Lifestyle
Parents Navigate Rising Back-to-School Costs as 2025 Spending Reaches $466 Average
NEW YORK, August 27, 2025--Zip (ASX: ZIP), the digital financial services company offering innovative, people-centered products, today released the findings from its 2025 Back-to-School Spending Survey, highlighting how parents are feeling about back-to-school shopping amid ongoing economic shifts and the weight of societal pressures to "fit in."
About this update from Zip Co Ltd.
New Zip Back-to-School Survey reveals 60% of families anticipate higher spending this year compared to 2024, with 74% of parents feeling pressure to buy specific items for children to "fit in" NEW YORK, August 27, 2025 --( BUSINESS WIRE )-- Zip (ASX: ZIP), the digital financial services company offering innovative, people-centered products, today released the findings from its 2025 Back-to-School Spending Survey, highlighting how parents are feeling about back-to-school shopping amid ongoing economic shifts and the weight of societal pressures to "fit in." Survey results represent responses from over 6,000 U.S. parents between June 15, 2025–July 3, 2025, and feature insights on expected budgets, specific needs, and parental sentiment around back-to-school shopping in 2025. Key trends from the 2025 Back-to-School Report: Drop-off drip is real: Parents are dressing up for school drop-off – and buying Stanley cups to fit in. Back-to-school season isn’t just expensive. Most parents say back-to-school shopping leaves them feeling guilty and overwhelmed. Parents are using back-to-school shopping as a secret self-care moment. When it comes to back-to-school expenses, BNPL offers parents an additional option for affording necessary items from tech to clothing. Elementary and college kids have the most similar back-to-school budgets. Spending is anticipated to be higher this year compared to 2024. "Back to school can be a stressful time for parents and students alike. It’s not just students feeling the pressure of returning to the classroom. Parents also face the challenge of balancing their desire to provide for their children and meeting societal expectations with today’s financial realities," said Joe Heck, U.S. CEO of Zip. "At Zip, our focus is on making it possible for people to make the purchases that matter most to them, especially during a traditionally overwhelming time." About Zip: Zip Co Limited (ACN 139 546 428) (ASX: ZIP) is a digital financial services company, offering innovative and people-centred products. Operating in two core markets - Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) and the United States (US), Zip offers access to point-of-sale credit and digital payment services, connecting millions of customers with its global network of tens of thousands of merchants. Founded in Australia in 2013, Zip provides fair, flexible, and transparent payment options, helping customers to take control of their financial future and helping merchants to grow their businesses. For more information, visit: www.zip.co Loans through Zip are originated by WebBank. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250827484618/en/ Contacts Zip [email protected]