We are still in the middle of the heatwave, but in just over 15 days the schools will reopen their doors. Before this moment when it is time to set the alarm again and recover routines, you have to prepare and make a large outlay. There is a lot of talk about the January slope, but the September one doesn't have much to envy. According to a study by the comparator Idealo, 505 euros will be spent per student in this return to school, including paper textbooks. This represents an increase of 1% compared to the previous year and, above all, it is 80 euros more per student than 4 years ago. The increases in some products are partially offset by the falls in others. But, which products are most expensive? Which ones are getting cheaper? In the former, backpacks stand out, since according to this comparator, their acquisition represents 11.25% more than last year. Stationery has also become more expensive by 50.8 euros, that is, 5.26%. Other products that also increase our bill are paper textbooks, which increase by a slight 1.6%. On the other hand, other items typical of this return to the classroom have become cheaper. For example, tracksuits are 19% cheaper, going from 26 to 21 euros and sports shoes have become 9% cheaper. According to Idealo experts, despite the obvious increase in the cost of going back to school in recent years, this 2026 compared to 12 months ago the basket as a whole almost does not change, although it will also depend on what they have to renew this year. From Idealo, its Communication Manager Kike Aganzo, warns that although this year the price increase is not high "it does not mean that the economic effort is the same as four years ago, since the basket costs about 19% more than in 2022." In addition, he clarifies, there is a lot of variation between products with different behaviors. "What makes comparing prices and deciding where and when to buy can make a difference for the family budget," says the spokesperson for this comparator. Aganzo also states that, although the increases in some items may be offset by the lower prices of others, "the difference is especially relevant for families" since it reflects that even if inflation moderates, "prices do not automatically return to previous levels." That is, it stabilizes but at a higher level. Recommendations to save From Idealo they launch a series of recommendations for a return to school that puts family budgets to the test for another year. Among the tips, activate price alerts for products such as backpacks, sneakers or calculators that you know are necessary and you can wait for an attractive offer to purchase them. From the comparator they remember that this type of alerts allow you to set the maximum impact that you are willing to pay. They also advise not buying everything at once and differentiating between those that are essential to start the course and those that can wait. Which allows spending to be "concentrated" in the months of August and September. Another recommendation is to compare prices before purchasing, check the available offers and also evaluate the product, in addition to other aspects such as shipping costs. Which, on especially expensive items, can mean significant savings. From Idealo they advise not to lose sight of the second hand for products such as textbooks, uniforms and some school materials that may have a life cycle longer than the course. You can save a lot if you take advantage of material from siblings, family and friends.
