Get Ready For Back-to-school Shopping On A Budget This Year

It's Not Too Early To Be Thinking About Back-to-School Shopping

If you think it's too early to be talking about back-to-school time, take a good look at your calendar. We're getting awfully close to the middle of July, and the first day of school is August 21!

Retail Me Not, a savings and cash back website, has some great insight on back-to-school shopping and saving from a recent survey.

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The majority of people said they're starting their shopping in July, 25% said they wouldn't start until August, and 7% of the real slowpokes said they wouldn't start until September.

The top-of-mind items for all of these shoppers were sticking to a budget, with the cost of goods on top of the list of stressors for back-to-school shoppers.

Shoppers in this survey indicated that they are spending an average of $389 total for back-to-school items. That came out to $177 for grade schoolers and $212 for high schoolers. That is down from $506 in 2024.

For college students, the total is down from $821 to $598.

The top 5 most popular categories for back-to-school items:

• School supplies, 52%
• Clothing & shoes, 46%
• Backpacks & bags, 41%
• Lunch & food storage, 34%
• Health and hygiene products, 30%

Parents in this survey are prioritizing smart purchases that strike a balance between price, performance, and durability.

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Parents' top back-to-school shopping goals included managing their budget, choosing quality and durability, keeping kids happy, and spending as little as possible.

The main shopping tip they gave was to start shopping early to spread out savings. Deals on essentials like electronics, dorm decor, bedding, and more will go live this month. Shopping early helps you avoid stock issues and last-minute price hikes.

Source: Retail Me Not