Fall Into Good Financial Habits: A Back-to-School Checklist for Your Wallet

As the school year kicks off and routines fall back into place, it’s the perfect time to give your finances a fresh look, too. Between school supplies, activity fees, and shifting schedules, fall can bring a flurry of expenses—and opportunities to reestablish smart financial habits.

At Casey State Bank, we’re here to help you stay organized, protected, and on track for a financially healthy season. Here’s your back-to-school financial checklist to help your family—and your wallet—start the school year strong.

Check In on Your Checking Account

Back-to-school shopping and activity fees can sneak up on your balance. Take a few minutes to:

• Review recent transactions for accuracy
• Ensure there’s enough buffer to avoid overdrafts
• Set up alerts for low balances or large transactions

Helpful Tip: Use Casey State Bank’s mobile banking app to check balances and track spending in real time—anytime, anywhere.

Update Automatic Payments and Transfers

With summer behind you, your monthly expenses might look a little different. Whether it’s a paused streaming subscription or an increase in after-school care costs, now’s the time to:

• Review and update automatic payments
• Adjust recurring transfers to savings or investment accounts
• Confirm due dates to avoid late fees

Small tweaks can keep your budget running smoothly as schedules shift.

Review Credit Card Statements

It’s easy to accumulate charges over a busy summer. Give your credit card a quick health check:

• Scan for unfamiliar or recurring charges
• Review interest rates and payment history
• Consider paying down high balances to free up credit for future needs

Set a Fall Budget

A new season means new expenses—sports gear, school events, and maybe even holiday prep.

Take a moment to:

• Estimate monthly expenses based on your current schedule
• Identify any irregular costs this season (like school pictures or fundraiser events)
• Revisit your savings goals and make adjustments as needed

Keeping a flexible, seasonal budget helps you stay in control—and reduces stress when unexpected costs arise.

Talk to Your Kids About Money & Online Safety

As children use more digital tools for school, it’s crucial to make sure they’re practicing good habits—both financially and online.

Teach your kids:

• How to recognize suspicious links or emails
• The importance of strong passwords
• Never share personal or banking information online
• How to safely use apps or gaming platforms that involve purchases

If your child is old enough, this is also a great time to start discussing budgeting and saving. Casey State Bank offers Junior Savers Accounts designed to help young savers learn smart money habits early.

Protect Personal Information

With increased logins, device use, and online communications, fall is a peak time for identity theft and cyber threats.

Stay protected by:

• Updating passwords for your bank, email, and school-related accounts
• Enabling two-factor authentication where available
• Monitoring accounts for unusual activity
• Shredding old documents or forms that contain personal data

Pro Tip: Casey State Bank customers can enable fraud alerts and secure account notifications through online and mobile banking.

Start the School Year on Solid Financial Ground

A little fall financial cleanup goes a long way in reducing stress, staying on budget, and setting your family up for success. As your community bank, Casey State Bank is here to support you through every season of life—with tools, tips, and local service you can count on.

Need help reviewing your accounts or setting up alerts?

Stop by your local Casey State Bank branch or log into online banking today—we’re happy to help you “fall” into good financial habits!