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It’s time once again for pencils to be sharpened, lunches to be packed, and backpacks to be zipped. Whether you’re a parent or not, your last few weeks have likely been surrounded by back-to-school advertisements or thoughts. And while it’s undoubtedly exciting for the kids to return for another school year, it’s a process that can become rather costly.

Here are some of the expenses you need to consider this fall when sending your children back to elementary and secondary schools, and ways you can prepare to maintain consistent and secure finances and even be rewarded for your purchases.

School Supplies

Every child needs pencils, crayons, rulers, and other tools to use on their learning journey. As most materials may sustain wear-and-tear from previous years, it may be time to purchase some new essentials and other items for the coming school year. Be sure to explore your options and consider using different rewards or cashback options when making these purchases.

With the American Heritage Platinum Preferred or Classic Mastercard®, you’ll earn one ScoreCard Reward Point for every $1 spent. ScoreCard Reward Points are points you receive for making everyday purchases, which can then be redeemed for a variety of rewards, from travel and appliances to gift cards to various brands and retailers.

All of our credit card products, including our Platinum Preferred and Classic Mastercards, do not contain annual fees or balance transfer fees. Also, every purchase made with our credit or debit cards benefit the Penny a Purchase Program, which donates $0.01 to the Kids-N-Hope Foundation.

Lunch & Groceries

Unless your child will be receiving lunch at school, you’ll need to be prepared with nutritious and tasty lunch options. Take advantage of the different rewards programs your local grocery stores offer and compare the prices at each store as the school year continues. Be sure to consider what foods the entire family enjoys to make the most of your grocery trips.

Our Cash Reward Mastercard, a cash back rewards card, offers a percentage of cash back on essential items, including groceries.* This cash back can be redeemed into your share account or applied directly to your balance. It can also be donated to Kids-N-Hope!

Clothing

Whether it’s a uniform or the latest trendy outfit, your children will likely need new clothing for the school year. Be smart when spending your dollars and choose clothing options that offer multiple opportunities for wear. Perhaps your child could wear their shoes to performances or other extracurricular events throughout the school year.

Explore environmentally friendly options for your child’s school wear, whether that’s through a clothing drive held by the school or thrifting. No matter what’s on your list, our credit cards offer a multitude of benefits.

Extracurricular Activities

Odds are your child will be running home in early September wanting to join the hottest club or exciting team at their school. The costs for these activities will vary. Sports tend to cost more for equipment and uniforms, compared to activities such as the chess team, for instance.

Travel costs should also be considered with extracurriculars. You may need to budget for drives to sports fields or auditoriums across your county or state and beyond. Trips such as this present a variety of opportunities to use your credit card products with us and take advantage of various savings and rewards.

After-Care

After-school care comes in a variety of forms, whether it’s a babysitter back at home or a program offered by your child’s school. Depending on the type of care, costs will vary, though all carry their own unique benefits for your child. An after-school program provides rich social interaction and activity, while a babysitter can support your child and needs all year long.

Consider Teaching Financial Responsibility to Your Children

Learning doesn’t need to only happen within the walls of your child’s classroom. Responsibility can be taught in a variety of ways at home, and this includes financial responsibility. Consider exploring our Youth Account options, which follow your child in age and increased responsibilities as they get older.

Our Learning Center hosts a variety of youth activities. From coloring sheets and puzzles to monthly budgeting worksheets, there’s an option that’s sure to appeal to your child and make the process of learning financial wellness more fun!

As an American Heritage member, you and your older children can access Zogo, a gaming app that focuses on financial literacy by rewarding users with gift cards to use at their favorite stores like Target and Starbucks. The modules focus on a variety of financial topics and make the process of learning finances fun!

We all know that learning is a lifelong process, and it doesn’t end for you once you’ve completed school! Be sure to visit the Learning Center to use calculator tools that can help with paying off credit cards, calculating your monthly mortgage or auto loan payments, or reaching a savings goal. You can also read our latest blogs and view upcoming webinars.

Setting a Successful School Year for You and Your Child

Making the most of your spending habits this fall can help set up you and your children for a successful school year. Rewards credit cards with American Heritage can help you make the most of your purchases, all the while setting the school year off on the right foot for you and your children.

_{*How to earn Cash Back: Purchases made through third-party technologies such as P2P or mobile wallets may not receive higher reward depending upon how the technology platform is configured to process the purchase. American Heritage is not responsible for codes used by merchants. Essential merchants defined as gasoline, grocery stores, home improvement, pharmacies, dairy, or meat locker. Travel merchants defined as restaurants, cafes, fast food chains, airlines, ride sharing and hotels. See American Heritage Credit Union Cash Reward Program Terms and Conditions for more information about your rewards. We reserve the right to cancel, modify or extend this offer at any time without notice. See account Terms and Conditions for information on fees. Not a member? Join today. Equal Opportunity Lender.}