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QUINCY, ILL. -- It's the second biggest retail push of the year, behind the holiday shopping season.

Back-to-school spending is forecast to be about 20% more than last year, with consumers expected to spend about $84 billion. But how much will you spend here in the Tri-States?

We took two shopping lists of just supplies needed for the classroom. One was for a 2nd grader at Adams, another for a 6th grader at Baldwin.

Both supply lists added up to right around $80.

This shopping trip was only for the school supplies on the lists.

According to the National Retail Federation, when you include clothes and electronics, spending on back to school this year will average $689 per family.

One thrill for kids going back to school is picking out a new backpack -- with good reason. There are many different options.

But wearing a backpack the wrong way can cause serious problems.

The correct way to wear it is on both shoulders and clip the bottom strap.

You should also make sure your kids' heaviest books go on top.

There are some one shoulder and messenger bags out there, but those are bad for backs also.

Chiropractor Justin Felsman says, "You have to counterbalance the weight. You have the weight on one side of the shoulder and it's over here, basically you have to lean away from it to counter balance the weight from pulling you over this way. So what that can do is cause scoliosis, or a curvature of the spine if you don't correct that in time."

Character backpacks, like Dora or Spongebob, are good for young kids, especially when they don't have heavy books.

It gets them in the habit of wearing backpacks correctly.