August offers the perfect opportunity to reset your finances before the busy end-of-year season. Casey, a financial education specialist with over 10 years at Centric Credit Union, shares practical strategies to manage expenses during the costly back-to-school season and beyond.

• Back-to-school expenses can exceed holiday spending costs, with basic public school fees alone costing hundreds of dollars
• The free Centric Credit Union app features an Insights tool that automatically categorizes spending and helps create custom budgets
• Setting up spending alerts at 80% of your budget provides accountability and prevents overspending
• Distinguishing between needs versus wants is crucial during financially intensive seasons
• Taking time to evaluate your spending patterns can reveal "sneaky spending" habits that derail your budget
• The budgeting tools can automatically tag recurring vendors to specific categories, making expense tracking easier

Download or open your Centric Credit Union app to explore these financial management tools. Find more resources, tips and inspiration at mycentricorg. Centric is federally insured by the NCUA.