INDIANAPOLIS — Back-to-school shopping can cost a lot of money.
It can cover everything from notebooks and pencils to clothing to a pricey laptop for college.
LendingTree found 40% of shoppers expect to go into debt over back-to-school shopping, at an average of $793.
The survey also found that among shoppers, 31% said they’re unable to afford school supplies this year, up from 26% in 2023.
Before you buy anything, go through last year's backpacks to see if anything is left over that you can use this year.
It is worth also checking out free groups online. That can be "Buy Nothing" groups on Facebook, or the website www.freecycle.org.
You can also post your needs on parents groups, if they allow it.
If you need to buy new items, Matthew Schulz said it is necessary to shop around.
"Different places, whether it's online or in person, can have very different prices on everything from backpacks to lunchboxes to shoes and on down the line. So, shopping around really does matter," Schulz said.
Web browser extensions, including Honey and Capital One Shopping, can also help you research the best prices on items.
While some backpack drives are underway, there are others coming up.
Confirm with the host of an event to see if registration is required.
You can find out when schools around central Indiana are heading back to class with our county-by-county guide.