Lorraine KellyIf summer drained your wallet, brace yourself — Back-to-School season is here, and it’s shaping up to be more expensive than ever.
According to a new report from Back Market, parents are being nudged, nagged, and downright pressured into coughing up an average of £845 just to kit their kids out for the new term.
And this isn’t just about pencils and a pack of Pritt Stick. More than half of mums and dads say their child insists on a brand-new school bag, around a third are pestered for the latest branded trainers, and nearly three in ten face demands for pricey school trips.
But the real sting in the parental purse? Tech. Almost one in four say their kids claim a new laptop is an absolute necessity, while the same number are lobbying hard for a shiny new iPhone or smartphone — not for studying, but to “keep up with their mates.”
The Pressure Cooker of Back-to-School
It doesn’t stop there. Viral “must-haves” like Stanley Cups and skincare fads are being demanded by one in ten children, while almost one in five say a new haircut is non-negotiable. No wonder the majority of parents admit they’re struggling to afford everything their child insists they “need” this September.
And here’s the kicker: more than a third of parents believe there’s too much status tied to having the latest gadgets and gear, while one in four flat-out say costs have spiralled out of control. Nearly three-quarters complain their kids regularly throw out the line, “but everyone else’s parents bought it.”
Despite almost nine in ten children asking for upgrades to tech they don’t actually need, seven in ten parents are increasingly worried about the environmental cost of buying brand-new gadgets — particularly what happens to the old ones tossed aside.
Refurbished Tech to the Rescue?
That’s where refurbished tech steps in, argues Back Market, the refurbished marketplace behind the research. Four out of five parents say they’d be open to buying refurbished devices this Back-to-School season, with nearly half convinced their kids wouldn’t even spot the difference between “new” and “like new.”
Luke Forshaw, Head of Brand and Marketing at Back Market, said: “The data shows just how much money parents are expected to fork out for their children’s back-to-school items – with tech emerging as the biggest drain on parents’ pockets.”
“We understand that kids may be under pressure to go back to school with the iPhones, laptops and tablets, but there are ways to keep these costs down, receive quality devices, while also looking after the planet.”
“That’s why refurbished tech is the perfect solution: it offers parents affordable options and gives kids high-quality devices they can be proud of. At Back Market, we have hundreds of choices – from smartphones and laptops to headphones and more; so both parents and children can find what they need for the new school year.”
Parents Finding Smarter Solutions
Back Market is also teaming up with parenting influencer Laura Dove, known to her 200,000+ followers as @5littledoves, to shine a light on the not-so-glamorous conversations happening in family homes across the UK.
Laura Dove said: “Back-to-school season can be one of the most financially stressful times for parents. After the expense of summer with holidays, days out, and childcare; it can certainly feel overwhelming to then face the cost of essential school items like phones and laptops.
Before working with Back Market, I’d never really considered refurbished tech as an option, but now it’s a smart, affordable way to get all the devices we need for September- without the heavy financial burden or the environmental impact.”
Cutting Costs Without Cutting Corners
For parents already reeling from summer’s expenses, Back Market is rolling out a range of Back-to-School deals on laptops, smartphones, and other essentials. The pitch is simple: buy smarter, save money, and keep perfectly good devices in circulation rather than sending them to landfill.
With the average September spend creeping close to £1,000, refurbished might just be the word that saves both wallets and the planet this school year.
