SALT LAKE CITY – For Natasha Pulsipher, shopping for the school year with her toddler and two school-age boys is a big deal.

School supplies are a big business because supply lists often fill up quickly, and the older students get, the more they seem to need.

According to a Deloitte study, Americans will spend $31.3 billion this year on school supplies, clothing, shoes and technology, with about $7.4 billion of that going to basic school supplies, including backpacks, pencils, notebooks, calculators, highlighters and more.

The manager of a Target store in Salt Lake City said she compares the back-to-school aisles to the toy department during the holidays — busy and somehow necessary.

“We definitely try to make it affordable and easy for our guests,” said store manager Kate Michael.

But for some, the math doesn’t add up.

“It was quite a struggle at times to make sure we had everything for both (children),” said one parent.

Trying to balance back-to-school costs with the family budget can be quite a task.

According to a study by Intuit Credit Karma, about 50 percent of parents postpone important household purchases, including groceries and bills, in order to cover the cost of school supplies.

However, the state of Utah believes that this does not have to be the case for families living there.

Utah state law specifically states for children in grades K-6: “An elementary school or teacher may prepare a list of recommended instructional materials for use during the regular school day and make it available to the parents of an elementary school student so that a parent may make those instructional materials available to the student, but only on a voluntary basis.”

The law also requires that any supply list given to parents must include the following disclaimer: “Note: The items on this list will be used during the regular school day. They may be brought from home on a voluntary basis, otherwise they will be provided by the school.”

“I think this is a good idea because not everyone is able to buy all the materials,” said another parent.

There is no binding law for high school students, but Barbie Faust, the Utah State Board of Education’s tuition controller, tells FOX 13 News that students should never be without money.

“In grades 7 through 12, the school may ask students to take care of the costs themselves. However, if they have a student or school exemption, they can contact the school administration and tell them they cannot afford the money, or they have an exemption and the school will provide it to them,” she explained.

Public school teachers in kindergarten through sixth grade receive $500 each school year for classroom supplies. Teachers in seventh through 12th grade receive $250, which is often used up before the end of the year.

To ensure that each student is prepared for success, additional school supplies are continually needed and donated by parents.

“I think every child deserves to be able to go to school and have everything they need,” Pulsipher said. “I’m also happy to just do my part and support schools and teachers.”