Many parents have a love/hate relationship with the back-toschool season. They love that their children will be back in class, but they hate the costs associated with it.

According to the National Retail Federation, families in the U.S. are expected to shell out $17.6 billion on back-to-school gear this season, up from $13.4 billion last year. The average family will spend nearly $530 for back-to-school items.

"Back-to-school spending can be a huge burden for many families, especially those living paycheck-to-paycheck," said Mike Sullivan, director of education for Take Charge America, a nonprofit credit counseling agency. "If you use a credit card to pay for backto-school expenses and can't pay the balance off immediately, you can end up paying hundreds of more dollars in the long run."

The federation says electronics and clothes fuel the majority of school-related costs. Finding ways to control spending while ensuring your children are prepared for a year of learning is no easy feat.

Sullivan has seven tips to help you stretch your cash this shopping season:

+Create a back-to-school budget: How many times have you gone shopping for a few small items, and come back with much more? It happens to all of us, and it can be detrimental to our pocketbooks. Create a list of what your child absolutely needs and stick to it. If your child is shopping with you, explain your strategy ahead of time and enlist him or her in helping you find the best bargains. This can be a good opportunity to brush up on math and life skills for your child.

+Buy in bulk: Organize a back-to-school shopping trip with family, friends and classmates. Purchasing the basics in bulk can save a lot of cash now and in the future when more supplies are needed.

+Go online: Before you shop for textbooks in bookstores, check out online sales. Websites like www.amazon.com and www.campusi.com offer deals on new and used textbooks. Just be sure to order the books at least two weeks before the first day of class to allow for shipping time.

+Break open the piggy bank: Have your children chip in for their back-to-school shopping. They will be more likely to spend less if they are paying a percentage of the total cost.

+Wait it out: Unless your child's school requires uniforms, don't buy your child's entire backto-school wardrobe before school starts. Buy a few items for those important first days and let them scope out the new trends before purchasing the rest. Most children wear a few favorite things, so large wardrobes usually lead to unworn or barely worn items. When it comes to supplies, wait and see what teachers require before you blow your budget. This way, you don't end up paying for items that your child won't use.

+Recycle supplies: If your child's backpack or binder are still in good shape, don't purchase new ones just because it's a new school year. Offer to trade with a friend or encourage your child to decorate with appropriate, original art. If you must buy new items, purchase a classiclooking backpack that won't go out of style before the next school year.

+Out with the old, in with the new: Many children outgrow their clothes before they are worn out. Sell clothes that are still in good condition to con

signment or used-clothing stores. You can use the money you make to help purchase new clothing items. You can also take brand-conscious children to outlet malls and spend a fraction of what you would in department stores or boutiques. Save gas and money by buying online. There are a number of secondhand and surplus websites with good bargains. Just make sure to check out the seller through online feedback.