The new school year doesn’t have to mean a huge dent in your wallet. With a little planning and a few smart shopping habits, you can cut the cost of uniforms, stationery and school essentials while still getting everything your child needs.
TAKE STOCK & MAKE A LIST
Before heading to the shops, see what you already have, you might be surprised how much is still perfectly usable. Impulse buying is one of the biggest reasons school shopping becomes expensive.
Separate your list into:
Must haves such as –
Uniforms
School shoes
PE kits
Stationary
Nice to haves such as –
New backpack
Fancy stationery
Trendy lunchbox
Stick to your list and avoid buying extras that weren’t planned.
SHOP EARLY
Shopping before the last-minute rush often means:
– Better stock availability
– More choice of sizes
– Less chance of paying premium prices
COMPARE PRICES & QUALITY
Not every retailer charges the same prices for the same items. Small differences in prices can add up across a full shopping list. But sometimes spending slightly more saves money in the long run when it’s on more durable items.
Things like –
School shoes
Backpacks
Winter coats
Buying higher quality once may last the whole school year.
SAVE ON STATIONERY
Many children don’t need every item brand new. Alternatively, you could try looking out for – Multi-buy offers Value packs Reusing unused notebooks Sharing bulk purchases with friends or family
LABEL EVERYTHING
Replacing lost items throughout the year can quickly add up and become surprisingly expensive. Doing something as simple as adding name labels takes minutes and could save you having to replace items such as:
Jumpers
PE kits
Water bottles
Lunch boxes
BUDGET & CASHBACK
Decide how much you want to spend before you start shopping. Split your budget into categories: Uniforms Shoes Stationery Accessories Keeping track of each category makes it easier to avoid overspending. Combined with sales, discounts and loyalty schemes, cashback is another simple and cost-effective way you may be able to stretch your back-to-school budget even further.
EXTRA WAYS TO SAVE
A little planning today can mean more money left over tomorrow. Shopping early, reusing what you already own, sticking to a list and taking advantage of discounts and cashback schemes can all help make the back-to-school season much more affordable
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