Shopping for back-to-school amid high inflation is expensive — here are some tips

It's the most wonderful time of the year for kids - as Staples puts it in its iconic campaign from 1996.

Students are days away from going back to school with many rushing to get their new supplies.

Shopping for new stuff - pencil cases, school bags, water bottles, stationery, craft supplies and even new scientific calculators - can be a satisfying experience for kids and teenagers alike.

But not so much for parents, thanks to inflation and shrinking purchasing capacity.

Kayla L'Home, a mother of two, responded to The Spectator's social media post, saying her kids are excited about back-to-school shopping and it's the only reason why they want to go back to school!"

I remember that being my favourite part too, but not as a parent of (two)."

About one in three Canadians are preparing their family for the return to school this year, according to the Retail Council of Canada. Of those, 33 per cent of Canadians will be making a dedicated shopping trip to the stores to get their favourite school supplies.

As many Hamiltonians struggle with their household expenses amid rising costs for housing and food, some may have a harder time shopping.

An average North American parent could spend over $600 per child on their new back-to-school items - a 27 per cent increase from the pre-pandemic year 2019.

Julie Cole, a mother of six, is preparing to send her kids to elementary, high school and college this fall.

This means July and August have been expensive months for Cole - who is the co-founder of Mabel's Labels and a parenting author.

With inflation, everything has gone up," she said.

Inflation has raised the prices of school supplies by at least eight per cent.

Despite that, many parents stay determined to buy the supplies needed to prepare for their kids' schooling.

Cole budgeted a minimal shopping list, rationing $200 to $300 for her son, preparing him for his elementary school.

This didn't include a new school bag or new school uniforms, but only what was needed - books, stationery and shoes.

The budget would've crossed $450 with a new uniform, and even higher with a new school bag - but Cole is relying on hand-me-downs from her older kids, she said.

John DeFranco, a chief commercial officer of Staples Canada, told The Spectator, parents have become more value-minded than ever" in the wake of high inflation, while the demand for back-to-school items remains high, pointing to families preparing for the return to physical classrooms."

Cole's tips for back-to-school shopping:

• Stick to the school list and try not to go off the list. This would save you from spending needlessly."

• Go through the items your kids already have and take inventory of what's needed.

• You don't have to buy everything at once. Parents might feel the pressure to get all that their kids might want, but they are likely to get better deals throughout the year during the off-season.

• Thrifting is hot now, Cole said. Parents can find online deals for second-hand uniforms, especially when kids outgrow theirs quickly. You can also pass down your kids' uniforms to others.

• Involve your kids with budgeting during the back-to-school shopping. Cole said, this could be a great teaching" around managing money, while understanding the difference between needs and wants.

• Encourage kids to reuse their supplies and reduce waste.

• Spend on quality, durable and gender-neutral items that could last longer, and will have an easier time getting passed on to other kids.

Priorities shifted

Retailers, meanwhile, are having their biggest back-to-school season since 2019.

Lila Schaap of Take Note Stationery Boutique on King Street told The Spectator that economic priorities have shifted with our customers," including buying pens and journals that can be refilled rather than getting single-use items.

A local boutique in Hamilton, Schaap said, they're offering products in a variety of price points so that people don't fear it will be out of their price range" or that they can't enjoy quality pens and papers."

This year, Staples launched a campaign, lowering prices on 50 top-selling new school back-to-school items like notebooks, report covers and tech accessories, DeFranco said.

But stationery isn't the only item in a school bag that could cost more.

DeFranco said they're seeing a continued growth" in demand for technology, including tablets and computers.

Technology is no longer a nice-to-have, it's an expectation in classrooms," he said.

Parents have complained about expensive technology for kids in schools - as tablets and laptops become more common post-pandemic.

Kassandra Duric, who has a kid going to Grade 5, commented on The Spectator's social media post that the prices of tablets have gone up. Two years ago, I bought two for $300. This year, $300 for one."

Larger big-box retailers, including Staples and Best Buy, have set out offers on larger purchases with payment plans.

Ritika Dubey is a reporter at The Spectator. rdubey@thespec.com