But parents of school-age children know better. That seemingly innocent month of August, when we're still lured to the lakes and the beaches, is a killer on the bank account.

We're reminded of how expensive this month will be right as we flip the calendar from July. At the beginning of August, bus cards arrive in the mail, jolting us into the realization that summer will, indeed, end, and kids will return to school.

That means they'll need new clothes (even though everything from last year's shopping sprees still fit). They'll need new shoes (this is a legitimate request). They'll have to get a new backpack (even though half the backpacks dating back to their elementary years are still in tip-top shape).

Of course, they'll need endless other, cheaper school supplies, and beware if your child is entering that grade where the $100 calculator is required. Even the cheap pencils, erasers, pens, notebooks, folders and highlighters add up when you multiply it by two, three or more children.

Don't forget, they also will need items to decorate their lockers, like mirrors, baby whiteboards and pen/pencil holders. (Yes, they NEED these items, they claim.)

Unless you miscalculated and overpaid the lunch account last spring, you'll also be doling out quite a bit of dough for your child to eat lunch. I thought I hit it right on the money last spring, calculating what I would owe through the last day of school for my kids to eat lunch. I'm a master of words, not numbers, which is why the Vogt family is starting this school year with a negative lunch account balance. (Hey, it's only 35 cents!)

If your child participates in a fall sport, that's another major budget item. You won't only be paying the participation fee (which is pretty hefty in the Brainerd School District). There likely will be team warmups to buy as well, and dress clothes to wear to school on game days.

We've also already received a form encouraging us to buy a yearbook.

For those parents of kindergartners who think they'll have extra cash when school starts because they'll no longer need day care (that's what I thought), think again. That savings will go toward field trips, book fairs and fundraisers.

Now don't misunderstand me; I'm not saying every dime doesn't go toward a worthwhile cause. I'm just explaining how August is an expensive month that sneaks up on you.

We try to spread the expense through the month, but I still just can't muster the enthusiasm to buy school supplies when they're first advertised. I'm still in summer mode then.

My oldest daughter tried to rationalize the need for new jeans in early July, when her trendy store had them on sale for $20 a pair. I admit that was a good price, but I also knew better. Had I bought her jeans in July, they would no longer be new in September when school starts. She would still NEED new jeans.

We started our expensive August by paying our fall sports fee. We took a week or two to digest that, then ventured into our first day of shopping for school clothes. Now that's an interesting adventure, given the personalities of our two daughters.

One daughter - the one who never seems to have any money - loves to shop. She could spend hours in the stores all teenage girls love.

The other daughter - the one who has more money than anyone else in the house - absolutely hates to shop or to try on any clothes. She doesn't care what store she visits. She hates them all.

So my husband and I tag-teamed. He was kind enough to offer to take our shopper to her favorite store - the store with comfortable chairs where he could sit while she shopped.

Meanwhile, I took the non-shopper to a different store where there were no chairs. It didn't matter, I was the one searching rack after rack of jeans for a pair she might like. There was no time to sit as I begged and pleaded with her to try on just one more pair of jeans. I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm not afraid to offer a bribe if needed.

After several different stores and several different trips between the same stores to work with each child, I was exhausted. I can honestly say we still had some money left in the checkbook, but we aren't done yet.

There are more clothes to buy. But I think we'll tackle that school supply list first.