How much does back-to-school really cost in Spain? Five expenses where you can save money

Every September, thousands of Spanish families face one of the biggest expenses of the year. Between books, school supplies, clothing, electronic devices, and extracurricular activities, the back-to-school season can easily exceed 2,000 euros per child, depending on the educational stage.

Back to School Also Gets More Expensive: Education Costs Rise

Every year, many families feel that back-to-school is more expensive. Official data supports this perception.

According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Education group, published by the National Statistics Institute (INE), prices related to education experience a very marked increase at the beginning of the school year, especially between September and October, coinciding with the start of classes and the updating of enrollments, fees, and other educational services.

Although a significant portion of these expenses is difficult to avoid, there are others where it is possible to save without sacrificing quality. Technology, educational platforms, or digital subscriptions are some of them.

1. Productivity Tools

The digitalization of education has made technology a basic element for many students. Tablets, laptops, headphones, or printers are already part of the usual school supplies.

But besides the device, there are also recurring expenses in cloud storage, productivity software, or collaborative tools.

Some common subscriptions are:

• Microsoft 365

• Adobe Acrobat

• Canva Pro

Although individually they may seem inexpensive, together they represent several hundred euros a year.

2. Educational Platforms and Online Training

It is increasingly common to complement education with digital resources. Many students use platforms like:

• Duolingo Super for languages

• Scribd

• Storytel

These tools help reinforce learning throughout the course but also increase the monthly expense.

3. AI Subscriptions

Artificial intelligence has become a support tool for students of all ages. It helps summarize notes, solve doubts, prepare exams, or improve the writing of assignments.

Services like ChatGPT Plus or Claude allow access to advanced features that facilitate study and productivity during the course.

4. Entertainment for the Whole Family

During the school year, free time decreases, but streaming platforms remain part of the family budget.

Netflix, Disney+, Max, Prime Video, or Spotify usually stay active throughout the year, even when they are barely used for a few months. If you add up all these subscriptions, the annual expense can easily exceed 500 euros.

5. Digital Security for Studying from Anywhere

It is increasingly common to connect from libraries, cafes, university campuses, or public Wi-Fi networks. In these cases, protecting personal and academic information is more important than ever.

VPNs (virtual private networks) help encrypt the connection, improve privacy, and browse more securely from any device.

At Sharingful, you can save by sharing services like NordVPN or CyberGhost, two of the most popular VPNs to protect your online activity throughout the course.

Although they may seem like secondary expenses, they help maintain order throughout the course and, if shared, are much more affordable.

How Much Can You Really Save?

If a household uses several of these services during the course, the accumulated savings stop being small change. Sharing the subscriptions you already use all year is the easiest way to ease the budget without giving up useful tools for studying, working, or unwinding. At Sharingful, you can access Netflix, Disney+, Max, Spotify Premium, Microsoft 365, and many more by paying only for the part you need, and check in seconds how much you would pay contracting each service on your own versus sharing it with the Sharingful savings calculator. Those small monthly savings, added up over the course, become a real relief for the back-to-school economy.