

• Leak resistant

• Easy to wash

• Durable enough for a backpack

• Clearly labeled with your child's name

Avoid choosing a bottle simply because it has the newest character or trend on it.

The best water bottle is the one your child can actually use without spilling it inside a backpack.

And before buying another one, check the kitchen cabinet.

Many families already have several.

8. A Practical Lunchbox or Lunch Bag

If your child brings lunch from home, an insulated lunch bag can be useful throughout the school year.

Look for:

• Easy-to-clean interior material

• A reliable zipper

• Enough space for reusable containers

• Room for an ice pack

• A handle your child can easily carry

Like backpacks, lunchboxes do not need to be replaced annually.

If last year's bag still closes properly and can be cleaned, keep using it.

Reusable food containers can also reduce the need to constantly buy disposable bags and individually packaged foods.

The goal is not to create a Pinterest-perfect lunch.

The goal is to create a system your family can use on a busy Tuesday morning.

9. Headphones or Earbuds—But Only If Required

Technology has become a regular part of many classrooms, but this is an area where parents should be careful about buying too early.

Some schools provide devices.

Others request headphones.

Some specify wired headphones because Bluetooth devices are not practical or permitted.

Before buying:

1. Check the official school list.

2. Find out what connector the school device uses.

3. Confirm whether headphones are supplied.

4. Check whether your child already owns a compatible pair.

The same rule applies to calculators, tablets, laptops, keyboards, styluses, and other technology.

Deloitte's 2026 research found families were planning to reduce technology spending while prioritizing replacement purchases in other categories.

That reinforces a useful household rule:

Do not upgrade technology simply because back-to-school advertisements tell you it is time.

Buy the device when school requirements or genuine need justify it.

10. A Small Homework Supply Kit for Home

One of my favorite back-to-school ideas does not even have to go to school.

Create one central homework station or supply box at home containing:

• Pencils

• Erasers

• Pens

• Paper

• Glue

• Scissors

• Colored pencils

• Highlighters

• Ruler

• Index cards

It does not need to be fancy.

A drawer, plastic bin, basket, or old pencil box works.

The purpose is to stop the nightly hunt for a pencil, glue stick, or ruler when homework is due the next morning.

It also lets parents see what the family already owns before buying more.

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Back-to-School Supplies: Buy Now, Reuse or Wait?

Here is a simple approach families can use.

The guiding principle is simple:

Do not turn the school-supply list into permission to replace everything your child owns.

How Much Should You Budget for Back-to-School Shopping?

There is no single correct back-to-school budget.

A first grader reusing a backpack and lunchbox may need very little.

A teenager who has outgrown shoes, clothing, and a backpack may need considerably more.

National surveys also measure different groups and categories, so you may see different back-to-school spending estimates reported in the news.

Deloitte estimates planned 2026 spending at about $557 per K–12 student, while the National Retail Federation tracks the broader back-to-school market using its own survey methodology.

Instead of trying to match a national average, build your family's budget from the bottom up.

Try four categories:

Required School Supplies

Pencils, paper, notebooks, folders and teacher-requested items.

Replacement Items

Backpacks, lunchboxes, shoes, uniforms or clothes that genuinely need replacing.

Technology

Only items required for school.

Extras

Decorations, premium accessories, character merchandise and impulse purchases.

Fund the first two categories before the fourth.

The $0 Back-to-School Shopping Step

Before spending anything, have your child help you inventory the house.

Make four piles:

KEEPStill works and will be reused.

NEEDRequired and genuinely missing.

WAITMay be needed after meeting the teacher.

DONATEStill useful but no longer needed.

This turns back-to-school shopping into a money lesson.

Children begin to understand that shopping should start with:

What do we already have?

Not:

What can we buy?

That is a financial habit they can carry far beyond the classroom.

What Back-to-School Items Can You Skip?

Depending on your child's school and age, these are often worth waiting on:

A Brand-New Backpack Every Year

If the old one works, keep it.

Large School-Supply Bundles

A bundle is only a bargain if your child actually needs what is inside.

