Sheila Osterbeck threw four black composition books, 50 cents each, in her Target cart as she browsed the back-to-school aisles Wednesday to stock up on school supplies for her two children.

With lists in hand, Osterbeck and other families at Northgate Target were looking for bargains while wrangling children on shopping sprees that are likely to cost hundreds of dollars.

On average, a U.S. household with children preparing to attend grades K-12 is likely to spend $875 on back-to-school needs this year, according to an annual survey by the National Retail Federation. This spending is 1.6% less than last year’s record high of $890.

Overall spending for the K-12 back-to-school season is expected to reach $38.8 billion nationwide this year, a 6.4% decrease from last year, according to the NRF. For context, Americans spent a similar amount during the holiday season last winter.

A chunk of this spending is not on necessities, however. Families of K-12 students are spending the biggest part of their budget on electronics, at nearly $310 on average, with clothing and accessories, basic school supplies and shoes trailing behind, respectively, according to the NRF.

Families also have to balance children’s needs and wants.

Osterbeck, 46, said the items that gave her the most sticker shock were backpacks and water bottles. Osterbeck’s fourth and sixth graders each got JanSport backpacks for $60 each, but she said she “doesn’t buy them every year.”

Water bottles are another major expense. Osterbeck’s children specifically wanted Owala water bottles, which cost $30 to $40, but she is hoping she can “get another decade out of it.”

Saving on the basics

Though inflation began to ease recently, many Seattle-area families continue to feel the squeeze of the high cost of living. With the start of school in sight, teachers and families alike are looking for ways to fill classrooms and backpacks without emptying their wallets.

Many chose to shop early in an effort to save.

More than 55% of back-to-school and college shoppers started their hunt for bargains early last month, taking advantage of Target’s Circle Week, Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday in July events, according to the NRF survey.

Another survey by Deloitte, an audit, consulting, tax and advisory service provider, found 59% of respondents think the best deals occur earlier in the season, while 41% believe they occur later in the season. The survey points out that early shoppers often spend 1.5 times more than late shoppers.

Some, like Rachel Aronson, are avoiding big-box retailers and turning to discount options like Dollar Trees or resale shops, like Seattle ReCreative, a nonprofit creative reuse store with locations in Greenwood and Georgetown.

Aronson’s 5-year-old son is going into pre-K, and Seattle ReCreative has been helpful in easing the strain on her finances.

“You can get a pack of markers, like the whole rainbow of markers for $2 or a bag of beads for 50 cents,” said Aronson, 38. “He goes through a lot of craft supplies, so having a place to acquire those inexpensively is a big help.”

Seattle ReCreative sells just about everything a crafter needs. For back-to-school, 25 cents can get you 10 pencils, a small notebook or a pack of 1,000 staples. A “handful” of paper clips, markers and colored pencils are 5 cents each. The store also offers free items and discounts to teachers.

The resale store is the first stop this back-to-school season for Aronson, who said she prefers to shop secondhand.

PTA support

Osterbeck, who is on the Parent-Teacher Association at her children’s school, always makes sure to buy more supplies than necessary.

“I wish this section [of the store] didn’t exist, and all supplies that were needed for public schools were provided by the public schools,” said Osterbeck. “I try to come back at the end, right before it’s all gone, and buy up as much as I can, and then just put it in our communal closet.”

More schools have begun relying on PTAs to help supply back-to-school products, said Natalya Yudkovsky, director of Washington State PTA Region 6, which covers a portion of King and Snohomish counties, including Northshore, Seattle and Shoreline school districts.

“I know that in Seattle, many schools have experienced a significant decline in discretionary funding which they often use to pay for supplies,” said Yudkovsky. “So now [schools] are turning more than ever to families or PTAs for support.”

Local PTAs also hold “robust” school supply drives or provide “school supply backpacks” which are given to families identified by the school, according to Yudkovsky. Or, schools will fundraise directly by asking parents to make donations to the school for supplies.

Classroom responsibilities

Teachers are often expected to stock their classrooms, something Martha Patterson, 61, rejects. Like Osterbeck, Patterson, a teacher for 39 years, thinks public schools shouldn’t be “nickel-and-diming” families for supplies.

Patterson also recognizes how back-to-school has become a sales event.

“Part of the whole back-to-school sale, ‘You must get this,’ I think a lot of it is just latching on to our consumerism society,” Patterson said. “I mean, yes, students do need supplies but not in the huge amount that some retailers and school districts make it out to be.”

Patterson is going into her second year as a middle school social studies teacher in Central Kitsap School District after switching from special education. In her current position, she said she gets a lot more support from her department for supplies.

“My experience at the middle school is that we do get a certain amount of departmental funds that we can order pencils, paper, an electric pencil sharpener, you know, stuff like that,” said Patterson. “It’s never been denied. Of course, it’s helpful if kids and families can provide it.”

When Patterson was in special education, it was a different story for her personal finances. She often bought supplies out of pocket, like dish soap, cooking supplies and sensory materials, and says she received some funding but not nearly enough.

Now, Patterson doesn’t need to spend much for her classroom to look good and be “effective,” saying the high expectation for teachers to be “super teachers” and go above and beyond is damaging.

“You’re hired to be the kids’ teacher, not an interior decorator,” Patterson said. “We want our classrooms to look good, but you can make your classroom look good without spending a ton of money.”

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