How To Save Money On Back To School Costs ♥

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In the United Kingdom, schools are either funded by the government and free for all pupils, or they
are independent schools, which charge termly fees to attend. Even if you chose to send your child to
a government funded school, there are still additional costs for parents to consider. These costs
include essential items, such as school uniform and equipment, as well as optional extras, such as
school trips and charity events.

New school uniform supplies soon add up! - In fact, parents can expect to spend over £100 on
uniform, school shoes and a PE kit at the start of a new academic year. Unfortunately it doesn’t stop
there and this expense can increase throughout the year with replacement uniform and school
events. Read on to learn more about these costs and how you can try to keep them as low as
possible.

Find second-hand supplies
Do you have other children that could pass on their old school uniform to their younger siblings? Or
perhaps you could ask your friends and neighbours for any old school supplies that they are no
longer using.

Up-cycle old supplies
Children often like to update their school bag or pencil case designs to match their current interests.
These interests might include their favourite movie characters or pop stars. Instead of buying new,
you could instead update their current equipment with stickers or badges.

Make a list
Before you start shopping for new school supplies it is important to make a list of the items you
actually need. Have a look around the house and see what school supplies you may already have.
You can often find stationery items tucked away in drawers and cupboards, so it may be possible to
make use of these old items without buying new.

Shop the sales
If you are going to take your children shopping, set a limit on the amount they can spend on their
new school supplies. Do your research online to find the cheapest deals and try to make the most of
the seasonal sales by putting things away for next term. ‘Pound shops’ are great for cheap stationary
bundles and you may also get lucky in local charity shops, finding preloved school bags or uniform at
bargain prices.

Buy quality
Although we all love a bargain, it is important to buy good quality items. This is particularly
important when it comes to school uniform. Well-made uniform should last your child the entire
school year and can often be passed on to younger siblings, saving you money in the long run.

Label everything
Finally, don’t forget to label everything so that their lost belongings have a chance of getting back  to them. Sew in labels, use name stickers or write on labels using a permanent marker to save costly replacements later on.