As one school year ends, for many another looms on the horizon, bringing with it costs that can soon mount up.
From school uniform to stationery and tech, parents face huge demand to make sure children have everything they need for a new term. But at what cost?
Ahead of the upcoming school term, we spoke to Clare Seal, financial coach and author, who has shared six simple tips on help you to save some much-needed cash on this year’s school supplies…
1. Shop secondhand
Whether it’s through social media groups, secondhand sales or marketplaces, buying secondhand can offer some of the biggest savings.
“Make sure you are part of your local Facebook groups, school groups or WhatsApp communities as people are often giving away uniforms or are selling them really cheaply on these platforms. A lot of schools do secondhand uniform sales as well,” says Seal, noting that they can be especially good for more costly branded uniforms.
She adds that clothing marketplaces like Vinted can be good for finding secondhand items that are new or have been barely worn, especially shoes.
You can get some great deals on secondhand shoes
“School shoes in particular are so expensive and children’s feet grow really quickly, so you’ll often find some that have barely been worn and are much cheaper than buying them new,” says the financial coach.
However, if you do want to buy them new, Seal suggests buying shoes from a shop that has built its reputation on selling shoes rather buying cheap.
“It sounds really silly, but get your child’s feet measured. Don’t try and guess,” advises Seal. “If you buy them secondhand and they don’t fit, you can’t return them.”
2. Wait for supermarket deals
Browse through the supermarket aisle (Alamy/PA)
Most of the big supermarket chains sell non-branded uniform items in relevant colours, along with shoes, socks and accessories.
“The first half of the summer holidays is a really good time to be looking at getting your uniform because it’s when most of the shops and supermarkets have deals on,” says Seal.
Deals range from percentages to multi-buy offers, she adds.
3. Buy for longevity
Spend more on durable items like backpacks
“For things like backpacks and lunch boxes, sites like Vinted are your best friend,” says Seal. “People often sell duplicates or products from brands like Smiggle which tend to be quite expensive to buy brand new.”
The financial coach says that it’s much better to buy something from a trusted brand secondhand than it is to buy something new that’s cheap and will fall apart.
“Your child might end up having the same school bag for years. It’s not something that they’re going to grow out of, or that you’ll have to replace every year. So, with items like that, choose things for longevity,” advises Seal.
4. Add name tags
“When things go missing, you obviously then have to pay to replace them, so make sure that uniform, as well as lunchboxes, water bottles, pencil cases and have a name label on them,” recommends Seal.
You don’t need to spend money on fancy labels either.
“Most uniforms these days have a space on the label that you can just write on using a biro or a permanent marker,” she adds.
5. Simplify stationery
Always stick to the school’s provided supply list to avoid unnecessary purchases (Alamy/PA)
“Check how much your child cares about a new pencil case or bag before you start buying them. As long as it is smart and is fit for purpose, if the child doesn’t care, then you shouldn’t care,” says Seal.
She adds that every school should have a handbook with a list of supplies that the children need each term, including stationery, scientific calculators and rulers.
“Make sure that you read that list and just buy the stuff that’s on it,” recommends Seal.
This will prevent you from buy the wrong calculator, for example, and then having to replace it, she explains.
6. Invest in refurbished tech
Depending on your personal circumstances and if you want your children to have a mobile phone, Seal recommends looking at what you already have first.
“The first port of call is to check if you have any old tech that would suit, like an old iPhone that’s still in really good condition. You can then just get a SIM-only contract,” advises Seal.
In terms of computers, it varies from school to school what is required.
“Some schools will recommend that children should have their own laptop. They will have access to computers at school, but having a laptop can make it easier for homework,” says Seal
Seal suggests that for items like laptops or tablets, using a vetted refurbished site is better for the environment and much cheaper. “This way you will also know it’s been through loads of checks.”