Three in four UK parents say school expenses bring stress, survey finds.
Rising back-to-school expenses are weighing heavily on British families, according to a new survey by online retailer Cartridge People in partnership with YouGov.
The poll found that 75% of parents with school-aged children expect costs to be a source of stress this year, while 70% cite the hassle of preparation as an additional burden.
Spending pressures are particularly acute among younger parents. Those aged 25–34 anticipate an average annual outlay of £188 ($254/ €217) per child on uniforms and supplies, compared with £144 ($195/ €167) for those aged 35 and over. Across the UK, the mean spend stands at £152 ($205/ €176), with more than a third of parents expecting to spend between £101 and £200 ($137 and $271/ €117 and €231) per child.
Parents are also shifting their shopping strategies: 43% now combine online and in-store purchases, while 11% start buying before the previous school term ends. Cartridge People has expanded its stationery range to 15,000 items in response.
See the full survey results here: https://www.cartridgepeople.com/info/blog/cartridge-people-launches-back-to-school-survey.