Desperate parents considering dumpster diving and theft to afford their kids’ school supplies

NEW YORK — How are families faring in the U.S. economy this year? A concerning new poll finds that the answer could be summed up in one word — desperation. Three in four parents say they would try “any” workaround they could find to save some money on school supplies for their children—with some even dumpster diving and stealing from work!

A survey of 2,000 U.S. parents of elementary school kids found 77% believe staying under their budget is a top priority for them. The top resources parents have used to keep their back-to-school shopping under control include purchasing school supplies whenever they go on sale, even after back-to-school season (49%), and shopping at multiple stores for the best deals (45%).

Commissioned by The Krazy Coupon Lady and conducted by Talker Research, the survey also reveals that many others said they’d also try to save money by even wilder means. These desperate parents would try hoarding school supplies throughout the year (37%), shopping exclusively when there’s a deal (34%), extreme couponing (22%), looking for half-used items around the home (16%),  joining buy-nothing groups on social media (10%), trading supplies with other parents (9%), and dumpster diving (5%).

Another 12% admitted to stealing supplies from their workplace so their kids could use them as school supplies.

Over half the poll (57%) would also be willing to save money by group-buying school supplies with other parents — purchasing certain items in bulk and then splitting the cost amongst the group. The most likely supplies to be group-bought include pens and pencils (67%), art supplies (59%), notebooks (58%), folders (54%), glue and tape (52%), and desk accessories (47%).

“The reality is, parents are worried about what back-to-school shopping costs look like this year,”  says Joanie Demer, co-founder and co-CEO at The Krazy Coupon Lady, in a statement. “We’re seeing parents embracing getting creative with their budgeting. It’s clear that they want to save as much as possible  when they prepare their kids for school — and that shouldn’t be a chore for them to do.”

While two in three parents reported feeling prepared for back-to-school shopping this year, the results also found 82% believe the cost of supplies has increased in the past year, especially for clothing (59%), shoes (51%), backpacks (50%), and school uniforms (26%). 

On average, parents anticipate spending $280 on supplies this year. 

Nearly all respondents (95%) said they prefer to include their kids when shopping, but 64% believe they spend more money when their kids are present, spending an average of $101 more on supplies if their kids tag along.

Forty-four percent of parents said they would consider giving their kids money to spend on school supplies, but many believe their kids would end up using it on snacks (42%), candy (38%), and games (33%) rather than actual school supplies (32%). The study also found kids are more concerned about their school supplies being name-brand than parents (41% compared to 36%). 

Nearly three in five (59%) feel like their kids pester them to buy a certain school supply item name brand on occasion. Some parents shared what their kids have requested, including Under Armour backpacks and clothing, Stanley tumblers and bottles, Nike and Jordan shoes, Mead notebooks, and Crayola crayons. 

“There’s a number of things parents can do to beat the costs,” Demer continues. “Start by comparing prices before you purchase, waiting for a sale, and paying attention to the clearance shelves. Parents deserve to have as many resources as they can gather to support their wallets and  their peace of mind.”