Premium Pencil Cases

An inexpensive pencil pouch often does exactly the same job.

Huge Marker and Art Sets

Buy the teacher-required basics first.

New Electronics

Do not assume your child needs a new tablet, laptop, calculator, or headphones.

Trendy Accessories

Character merchandise can dramatically increase the total without improving function.

Large Quantities Before School Starts

Teachers sometimes change requirements after the first day.

Waiting can actually save money.

California Families: Don't Wait for a Back-to-School Tax Holiday

Families in some states can time qualifying school purchases around sales-tax holidays.

California is different.

The Federation of Tax Administrators lists no statewide California sales-tax holiday for 2026.

For California families, your better savings strategies are:

• Comparing retailers

• Reusing last year's supplies

• Shopping directly from the teacher list

• Checking store promotions

• Buying generic versions when quality is similar

• Waiting on nonessential items

• Comparing unit prices on multipacks

A "sale" is not automatically a good deal if it convinces you to buy something you did not need.

A Simple Back-to-School Budget Example

Suppose your child already has a usable backpack and lunchbox.

Instead of replacing everything, you might create a shopping plan like this:

Must buy:Teacher-required notebooks, folders, pencils and glue.

Replace only if necessary:Shoes and clothing.

Reuse:Backpack, water bottle, lunchbox, scissors and pencil box.

Wait:Headphones, calculator, extra binders and technology.

That approach makes the shopping list much easier to control.

The biggest back-to-school savings often do not come from finding a 20% coupon.

They come from not buying something twice.

Turn Back-to-School Shopping Into a Money Lesson

Back-to-school season is also an excellent opportunity to teach kids about budgeting.

Give an older child a budget for one category.

For example:

"You have $25 for your remaining supplies. Let's see how close we can stay to the budget."

Then compare:

• Brand-name versus store-brand

• Individual items versus multipacks

• Wants versus needs

• Price versus durability

The goal is not to make children anxious about money.

It is to show them that money requires choices.

For more ideas, read How to Teach Your Kids About Money (By Stage, Not Age) on Family Finance Warriors.

Want to Save Even More?

Once you know what you actually need, compare retailers rather than buying everything at the first store you visit.

See our updated guide:

The Best Places to Buy Back-to-School Supplies in 2026: Where Parents Can Save the Most Money

And if back-to-school spending pushed your monthly budget harder than expected, try our:

Realistic No-Spend Challenge: Can Your Family Last 7 Days?

These strategies work together:

Plan first → buy what matters → skip unnecessary purchases → reset spending afterward.

Frequently Asked Questions About Back-to-School Supplies

What are the most important back-to-school supplies?

The most important supplies are the items specifically requested by your child's school or teacher. Common essentials include pencils, notebooks, folders, basic art supplies, a backpack, and sometimes headphones.

When is the best time to buy school supplies?

Buy obvious necessities when you find a good price, but consider waiting until you receive the teacher's list before purchasing specialized notebooks, binders, calculators, headphones, or technology.

Should I buy all school supplies before the first day?

Not necessarily. Buying the basics is reasonable, but waiting on uncertain items can prevent duplicate or unnecessary purchases.

How can families save money on school supplies?

Start by inventorying what you already own. Reuse backpacks, lunchboxes, scissors, folders, binders, and water bottles when possible. Then shop from the teacher's list, compare stores, choose store brands where appropriate, and avoid unnecessary technology upgrades.

Does California have a back-to-school sales-tax holiday in 2026?

No. California does not have a statewide back-to-school sales-tax holiday in 2026.

Final Thoughts: Buy Less, Choose Better

Back-to-school shopping does not need to become a second Christmas.

The goal is not to send your child to school with the biggest pile of new supplies.

The goal is to make sure they have what they need to learn while protecting the family's budget.

Start with the teacher's list.

Shop your house.

Reuse what still works.

Buy consumable basics.

Wait on expensive technology.

And teach your children that a fresh school year does not require replacing perfectly good things.

That is not being cheap.

That is being intentional with your money.