Depending on how old your kids are, you could find some eye-popping price tags for items like laptops and calculators. Used and refurbished electronics can sometimes be a gamble, but one that pays off handsomely if you buy from a reputable retailer and do your research.
If refurbished isn’t your style, you can at least review where you’re shopping and see any student-specific discounts. Stores like Apple, Microsoft, and even Goodwill often offer discounts for students that can help you save considerably on anything at a higher ticket price.
You’re probably already used to this, but kids will undoubtedly try to convince you there’s no way they can show their faces at school without their favorite cartoon on their backpacks. If you can endure the fallout, do so: it’s good to instill in them early that optics are not nearly as important as financial security is.