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Debt.com » Research » 2022 Back-to-School Shopping Survey

Americans are Spending More on Back-to-School Shopping Because of Inflation


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A new survey shows that nearly half of parents will spend more than $200 on each child.

Despite inflation anxiety, parents are willing to go all out for their kids. This year, 45 percent of parents are willing to spend more than $200 per kid compared to 29 percent in 2021.

Debt.com polled parents on their back-to-school plans. Nearly 8 in 10 said they increased their spending because of inflation.

“While inflation means you’ll spend more for the same amount of back-to-school items you purchased last year, there’s also a psychological component,” Silvestri explains. “Consumers tend to actually buy more during inflationary periods – if they believe inflation will continue to climb. They figure they’ll actually save money by stocking up on nonperishable goods.”

Clothing is the number one thing families will be shopping for this back-to-school season. So now that pandemic concerns have taken the back burner, most parents are going to do their shopping in person instead of online.

Below are the most fascinating results of Debt.com’s 2022 Back-to-School survey.

Do you expect to spend more this year than last year, due to inflation?

How much are you planning to spend per child on back-to-school shopping this summer?

What do you think you’ll spend most on?

Do you plan to do most of your shopping online or in stores?

Do you plan on using any of these money-saving tactics when shopping?

For this year’s full survey results, click here

Do you have children going back to school this year? Percentage of respondents
Yes 95.24%
No 4.76%
How many children do you have in grades 1 through 8? Percentage of respondents
None 24.57%
One 41.90%
Two 26.29%
3 or more 7.24%
How many children do you have in grades 9 through 12? Percentage of respondents
None 42.10%
One 43.05%
Two 12.38%
Three or more 2.48%
When do you plan to start back-to-school shopping? Percentage of respondents
I’ve already started 45.90%
I’m waiting for tax-free weekend in my state 10.86%
I’ll wait for sales 18.29%
First week of August 18.86%
The weekend before school starts 6.10%
Do you plan on doing most of your shopping online or in stores? Percentage of respondents
Online 44.19%
In stores 55.81%
Do you plan on using any of these money-saving tactics when shopping? (Check all that apply) Percentage of respondents
Buy generic or store brand items 59.24%
Reuse old supplies 55.81%
Cut back on other household items that you usually budget for 27.62%
Comparison buy before shopping 55.81%
Ask the teacher what’s essential they need for the first month of school and then spread-out shopping for the other items over the coming months 30.67%
How much are you planning to spend per child on back-to-school shopping this summer? Percentage of respondents
Nothing 2.29%
$50 to $100 25.90%
$101 to $200 26.48%
$201 to $300 17.90%
$301 to $400 9.71%
$401 to $500 8.19%
$501 to $600 3.81%
$601 to $700 1.33%
$701 to $800 1.71%
More than $800 2.67%
Do you expect to spend more this year than last year, due to rising inflation? Percentage of respondents
Yes 78.10%
No 21.90%

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How much more will you spend this year than last year? Percentage of respondents
$0 14.48%
$50 to $100 47.05%
$101 to $150 18.86%
$151 to $200 12.38%
More than $200 7.24%
What do you think you’ll spend most on? Percentage of respondents
Clothing – I want my kid(s) to feel/look special. 48.00%
Technology – My kid(s) needs the latest laptop, tablet, smartphone, etc. to keep up. 20.57%
Traditional school supplies like backpacks, notebooks, etc. 31.43%

For full 2021 survey results, click here

More than 2 out of 3 parents surveyed have at least one child going back to school

1 out of 3 parents surveyed will spend more than $200 per kid going back to school

More than half of parents with kid(s) back to school plan to spend more this year than 2019, before the pandemic hit

1 out of 3 parents surveyed will spend more than $200

Of parents who will spend more this year, 3 out of 5 say clothing will eat up most of their budget

Do you have children going back-to-school this year? Percentage of respondents
Yes 57.14%
No 42.86%
How many children do you have in grades 1 through 8? Percentage of respondents
None 32.48%
One 43.16%
Two 17.52%
3 or more 6.84%
How many children do you have in grades 9 through 12? Percentage of respondents
None 52.36%
One 40.77%
Two 6.44%
Three or more 0.43%
How much are you planning to spend per child on back-to-school shopping this summer? Percentage of respondents
Nothing 3.10%
$50 or less 10.18%
$51 to $100 23.89%
$101 to $150 17.70%
$151 to $200 16.37%
More than $200 28.76%
Will you spend more this year than you did in 2019, before the pandemic hit? Percentage of respondents
Yes 52.44%
No 47.56%
If yes, how much more will you spend this year compared to 2019, before the pandemic? Percentage of respondents
$50 or less 9.65%
$51 to $100 29.82%
$101 to $150 21.93%
$151 to $200 7.89%
More than $200 30.70%
What will you spend the most on? Percentage of respondents
Clothing. I want my kid to feel and look special after a year learning at home. 60.53%
Technology. My kid needs the latest laptop, tablet or smartphone. 21.93%
Traditional school supplies like backpacks, trapper keepers, etc. 17.54%

Methodology: Debt.com surveyed 413 people and asked seven questions about how much they plan to spend on back-to-school shopping this year. People responded from all 50 states and Washington, DC and were aged 18 and above. Responses were collected through SurveyMonkey. The survey was conducted from July 30, 2021, to August 12, 2021.

For full 2020 survey results, click here

What will you do if schools don’t reopen? Percentage of respondents
Quit a job 9.29%
Cut back on work hours 21.51%
Ask to work from home 25.13%
Already home-schooled or stay-at-home parent 44.06%
What % of income will you lose? Percentage of respondents
0-10% 45.48%
11-20% 11.41%
21-30% 12.27%
31-40% 8.86%
41-50% 15.30%
51% or more 13.29%
If your kid(s) go back, how worried are you for their health? Percentage of respondents
Not worried at all 9.35%
A little bit worried 17.35%
Modertately worried 23.47%
Verry worrited 49.83%
Are you…? Percentage of respondents
Married 63.33%
Single 23.94%
Co-parenting 8.94%
Other 4.24%
If schools operate remotely, how will handle childcare? Percentage of respondents
I’ll stay at home with my kids 64.22%
A relative or family friend will stay home with my kids 18.40%
My partner or ex will stay home with my kids 13.63%
I’ll send my kids to some kind of daycare, if it’s open 3.75%
What’s your average household income? Percentage of respondents
Less than $20,000 20.44%
$20,000 to $34,999 19.25%
$35,000 to $49,999 16.18
$50,000 to $74,999 18.23%
$75,000 to $99,999 11.93%
$100,000 or more 13.97%

Methodology: Debt.com surveyed 525 parents and asked them 10 questions about their back-to-school shopping plans. Respondents were at least 18 years old and from all regions across the country. Responses were collected through SurveyMonkey.  This survey was conducted on July 26, 2022.

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