The school supply lists are out and many parents are out buying scissors and pencils for their children, but some are having a hard time with the cost of those supplies this year.

KYW’s Hadas Kuznits reports that this woman was out shopping for 8th grade daughter; she says it costs less when her daughter’s not around because her daughter likes the fancy school supplies:

“I used to be able to spend $20 bucks on her school supplies when she was in elementary school and this year it’ll be like $150.”

Kuznits: “I tallied up one first grader’s list and it comes to just over $70.”

“The crayons, the pencils, everything used to be a dollar!  Now it’s $3.49, $2.49, so the price level has gone up but my income has stayed basically the same.”

Kuznits: “How much money do you expect to spend on school supplies this year?”

“Since I’m going to college, $200.”

Kuznits: “Is that a lot or not a lot?”

“It’s like normal, now.”

“I’m trying to keep it to the basics but it’s really hard when you have a two page long supply list.”

It seems many kids are drawn to the more expensive options like cute notebooks and fancy pens — when mom and dad are buying. But what happens when they stop paying?

“I’m spending my own money so I’m being very frugal!”