How to save money on your Back to School shopping.
For some parents, the last few months may have felt like the longest summer break ever, with millions of children across the UK unable to attend school due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, the government is planning for all pupils to return to the classroom as normal in September, which is welcomed news for all those mums and dads who have had to add ‘part time teacher’ to their list of skills over the recent weeks.
But the impending return to school brings with it challenges of a different nature. In these uncertain times, it’s more important than ever to look after your financial situation, costs of uniforms, textbooks and stationery can soon mount up ahead of the new term. With that in mind, here are a few things you can do to ensure your back to school shopping doesn’t cost you a small fortune. It’s expensive enough with one child and we have three – eek.
Take an inventory:
Before you begin, it’s worth taking stock of what you already have. Will the uniforms last another year? Do they still fit? Do you have plenty of books, pens and paper still in the cupboards that you can still use? By making a note of everything you need, and crossing off those items that you already have, you’ll find your shopping list suddenly gets a lot shorter!
Leave it late if you can:
Some people may see this as a risky approach that adds an unnecessary level of stress to your shopping, but you might find that you can get great deals on certain things by leaving it until a few days before term starts. By that point, vendors might be happy to be rid of their stock and be willing to sell at a reduced price meaning you can save a pound or two.
Bargain hunt:
Think outside of the box a little bit when it comes to picking up some of the more generic items. For example, local pound shops and charity shops are great places to find things like stationery and reading books for your kids’ English classes. If you’re prepared to scour the shelves, you might find that you can make some significant savings which is great.
Be inventive:
Uniforms are usually the largest of the back to school expenses, and purchasing direct from the school can prove pricey. But, if you’re talented with a needle and thread or know someone who is, you can always buy plain garments and sew the school logo on yourself, at a fraction of the cost. It may be worth contacting other parents to see if they have any hand me downs that can be passed on, another great way to ensure that sending your kids back to school doesn’t break the bank. Being Inventive will help you out a lot.
Disclosure: This is a Collaborative Post.
