As summer winds down, back-to-school shopping season kicks into full gear — and this year, families are feeling it more than usual. Tariffs and rising costs due to the Trump administration's trade policies have pushed prices on everyday school essentials higher, making it more important than ever to shop smart.

Between application fees, testing costs, and tuition, the price of pursuing a college degree adds up fast — often before a student even steps foot on campus. With some planning, families can cut costs at nearly every stage of the process, from applying to actually paying for school.

A mother should never have to choose which of her children gets to eat. This summer, halfway around the world, thousands of mothers were forced to make exactly that choice.