Families Turn to Discount Stores for Back-to-School Savings Amid Rising Costs

We may be halfway through summer, but some Coachella Valley families are already focused on back-to-school shopping — not just to get a head start, but to save some cash.

For Santiago Escobedo and his mom Minerva, that means heading to stores like Dollar King instead of big box retailers. Preparing for his freshman year of high school, Santiago browsed essentials like calculators, scissors, and folders — all at a fraction of the usual cost.

“In the past, we’d go to Target, Walmart, or Staples,” Minerva said. “But with prices going up, we’re looking for lower-cost options.”

Dollar King owner David Mansourian says more families are making that same shift, choosing discount stores where liquidation and closeout merchandise isn’t as directly impacted by tariffs but still offers quality basics.

“You don’t need a name brand for everything,” Mansourian explained. “A pencil is a pencil.”

The National Retail Federation estimates families with K–12 students will spend an average of nearly $900 on back-to-school needs this year, while CNBC reports an average cost of $570 per child. College students face even steeper expenses, with averages nearing $1,400.

It’s not just tariffs raising costs. Lower-income families are also budgeting around reduced SNAP benefits and Medicaid cuts. Meanwhile, prices on back-to-school items are up across the board — with supplies, clothing, shoes, and electronics seeing a 20% increase since before the pandemic. Backpacks alone are reportedly 30% more expensive.

For Dollar King employee and mom Elizabeth Dobbs, it all comes down to practicality. “Why spend more on something that won’t last two weeks?” she said. “Kids lose it, break it — you just need the basics.”

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