The beginning of the school year can be tough on your wallet! Between new books, clothes, the latest technology and supplies, it's a wonder anyone can really budget all of those items in once a year, let alone if you have more than one child!  While I am not known as a money expert, I do have a few tips that I'd like to share. So when you are ready to budget in that super cute pair of jeans (that hopefully would work as one of your investment pieces), you can purchase them and not feel guilty about it! 
Credit Card Know How:While credit cards can have their benefits, it is best to avoid them in most cases. It is so important that parents as well as kids, know how to use credit cards wisely to avoid getting a larger than expected bill at the end of the month. Even charging a few dollars here and a few dollars there can surprisingly add up!
Buy within your means.  Don't buy the state of the art computer that is designed to run massive programs just to be able to type up your English 101 papers. Plus, if you charge something you don't have the money for, chances are you're not going to win the lottery before that credit card bill arrives in the mail. Then interest will start to accumulate and that will make your expensive computer even more costly!
Establish a budget.Not only establish a budget but make sure to stick with it. Creating a budget is one of my least favorite things to do, but the payoff out weights my dislike for the task. Having trouble figuring out how to even create a budget? There are plenty of free tools online. My favorite happens to be Mint.com. It is a free service that allows you to see exactly where your money goes.  Creating a budget not only will help you cut back on unnecessary spending but also how to save up for your larger purchases, such as a new computer for school.  
Do research before you purchase.This is where cincysavers.com comes in! To help you stay within that carefully planned budget you just created, figure out which stores have the best prices or sales going on. This is a great place to find out about deals here in the Cincinnati area. Also, use coupons for groceries and sign up for your favorite companies' newsletters. Companies will often times will send you a coupon just for signing up!There are also some great apps for your phone such as Red Laser. You should also shop around for the best deals on anything you will need to purchase while at school, post Back to School season. Most major stores run ads weekly and if you are patient, you can probably find what you need for a lot less expensive than if you were to just go out and buy it on a whim.