Moms Talk: The Rising Cost of School Supplies

School started for most of this site's readers on Monday. Nonetheless, I'm sure the back-to-school purchasing season will continue for many of you for weeks to come.

A recent National Retail Federation study said the average family will spend about $600 on back-to-school items this year whether those purchases be clothes, calculators or backpacks. And that total is an increase over last year as it was the year before that.

Here's a crazy fact from the federation's release: "Combined K-12 and college spending will reach $55.12 billion, serving as the second biggest consumer spending event for retailers behind the winter holidays."

Does that sort of spending ring true to you? And if it does, what challenges does that present for your family? Do you do it begrudgingly or is that kind of spending more necessary in a modern, electronics-heavy educational system? (Or does it really just come down to your kids' clothes?)

Let us know in the comment box below.