LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — With summer break winding down, families across Kentucky and Indiana are preparing to send students back to school — and for many, the cost of supplies is adding up quickly.
Meredith Colbert, a mother of school-aged children, said she expects to spend at least $200 getting her kids ready for the new year.
“Clothes, shoes, backpacks — all the things,” Colbert said. “It adds up.”
That total is actually below the national average. According to the National Retail Federation, families with school-age children are expected to spend more than $800 this year on school supplies, electronics, clothing and other necessities.
To cut costs, some parents are taking stock of what they already have at home before heading to the stores.
“We have plenty of markers at home that have never been opened,” said Colbert. “So I’m not going to buy another set.”
Hanna Railey and her daughter began their shopping early — both online and in stores — in order to compare prices and avoid last-minute spending.
“It’s great to get a good start maybe two weeks before school starts,” Railey said. “That gives you time to do the footwork.”
Economists agree: doing an inventory before shopping can prevent waste, especially with items that are often overlooked.
“USB flash drives are one of the most common requests on supply lists,” said Jose Fernandez, an economics professor at UofL. “They never use them. You probably already have a couple just stored away.”
Some items — like folders and pencils — can be found online for just a few cents, but bigger-ticket purchases like backpacks and shoes can drive up the bill quickly. A backpack in one store was listed at $51, while others online were as low as $8.
Many brands offer warranties, which can make a more expensive backpack worth the investment if it can be replaced or reused the following year.
And while many states offer tax-free holidays to encourage back-to-school shopping, Kentucky and Indiana do not currently have any tax holiday planned for 2025.
“Unfortunately, there’s no scheduled tax-free holiday for our area,” Fernandez said. “So don’t hold out hoping for one.”
Experts also suggest shopping without children — especially for families with kids under fifth grade — since most supply lists consist of standard items, and skipping the kids can help avoid impulse purchases.
“We’re going to try to see how much we can roll over into the next year or reuse,” Colbert said. “But we’ll see.”
Back-to-school sales are also expected to pop up around Labor Day and Black Friday, offering another chance to save after the school year begins.
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