Annual Education Spending Reaches New High
With the September back-to-school season approaching, Spanish families are facing an increasingly tough financial challenge. According to the latest statistics from the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU), the average total annual education cost per student for the 2025/2026 academic year is expected to reach €2,390. This figure includes books, stationery, school uniforms, and other related expenses. Against the backdrop of rising prices over the past year, many families are opting to do their back-to-school shopping early to avoid peak prices and last-minute rushes.
Second-Hand Market Becomes a Mainstream Way to Save
To effectively manage their budgets, a growing number of Spanish families are turning their attention to the second-hand market. A survey by the second-hand marketplace Milanuncios reveals that as many as 76% of Spaniards have already bought or are considering buying used back-to-school supplies. As a result, 68% of surveyed families have replanned their back-to-school budget for the 2026/2027 academic year. This year, it is estimated that each family will spend an average of around €200 on school-related items, with used stationery (88%) and books (83%) being the most popular categories, followed by backpacks (65%) and school uniforms (49%). Data shows that 69% of families have tried buying back-to-school items through second-hand channels in recent years, and 56% still plan to purchase used textbooks this year.
A Circular Model of “Selling Old” and “Buying Old”
The rise of the second-hand economy is evident not only in buying but also in selling. The survey found that 73% of Spaniards have already sold or plan to sell their children’s used school supplies. There are dual motivations behind this behavior: 47% of sellers want to see these still-usable items get a second life, while 35% are more focused on recouping part of their initial investment. This parallel model of buying and selling not only reduces current back-to-school costs but also allows idle resources like textbooks, backpacks, and uniforms to re-enter circulation, creating both economic and environmental value.
Advanced Planning and Smart Budgeting Become the Norm
Faced with ongoing economic pressure, Spanish families are adopting more proactive and savvy consumer strategies. In addition to embracing the second-hand market, comparing prices in advance and buying off-peak have become common practices. It is estimated that about 70% of Spaniards believe they can recover between €50 and €200 by selling their children’s used school supplies from previous years, a sum that can effectively supplement the new school year’s expenses. For families with multiple children, the economic benefits of this smart, circular consumption model are particularly significant, becoming a key way to navigate the ‘back-to-school season’ smoothly.
