Parents resort to risky measures, including gambling, to fund back-to-school costs
A recent survey of 2,000 parents shows that many are turning to gambling, loans and credit-card debt to afford school supplies, with 8% admitting they have gambled for the purpose.
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 internet-connected parents of children aged 5 to 17 for Beyond Finance, uncovering the extreme steps families take to meet back-to-school expenses. Eight percent have gambled, while 12% pawned belongings, 15% took personal or payday loans, and 23% used buy-now-pay-later services. Seventy percent feel caught in a "back-to-school parent trap" driven by the need to match peers' clothing, technology and supplies, making the season their most stressful financial period, even surpassing holiday shopping for 58% of respondents.
To free up cash, parents are skipping dining out, hobbies and even mortgage payments, and 23% are charging the majority of school items to credit cards. Dr. Erika Rasure of Beyond Finance warned that the pressure to keep up can lead to long-term debt, emphasizing that children need support more than brand-name gear.
Why it matters
It reveals how economic pressure forces families into risky financial behavior during a common annual expense.
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