Calgary parents looking for ways to save amid rising back-to

Calgary parents looking for ways to save amid rising back-to-school costs

National survey says 91% of respondents feel school supply costs have increased

As students gear up to return to the classroom, some Calgary parents are feeling the sting of more expensive school supplies and other necessities.

"Every year it's more," said Leah Long, whose three daughters are entering grades four, seven and 10 in the fall.

Long said she often has to balance the need for school supplies and new clothes with other ongoing expenses, like increasing grocery prices.

"We'll wait for sales," Long said. "At the same … not going so crazy on trips and adventures so that we have that little extra nest egg to handle school."

An April survey from the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) and market research company Caddle found 91 per cent of respondents said they felt back-to-school items have become more expensive, up from 87 per cent last year.

"Average household spending ranges from $600 to $750 per child when electronics are included, making it one of the most significant retail events of the year," the survey noted.

Caddle surveyed a randomized sample of 1,398 parents through its mobile platform and online panel before back-to-school shopping season began.

Stephanie Washbrook, executive director of EducationMatters, said the organization has seen an increase in the demand for school supplies over the last two years.

Every year, the organization, which is the charitable partner of the Calgary Board of Education, holds an event to fill backpacks with school supplies for students in need.

Washbrook said this year 75 CBE schools and its Welcome Centre for newcomer students identified 2,000 students who need supplies.

"There's so many other costs that families are dealing with, so this is just one small way that we can help families," she said.

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Washbrook added they also see demand rise during the school year, and not just for supplies. She said the organization also provides clothing, grocery gift cards and transit passes to students throughout the year.

Selam Haile said she moved from Eritrea to Canada three years ago, and has also noticed prices going up.

"This year most probably is a little bit expensive because of the economy — so many difficult times," Haile said, adding she too has to balance buying supplies for her two daughters with paying for groceries and rent.

Survey says: The cost of back-to-school shopping is going up

She added she is trying to look for the best deals, while investing in items that will last a long time.

Long said her family also tries to maximize what supplies and necessities they buy, whether that's buying in bulk when there are sales or sharing hand-me-downs.

"We reuse a backpack, we tend to over-buy when things go on sale after school starts, so then we have lots of duotangs. We have lots of loose leaf, lots of pencils," she said.

"We make a lot of compromises."

Kelsea Arnett is a reporter with CBC Calgary and part of the 2025 CBC News Summer Scholarship cohort. She worked as a researcher for CBC during the 2023 Alberta provincial election and previously worked as a reporter for the Globe and Mail. You can reach her at kelsea.arnett@cbc.ca.

With files from Colleen Underwood and Terri Trembath