Parents are stretching back-to-school budgets amid growing economic concerns

Summary by The Nashville Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Stephanie Liebergen, NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) · July 23, 2026 · 3 min read

This back-to-school season, families are bracing for higher back-to-school costs, as more shoppers worry about staying on budget. According to RetailMeNot, that number jumped from 29% last year to 37%. "A lot of people are starting a lot earlier just to help stretch out that budget," said retail ...

Why this matters in The Nashville

As Nashville families prepare for the new school year, the pressure to stretch back-to-school budgets is being felt across the city. With 37% of shoppers worried about staying on budget, up from 29% last year, it's clear that economic concerns are weighing heavily on local parents. The fact that parents are planning to spend $557 per child this year, just $13 less than last year, suggests that many are finding ways to make do with limited resources. In Nashville, where education is a significant expense for many families, the trend towards seeking higher value and strategic buying decisions may lead to increased competition among local retailers to offer attractive deals and promotions. As the city's retailers respond to the demand for affordable back-to-school supplies, Nashville parents may find opportunities to save money by timing purchases around sales and tax-free weekends, making the most of their economic dollar.

About this story

Original reporting by NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate). The Nashville surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate). Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: schools · Published: July 23, 2026 · Source: NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) · Reading time: 3 min

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This article was first published on July 23, 2026 by NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) and curated for The Nashville readers.

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Summary created by	The Nashville Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	Stephanie Liebergen, NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate)
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 23, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 23, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Parents are stretching back-to-school budgets amid growing economic concerns

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