According to the National Retail Federation, the average American family will spend more than $600 on clothes, shoes, supplies, and electronics during the 2010 back-to-school season, making this the second biggest consumer “event” of the year (you can probably guess what the first is!).

But unlike Christmas, this time of year often catches people unaware - how many of us plan for back-to-school spending in our annual budgets? Not us! Even if you haven’t been saving your pennies for the annual trip to the school-supply aisle, you’ve still got time to plan for these expenses and make sure you don’t end up with a battered budget. These tips can help:

1. Decide who will do the school shopping.
2. Involve your kids.
3. Start early.
4. Talk about it.

Get the full details of each of the 4 tips by reading this week’s Money Couple Minute on 4 ways to survive back-to-school spending.

Also, be sure to watch our new segment on ABC News called the Money Couple Minute - This weeks video is on Managing a Blended Family.