Shopping trips for school supplies can be educational for younger children. Teach them to compare costs and quality and to follow lists. Cash needs vary from school to school and grade to grade. Tuition, room and book fees, and costs for extracurricular activities can mean larger cash demands than planned. Other potential expenses include locker fees, yearbooks, parking fees, class rings, drivers' education costs and lunch money.
Extracurricular activities can be very expensive.
Older children involved in more expensive activities can work odd jobs to support some of their interests. Howell said setting priorities can eliminate some expenses that might not be worth the cost to the student. Children have to learn to take care of their possessions. Recommendations on this web site do not endorse any commercial products or trade names.