Photo Credit: Denis Vrublevski, Shutterstock
It may be the case that the school holidays have cost you a fortune but wait a minute ? going back to school isn?t that cheap either. Few parents can get away with starting the new term without any new uniform, shoes, bags or other equipment.
When I was a student I worked for a high street newsagent. It never failed to amaze me the sheer amount of stationery parents used to buy for their children. There never seemed to be a list just the kids dropping stuff into the basket. Quite often the parent would ask if all of it was needed once it started going through the till and the answer was always, ?Yes, Mum!? Even 20 years ago the final total could rack up to the £100 mark! So you don?t fall into the same trap use the Back to School Essentials Checklist from Ricky at Skint Dad.
Before you head out with your checklist have a look at what Esther from Money Nuggets advises. In her 11 Ways to Save Money on Back-to-School Supplies she suggests you make a search through school bags and bedrooms before yet another compass set and calculator is purchased! Also remember to stick to that list and don?t give into that child pressure!
One cost you can?t get away with growing children is buying new uniforms and shoes. Francesca at From Pennies to Pounds has been scouting the shops with an aim of Saving on Back to School Costs. Is more expensive uniform really worth it? Does cheap uniform fall apart within days? Have a read to save yourself going round all the shops.
So what is the average spend on sending your child back to school? Kalpana of Mummy Money Matters has been doing a little research and found it?s around £400! With so much to think about in terms of costs she has made some suggestions for savings tips for parents. From buying secondhand to selling any old uniforms Kalpana has come up with many ways to keeping below that £400 mark.
At the moment my son is still in infants so he gets a free lunch. In a couple of years time I?ll have to make sure he gets lunch either as a packed lunch I?ve prepared or to pay for one at school. My daughter mixes her week up with a selection of different packed lunches and paid for meals. Cass from Diary of a Frugal Family has been wondering Is a packed lunch really cheaper? With school lunches costing around £2 per child per day that?s £10 a week. How much could you save by making up a packed lunch?
Do you dread the back to school costs? Are you able to spread the cost throughout the year or sort it all in one go?
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About Ness Charles
Ness is a former qualified independent financial adviser with many years of experience in pensions. Since having her two children she has gone back to her first love of writing. Ness now writes the blog JibberJabberuk focusing not only on personal finance but also her love of cake baking, gardening and taking photographs on her travels around the UK.