Back-to-school season can be a bummer – not just for students, but for parents and their wallets, too. From binders and bookbags to tablets, computers and the latest clothes, there’s a lot to buy.
To gauge people’s feelings about back-to-school shopping, and thus learn more about the state of family finances during the pandemic, WalletHub conducted a nationally representative online survey of parents with kids in school. You can find the complete results in the infographic below.
Key Stats
- 71% parents say that COVID-19 has changed their attitude toward back-to-school spending.
- Nearly 4 in 5 parents say they will spend the same or less on back-to-school shopping compared to 2019.
- 3X more moms than dads say they won't do any back-to-school shopping this year.
- Almost 4 in 10 parents think schools are not doing enough to support their communities.
- The job market is parents' number one concern for their kids upon graduation, followed by debt.
Full Details Overall
| Has your attitude changed toward back to school shopping due to COVID-19? | |
|---|---|
| Yes | 71% |
| No | 29% |
| How will your family’s back-to-school shopping this year compare to last year? | |
| Less spending | 38% |
| Same spending | 36% |
| More spending | 20% |
| We won’t shop | 6% |
| What are you most worried about after your kids graduate college? | |
| Job Market | 42% |
| Debt | 31% |
| Political landscape | 12% |
| Nothing | 12% |
| War | 2% |
| Starting a family | 1% |
| Are schools doing enough to support their communities during the pandemic? | |
| Yes | 61% |
| No | 39% |
| Should all school districts get the same amount of funding per student? | |
| Yes | 78% |
| No | 22% |
Note: Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.