Every school year starts with a supply list, but new sneakers usually aren’t listed among the pens and paper. So why are clothing and shoes what parents say they struggle most to cover?

Thirty-seven percent of parents named clothing and shoes as one of their two most burdensome school costs, more than any other category, according to a survey of 1,052 parents of K-12 students conducted by Centiment for Accredited Debt Relief. Electronics ranked second at 25%.

Clothing costs can add up, but many parents and kids feel it’s just as important as academic supplies. After all, the other kids notice what a classmate wears in a way they never notice a binder. Here’s how parents can be responsive to their kid’s social needs without digging a deeper financial hole just to keep up. 

Key Takeaways

• 37% of parents named clothing and shoes among their two most burdensome school costs, the top answer at every income level. Electronics followed at 25%.
• 34% of parents earning $80,000 or more still hold $1,000 or more in school-related debt. Higher earners are not insulated.
• 76% of parents say school costs have forced at least one financial tradeoff, and 19% have kept a child out of an activity because of the price.

Why Clothing Costs Keep Budgets Climbing

Nationally, clothing is not where household budgets are blowing up. The average U.S. household spent over $2,000 on apparel and services in 2024, roughly flat against the year before, while housing costs rose 3.3%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Apparel accounted for 2.5% of what the average household spent all year.

Yet parents still name clothing and shoes ahead of everything else, whether they make under $40,000 or six figures. Why? Part of the answer is replacement. 

Shoes get outgrown or worn out, so parents end up buying several items over the school year. A computer, on the other hand, is a once-in-a-blue moon expense. So a revolving need for clothing and shoes is normal for children — but how do you explain the rest of the bill? The answer isn’t about filling a need: It’s about perception. 

Families Are Paying for Two Different Lists

Ask anyone who has a kid in school — there are the official and unofficial supply lists. And often, the most expensive items are on that second type of list. The right shoes, the cool backpack and the expensive phone can give kids the feeling of belonging and acceptance. But keeping up with trends can be destabilizing, both to kids’ feelings of self-worth and to parents’ budgets. 

Something has to give. Some 76% of parents say school costs have forced at least one financial tradeoff, and 19% have kept a child out of an activity because of what it cost. That means some kids got the things they wanted at the cost of experiences that would have furthered their education. 

The trick to skipping this financial pitfall isn’t about budgeting. Parents would seek ways to make their child feel supported — and that doesn’t always mean going into debt to afford brand names. Talk to your child about what’s important to them, and why. Empower them to make a choice that is informed by what they actually like and what their goals are — not what the other kids at school say to do. Making this a conversation — not an immediate compromise or strict decision — can help your child feel that you hear them, and that you care about their social needs as much as their academic ones. 

Get Immediate Financial Relief

When margins are that thin, paying down debt on a tight budget usually comes down to small adjustments rather than one big cut. But what if you could free up money every month by reducing how much you owed?

That’s what we do at Accredited Debt Relief. Our award-winning program works with creditors to reduce monthly payments and can help you become debt-free in as little as 24-48 months. It works so well that our clients save an average of $608 per month. Talk to a Certified Debt Specialist today: There’s no obligation, and it’s 100% free to check your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does $1,000 in school debt actually cost on a credit card? 

At the 22.15% average rate on accounts carrying a balance, as reported by the Federal Reserve in August, $1,000 takes about nine years and two months to clear and costs roughly $1,046 in interest. That assumes a minimum payment of 3% of the balance with a $15 floor and no new charges added, which is rarely how a school year goes. That is the minimum payment trap: a payment you can afford every month that takes a decade to finish.

Is school-related debt a real problem if the amounts are small? 

It can be, depending on the timing. School balances still outstanding when holiday spending starts never get a fresh start, and minimum payments on a revolving balance barely move the principal. If new charges keep landing before the last round clears, the balance stops being seasonal. Your debt-to-income ratio is a better gauge than the dollar figure of how much credit card debt is too much for your household.

What should I do if school costs keep following me into the next season? 

If you have $5,000 or more in credit card debt, Accredited Debt Relief can help. Call us, and an U.S.-based Certified Debt Specialist will walk you through your options in a free consultation and tell you whether a debt relief program fits your situation.

Sources Cited

“60% of Parents Are Carrying School-Related Debt. Most Are Still Planning to Add More This Fall.” Accredited Debt Relief, August 4, 2026.

“Consumer Expenditures–2024.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 19, 2025.

“Household Debt Balances Decreased Slightly; Credit Card Delinquency Transition Rates Remained Steady.” Federal Reserve Bank of New York, August 11, 2026.

“Consumer Credit – G.19.” Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, August 7, 2026.

The information on this site is provided as a general resource and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. While we strive to ensure accuracy, this content, including any third-party sources referenced, should not be the basis for any financial decision. For guidance specific to your situation, we recommend consulting a qualified professional. Individual results may vary.

Methodology: The survey was conducted by Centiment for Accredited Debt Relief and fielded May 22-28, 2026. Results are based on 1,052 completed surveys among parents or guardians with at least one child enrolled in grades K-12. Data is unweighted, and the margin of error is approximately +/-5% for the overall sample at a 95% confidence level.