---
title: 'Poll: What’s the back to school item you hate buying the most?'
description: The National Retail Federation found that people expected to pay $669 on back-to-school shopping per household in 2014.
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published: '2015-06-05T22:17:55.000Z'
modified: '2015-06-05T22:17:55.000Z'
section: Education
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![School kids using smartphones and tablets in front of school bus](https://img.money.com/2015/05/150529_ff_backtoschoolcostpoll.jpg?crop=529px%2C990px%2C5074px%2C2852px&quality=85)

With back-to-school sales starting as early as May, it's never too early to start thinking of ways to make sure your child is ready for the following school year. But all the supplies add up -- what purchases make you cringe every time you open your wallet?

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