As families across Dallas prepare for the start of a new school year, small expenses can add up quickly—new shoes, uniforms, classroom supply lists, and the everyday costs that come with a fresh routine. 

That’s why Chase helped host a Back-to-School event in Oak Cliff this past Saturday, bringing together community, school essentials, and practical financial guidance for parents and students.

Hosted at Pan-African Connection Bookstore Art Gallery and Resource Center on South Marsalis Avenue, the event—held in partnership with YK1K and Pan-African Connection Bookstore—centered on a simple goal: help local families start the year with confidence. 

Chase distributed 300 backpacks filled with school supplies to students and families. Chase Oak Cliff Community Manager Omar Monsivais also lead a Money Skills workshop, Valuable Money Lessons for Families. 

“Back-to-school can be exciting, but it can also be stressful for families trying to stretch every dollar,” said Chase Oak Cliff Community Manager Omar Monsivais. “This event was about showing up for Dallas—helping students start the year with the supplies they need today, and sharing money tips that can help families feel more confident all year long.”

While the backpacks were a timely boost, the event also emphasized something longer-lasting: helping families build everyday money habits that can carry them through the school year and beyond. Back-to-school shopping can be an ideal moment for parents to talk with kids about money in a way that feels real because children can see tradeoffs in real time.

One of the core ideas shared during the event: budgeting doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective. 

• As kids grow, their financial needs change—whether that’s extracurricular activities, spending time with friends, or earning money for the first time.
• A practical approach is to start simple with a worksheet that buckets money into income and expenses, helping kids learn the difference between “wants” and “needs” and see where money is going. 
• For example, a student may want the newest pair of sneakers, but they need to get a new backpack.

The workshop also highlighted the value of helping kids understand tradeoffs once essentials are covered—like setting a small amount of discretionary money and letting them decide how to spend it, then talking through the consequences of those choices. That can be a kid-friendly way to reinforce a key rule: don’t spend more than you earn—and if expenses exceed income, you have to prioritize and cut back.

And budgeting is only one piece. Another theme shared with families: once kids can see what’s left after needs and planned spending, that’s a great time to talk about saving goals—even modest ones. 

• Setting a goal that’s specific and realistic can help kids connect today’s choices to tomorrow’s outcomes, and families can create simple weekly plans to track progress.
• Technology can help families stay organized, too—especially when used to reinforce habits rather than replace them. Families were encouraged to use the tools available to them to track spending and saving, monitor balances, and make day-to-day routines easier to maintain.

“Oak Cliff is built on strong community partners, and that’s what made this day special,” said Monsivais. “When our community comes together, we get more than supplies. We get support, information and encouragement that can last well beyond the Back-to-School season.”

For families who want additional guidance and resources, check out educational tools and student banking information online at Chase.com/student and Chase.com/studentbanking.