With the first day of school just days away – students, parents and teachers are spending the weekend getting ready.

Terri Davies was in her classroom on Saturday getting ready for the first day. Even after years of teaching, she says she still gets butterflies.

“We read a book called ‘The first day jitters’ and it’s all about the teacher being nervous for the coming school year. So it lets the kids know that we feel a little nervous too, even after 16 years I still get that little flutter.”

Teachers and students are not the only ones who are nervous for the first day of school. So are many parents who were out shopping on Saturday.

With most back-to-school stores closed for on Labour Day, Saturday was a busy day for parents getting everything for their kids. Rebecca Leuty is going into grade nine – a new year and a new school.

“I don’t think it’ll be that crazy, just more homework, more time management but I think it’ll be good.”

Rebecca’s father says every year bring new needs when it comes to back to school shopping.

“It changes year-to-year. Some years you’re buying a lot of clothes, some years you’re changing from junior school to high school so you’re buying a lot of computers,” says Douglas Leuty.

If you think back-to-school is costing more, you are not alone. The online coupon site retailmenot.ca says about 80% of Canadians believe the costs associated with back-to-school are getting costlier. They say half of those polled plan to spend more than $200 per child.

Shinto Jospeth has two kids going to class next week. He says he tries to find the deals and sometime even buys out of season.

“They need the schoolbags and need the paper, they need the crayons, they need the coats – so we have to even go for the next year’s summer clothing which is cheaper now.”

But before you race out some teachers are encouraging parents to hold off on buying all their school supplies until they find out from their kid’s teachers what they really need.