What's the Worst Thing About Going Back-to-School in Upper Macungie?

It's mid-August and back-to-school shopping season is in full swing. Students will be returning to classes in the Parkland School District three weeks from Tuesday.

We asked parents on the Upper Macungie Facebook page about the worst thing concerning back-to-school season.

Both Dana Davis and Heather Hilliker responded that not knowing what supplies the kids will need for school until school begins is their biggest problem.

Patch surveyed the Parkland School District website, and indeed, there isn't a school supply guide for parents. Maybe that's something teachers or the school district can think about posting in the future.

Having to negotiate the aisles of department stores looking for folders, pens, notebooks and the like is difficult after they've been picked through. However, this year, parents may catch a break.

A recent survey by the National Retail Federation, families with school-age children will spend an average $634.78 on apparel, shoes, supplies and electronics, down from $688.62 last year. Total spending on back-to-school is expected to reach $26.7 billion.

Total back-to-school and back-to-college spending combined will reach $72.5 billion.

Finally, to get you in the shopping spirit, Patch Field Editor Tom Coombe unearthed this beauty of a video on YouTube -- my personal favorite for years -- the 1996 Staples commercial of the gleeful Dad prancing around the store buying supplies in front of his glum children.

What's your biggest back-to-school headache? Tell us in the comments.