Half of Parents Expect to Go Into Debt for Back-to-School—Here’s How to Avoid It

Families Going Into Debt for Back-to-School Supplies Jumps by Double Digits

Forty-four percent of parents plan to incur debt to cover school supplies—a 10-percentage-point increase from 2024—a new survey by Intuit Credit Karma found. Parents cited concerns over new tariffs as major sources of financial strain ahead of the new academic year, marking a double-digit increase in households going into debt compared to 2024. Why It Matters Back-to-school shopping is traditionally a significant annual expense, but this year’s …

Half of Parents Expect to Go Into Debt for Back-to-School—Here’s How to Avoid It

Multiple surveys underscore that BTS shopping is sending parents into debt.Fact checked by Sarah ScottParents / Alex Potemkin via Getty ImagesEvery year in late July, I start to break out in a cold sweat whenever I glance at my calendar or walk into a store. That’s because it’s back-to-school time, a fact I can no longer ignore, as much as I may want to keep reveling in less-scheduled days. The inescapable truth is that there are backpacks, penc…