Families are changing what they buy as food, snacks, school supplies, and other everyday expenses add up By Kristen Dalli of ConsumerAffairs September 28, 2026 71% of parents say they expect to spend more on everyday school-year essentials this year than last year.64% have swapped at least one of their childs favorite brands for a cheaper store-brand alternative.Parents are treating recurring grocery and household costs as part of the school-year budget, with some cutting back on items their kids regularly request.The back-to-school rush may be over, but the costs of keeping kids fed, supplied, and ready for school dont stop once the first day arrives.A new study from DOSS found that 71% of parents expect to spend more on everyday school-year essentials this year than they did last year, with many families changing what they buy to keep costs under control.Eshaan Kaul, Head of Growth at DOSS, spoke with us about how these ongoing expenses are affecting family budgets and the trade-offs parents are making as the school year continues.How the study was conductedTo better understand how rising prices are affecting families during the school year, DOSS surveyed 811 U.S. parents of K-12 children in 2026. The parents were all adults aged 18 or older, with an average age of 42, and represented a range of household income levels.DOSS also surveyed 205 K-12 teachers to examine how higher costs are affecting classrooms. In addition to the survey responses, researchers analyzed U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics pricing data, comparing June 2026 prices with those from June 2019.The survey found that parents expect to spend a median of about $200 per month on everyday school-year consumables, and 71% said that amount is higher than what they spent last year.Many families are also changing what they buy to manage those higher costs. Nearly two-thirds of parents (64%) said they have switched one of their child's favorite brands for a cheaper store-brand alternative this school year, while 45% said they have stopped buying a snack, drink, or lunch item their child regularly asks for because it became too expensive.The pricing data showed why those changes may be necessary. DOSS found that a fixed basket of common lunchbox staples cost nearly 45% more in June 2026 than it did in June 2019, rising from $21.57 to $31.38. Orange juice saw the largest increase among the items examined, with prices rising 96% over that period.The grocery… [TheTopNews] Read More.
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