Summer is in full swing and while the kids might not be thinking about heading back to school in a few weeks, parents should be preparing their back to school budget. During the best economic times this annual preparation for the start of the school season can be financially taxing. This year will undoubtedly be harder for many families still recovering from the effects of the recession. With limited resources and many schools facing budget cuts themselves, parents may find themselves footing the bill for more expenses at a time they can least afford the added financial responsibility. Here are a few tips to help get through this annual tradition with the least amount of damage to your budget.

• Make a list- Shopping without a list of items you need is one of the easiest ways to buy things that you either do not need or can not afford. This applies to grocery shopping, car shopping, house shopping; know what your needs are and how much you can afford to spend before hitting the stores.

• Take inventory- Merchants are likely chomping at the bit with the upcoming back-to-school season approaching. Traditionally this time of year is very profitable for retailers, with only Christmas and Mother’s Day bringing in more business. Before you even step foot inside a store however you should first take inventory of what items on your list (see above) that you already have at home from the previous school year. After all, the kids just got out of school in June, so many of the things they have left over from the year before can work for the upcoming year. Backpacks, lunch boxes and certain school supplies don’t expire when the final bell rings, so there is no need to replace perfectly useful items just because it is a “new” year.

• Set a budget and stick to it- Once you have determined what you must buy new, set and stick to a budget that will not place additional strain on your finances. This may involve talking to your kids about how much money is available to spend so they understand before heading out to the store that once that number has been reached, shopping is over. Of course this is easier said then done, as many children simply do not understand financial restrictions, however addressing the issue before you are in the midst of a shopping trip will be easier than going over the budget in the check-out line.

• Start early- You can save money and your sanity by starting early. Pick up a few items here and there and begin to build the back-to-school cache before the retailers launch their back-to-school specials (which often are not that special). Not only will this be more easily absorbed in your budget, but you can probably do this on the side without the kids noticing which can make it much easier than a full blown shopping trip with all the kids loading the shopping cart faster than you can tally the total. By starting early you can also take advantage of online shopping without worrying if the product will arrive in time for the first day of school.

The back-to-school shopping trip is like many other events throughout the year when we have become accustomed to spending money. In light of the recent changes in the economy and the shift in consumer spending this might be a good time to change that pattern. After all, it is not like days gone by when your kids only got clothes once or twice per year. Most kids get new clothes throughout the year, so if you don’t buy all your fall and winter clothes the last week of August there is a good chance your kids won’t freeze. Take your time, heed your budget and don’t go overboard and you should be able to get the kids back-to-school without breaking the bank.

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