Unfortunately for parents, inflation is still in full swing. A 2022 survey conducted by Deloitte found that 57% of back-to-school shoppers are concerned about an increase in spending. It's a daunting task navigating the shopping landscape to get the prices on the best tools for our little students. But if you're on the lookout for deals while shopping Amazon, then a browser extension can make your life a lot easier.

CamelCamelCamel or the Camelizer, for instance, is a helpful price tracker that helps you find deals to find deals. It monitors millions of products across Amazon to determine when they're on sale. The site also tracks the price of a product across several months and years, allowing you to decide for yourself whether a particular price is a deal or not. 

On the other hand, if you're shopping in person, there are a few options when looking for school supplies.

If you’re prepping for the entire school year or purchasing for multiple kids, buying in bulk at a wholesale chain such as Costco or Sam’s Club can save you money. And if you don't need specialized items, then budget stores such as Dollar Tree will meet all your school supply needs without costing you a ton.

Wherever you shop, remember to talk to your student beforehand so you don't buy something they don't really need.

According to Monica Vermani, a clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of trauma, stress, mood and anxiety disorders, September is a mixed bag of challenges and emotions.

"For young people leaving their homes for the first time to continue their education, for parents dealing with empty nest syndrome, and for school-age children coping with entering a new school or dealing with anxiety upon returning to school, there are a lot of challenges that come with the sudden arrival of September," she wrote.

"For young children—especially children starting school for the first time, kids who are going to a new school due to a family move, and children with a learning difference—that first day of school can be overwhelming," Vermani noted.

"Young children may struggle with separation anxiety. Your child, at any age, even if they are not normally anxious, can struggle with back-to-school anxiety. They may worry about feeling disliked, standing out for wearing the wrong clothes, and being unable to perform academically."

Teens entering middle school and high school also feel uneasy during this time.

"Your middle school student may feel anxious about new settings, dealing with heavier workloads, and the practical aspects of a larger school, along with the increasing social pressures of becoming a teen. Your high schooler, along with mounting pressures on academic performance and increasing expectations, may be experiencing social anxiety—an aftereffect of the global pandemic."

The psychologist said it's up to the parents to model calmness, self-confidence, and self-esteem.

"We should provide our children with the basics—lunches, comfortable clothing, and the tools they need for school—and assure them that they are capable of thriving."

"Begin to instill in them the belief in themselves and their ability to cope with life’s challenges. Explain that if they are worried about their ability to handle schoolwork, their worries are completely normal, and you are there to help and support them, as are the teachers and staff at their school," Vermani continued.

Parents should listen to their kids' concerns and encourage them to examine their fears.

"How likely is it that their teachers and family will abandon them if they are struggling and not help them with their schoolwork? How likely is it that everyone will dislike them? By teaching them to challenge their fears, you are empowering them with the ability to think critically and logically about the likelihood of their imagined worst-case scenarios actually happening—a valuable lesson that will last a lifetime!"