Back to school savings: Part 2
Last week we looked at budgeting and planning for back to school.
This week we look at how to save on some of the biggest expenses: uniforms and stationery.
Uniforms and shoes
If your child’s school has a uniform, it can definitely save money in the long term as it reduces wear and tear on everyday clothes. The problem is that uniforms can require a big outlay, especially at the beginning of the year and when kids grow so quickly.
Here are out top tips to plan and save on uniforms and shoes:
Spread the cost by waiting until cooler weather to pick up winter uniform items.
Consider secondhand, whether it’s a school uniform shop, local op shop, friends with older children or buy/swap/sell sites such as Gumtree or on social media. You can save a small fortune by sourcing good quality pre-loved uniforms.
If you can, use generic substitutes. Some schools are very specific about what students are permitted to wear, while others have a much more relaxed policy. You may be able to find items in discount and department stores if the school allows items such as a coloured shirt, shorts or socks rather than a particular brand or style.
Wait for the sales. Some stores have back-to-school specials in January, and it can be a good time to pick up new items for a discount.
Ask about the store’s returns policy and keep your receipts. Kids grow quickly, and having the receipts can make returning and/or exchanging a much easier process.
Quality shoes don’t come cheap, but they can save you money in the long run, as well as your child’s feet. Choice has written a great article about choosing the right school shoes.Consider buying dual purpose shoes. Many brands now make sports shoes with a formal school shoe look, which means you can potentially buy one pair instead of a formal school shoe and separate sports shoes. Clean and, where relevant, polish shoes regularly to extend their life.
Label EVERYTHING. Have you ever searched for a misplaced or forgotten hat or jacket in lost property? If so, you’ll know that items are much easier to track down with a name to identify them, whether it’s a sewn-in label or black marker written on a tag or in a seam.
Get longer wear by buying a size up (within reason).
Learn to sew (or make friends with someone who does) and keep old uniforms for patching, repairs and making accessories. From experience, this is especially important if your kids love to run and play! We’ve used worn out trousers to make patches for knees, and turned threadbare dresses into scrunchies and ribbons. Learning how to darn sock and stockings can also extend their life.
Carefully wash and store too-small or unneeded items to keep for younger siblings, or sell secondhand and put the proceeds into your school expenses account for next year.
Stationery and supplies
As with uniforms, schools can have different policies when it comes to stationery. Some provide most of the items required, others will ask you to contribute to shared resources as well as providing what your own child needs.
Here are out top tips to plan and save on stationery and supplies:
Does the school provide a list of items needed? If so, use it as a checklist. If not, write a list of what your child is likely to need.
Compare your list to what you already have at home. This may include items left over from last year, as well as other bits and pieces kept in drawers or cupboards.
If you have extras of some items, consider swapping with family or friends to get other items that you need.
When going shopping, set a spending limit, avoid impulse buys by sticking to the list and, if necessary, shop alone. If you take the kids, have a strategy to keep them on track, such as giving them their own list of items to find.
If you’re buying a school book pack, compare the cost of items individually and from different stores. Some stores run a price match or price beat promotion based on school pack prices.
Search for cheaper equivalents to the more expensive brands. Discount and department stores often have quality stationery supplies at a fraction of the cost of well-known stationery labels.
Look for specials during the year and stock up in preparation for back to school. This can also be a useful way to collect items like ribbons, hair spray and materials for special events such as sports carnivals, mufti day, crazy hair day, Easter hat parade and book week.
When it comes to items such as pencil cases, library bags and school bags, consider durability and value for money. Remember that today’s fad is tomorrow’s drab. Avoiding trends, buying quality items, cleaning and maintaining them can mean the bag can be used for many years rather than needing to be replaced regularly. On the other hand, if you’re really clever (or know someone who is) you could make a book bag or pencil case yourself.
