Rising cost of school supplies raises concerns for parents

As parents begin filing into stores to shop for their children’s school supplies, they may be surprised by the price difference this year.

“Last year I remember paying about $72, and this year was $93,” said Cathlia Ward, a mom in Saskatoon. “The list in terms of items was about the same, so I think that’s a pretty good tell.”

Ward noted that the $93 price tag was spent on the listed school supplies, and didn’t include the costs of a lunchbox, backpack, indoor shoes or new clothes. With other back-to-school necessities being taken into consideration, she said parents may be spending hundreds of dollars this fall just to get their children out the door for their first day of school.

With school supplies being more expensive, parents like Ward are having to make tough decisions, like looking at reducing the number of clubs they’re enrolling their little ones in.

“Back-to-school clothes were hundreds of dollars,” she said. “Can we really do multiple activities on top of that?”

Ward explained that necessities, such as school supplies and clothing, are all that some parents can afford right now, which is why extracurricular activities may be on the back burner.

But despite the rising costs, she said saving money for the back-to-school season is possible if parents know the right places to look. Ward suggested thrift stores as a good alternative for people who may need a cheaper option for backpacks or sneakers for gym class.

“Places like Value Village or Mission Thrift always have really great stuff if you can take an hour to actually go and look,” said Ward. “Especially sneakers. Sneakers can be so expensive for kids, and my kids grow out of their shoes really quickly.”

For parents looking to get their kids some new clothes to rock as they return to class, Ward suggested taking used clothes to shops like Once Upon A Child that pay for used items. Ward said she uses the money to help pay for the new sizes of clothes her children need.

Other moms in the province are in agreement that this school year may bring a financial challenge.

“I haven’t even started buying anything yet. It’s kind of hard with everything going up,” said Desirae Wacanta, a Regina mom.

On top of school supplies, parents like Wacanta are concerned about how much lunches will add to their grocery bills.

“I’m worried about school lunches and the snacks,” said Wacanta. “Groceries are getting up there.”

Wacanta said her plan is to create a budget for the school year and stick to it. When it comes to educational activities such as field trips, Wacanta said she and many other parents will likely be planning ahead and saving to minimize the financial impact.

The problem extends well beyond Saskatchewan. The cost of school supplies in the U.S. has gone up by 23.7 per cent in the last two years, according to a study by Deloitte Insights.

– With files from 980 CJME’s Gillian Massie