Many Winnipeg parents on strict budgets for back-to-school shopping

As kids across Manitoba gear up to head back to school next week, parents say they’re staying budget-conscious in the way – and when – they shop, as the cost of living rises.

Monica Sharf and her family went shopping Thursday morning for school supplies, and it wasn’t just a simple trip into the city.

“It is absolutely something I have to prepare for,” Sharf told CityNews. “At least a month ahead I have to decide what I need to spend my money on for the next month.

“I just buy everything in bulk because I have four kids so, it’s a lot cheaper buying everything in big packs.”

A report from the Retail Council of Canada from 2024 suggests Canadians plan their shopping for school early, with 85.7 per cent of people spending at least the same amount on supplies – if not more – than previous years.

“It’s frustrating,” Sharf said. “Especially as a single mom of four, it’s really hard. Budget ahead, but then things come up.”

Faith Velenzuela, a parent of two, has a strict budget of $100 or less for her son in junior high, so she waited to buy until the last week before school. She’s going to multiple stores in Winnipeg to find everything she needs.

“I know that the prices will drop so we did wait before going shopping,” Velenzuela said.

“Everything has gone up, so if we can find something that’s cheaper, of course with good quality, we’ll choose that.”

Velenzuela is part of the majority of Canadians who go out to stores instead of buying online.

“I like looking (at) everything in person and just make sure that everything looks good,” she said.

“I don’t think we should have to hunker down and find ways to find more money or to buy the same amount of stuff we always buy,” Sharf said.

Regardless of the deals they might come across, both parents feel inflation has increased their budgets even more than previous years.

“The prices are going up but the sizes of things are going down at the same time. We’re getting ripped off,” Sharf said.