Here are a few tips:

• Take advantage of back to school sales – August/September can be a great time to head to the mall and get those new shoes or sweaters you’ve been needing for a while. A good way to manage your spending is to not buy things just when you have enough money in the bank, but also to wait for the right opportunity to come along, which in this case just might be a back to school sale.


• Make a list of what you truly need before heading to the store and then stick to it! While you may have used the argument “it’s not how much I spent, it’s how much I saved” you need to realize this is not entirely true. While it’s great to take advantage of the sales offered this time of year, it’s important to remember that even though clothes and other back to school items are offered at a discount, they still cost money.


• Use the back to school season as an opportunity to be more disciplined about how you spend, save and invest your money. Much like we make New Year’s resolutions, you can treat the school year (whether you’re in school or not) as a new beginning for you and your financial habits. With the spending pressures of the holiday season approaching in the next few months, this is a great time to focus on your finances and plan ahead!


• For those of you that are students (whether you’re in grade school or grad school) check out what financial services your school offers. Many of us graduate from school with little formal knowledge about how to manage our money once we begin making money from the careers school has prepared us for. If you have room in your schedule (whether finance is your major or not) it can be invaluable for you to take any classes that will help you learn how to manage your money now and in the future.

Rather than regret all the things you wanted to accomplish this summer but just didn’t get around to, look ahead to the approach of autumn and chance to continue learning about your finances, whether you’re enrolled in school or not!