Back-to-school costs strain families in Ontario, Scotland

Across the UK and North America, families are facing steep back-to-school costs as prices for uniforms, supplies, backpacks and calculators rise. In Aberdeen, AberNecessities has assisted about 650 children in six weeks, with demand for essentials up, and the Scottish Government is providing a £14.6 million school clothing grant to help eligible pupils. A London parent and school secretary described difficult trade-offs as even basic items like backpacks become pricey, while teachers sometimes pay out of pocket to ensure students have what they need. Community supports, including Austin Public Library programs, are highlighted as helping families when classes begin. In the United States, a national survey finds 71 percent of parents expect to take on debt for higher education, with 46 percent using education loans and 21 percent turning to credit cards or cash advances. Together, the reporting underscores a mix of government aid, charity relief, and personal borrowing shaping families’ decisions as children return to school.