Five ways to save money on back-to-school costs
By Ryan Johnson
One in three Aussie households can't afford back-to-school essentials like stationery and uniforms, according to new research from Finder.
Meanwhile, 15% of parents say they will have to go into debt to cover these costs.
School supplies alone, excluding tuitions and uniforms, are expected to cost an average of $694 for primary students and $1149 for secondary students.
"Lack of school supplies is one of the key ways kids from struggling families are disadvantaged," says Serina Bird, a financial expert, self-proclaimed 'frugalista', and mother of two. "We need more awareness and compassion as a society."
Here's how to prepare for the start of the school year without blowing the budget.
1. Reuse what you have
Chris Foster-Ramsay, a finance and money expert, and father to an 11-year-old son, knows the impact that careful planning can have.
"This year, we put a lot of effort into creating a detailed shopping list and checking what we already had from 2024," he says. "Instead of rushing out to buy everything new, we reused what we could. It's probably saved us about 30% on our back-to-school expenses."
Bird also emphasises the importance of reusing supplies.
"We went through the list and asked my son to check what we already had. We had five or six rulers at home, so no need to buy more. We didn't need new pencil cases or school bags either."
While it may seem obvious, the research shows that only 4% of school-aged children will reuse last year's supplies. Sadly, around 17,000 (2%) will go without all together.
2. Shop secondhand
Another 8% of families will rely on secondhand items or hand-me-downs to make ends meet. Bird is a big advocate of secondhand school uniforms.
"Uniforms can be a huge pressure for parents," she explains. "Most schools have secondhand stores, and we need to reduce the stigma around them. There's a strong sustainability argument for reusing clothes, especially since kids are bound to get them dirty with all the sports and playground activities anyway."
Bird practices what she preaches.
"I recently put out a call on my local 'Buy Nothing' group for school uniforms. I was looking for specific items for some niche programs at the high school my youngest son is about to start. No luck yet, but someone else offered uniforms for a different program, and I'm about to give away some older uniforms from my son's primary school," she says.
"It's great to ask around and build a network with families who have kids in similar age groups. I've been gifted many uniforms this way."
For Foster-Ramsay, secondhand shopping is also a go-to option.
"With rising costs, we're seeing a huge increase in the second-hand marketplace," he says.
"This includes uniforms, books, supplies, sporting goods, and more. I recommend looking into local online marketplace groups or your school's community group. Don't forget to reach out to family and friends-sometimes kids outgrow their gear or change interests, and you can pick up things for a fraction of the cost."
3. Online shop and look for discounts
When it comes to saving on back-to-school expenses, online shopping is a must for many families. Foster-Ramsay swears by it.
"We've done much of our shopping through online retailers and click-and-collect services," says Foster-Ramsay. "This method allows us to compare prices easily and find the best deals for each category of school supplies.
"Plus, it keeps the kids at home, so things don't just jump into the trolley."
Bird also had some wins by shopping online.
"I found some great bargains at Big W, which I combined with the Everyday Extra to get 10% off. This had us sorted for around 80% of items," she explains.
But sometimes, going in-person can save you money too.
"We needed a scientific calculator, so I did some online research. The cheapest one at Officeworks, but when we went in-store, we found a similar one $30 cheaper."
"When we asked at the counter, we found out that the one on the list was a much older model and the one on the shelf was the popular one used in most schools."
4. Budget ahead of time
One of the most effective ways to manage back-to-school expenses is by budgeting ahead of time, and Foster-Ramsay has a simple approach that works well for his family.
"I recommend setting up a 'school expenses' account where you automatically transfer a small amount each week," he advises. "It's easier to manage your budget when you can divide your money into specific categories-like school expenses, day-to-day living, activities, and savings."
With schools increasingly relying on digital devices, Foster-Ramsay suggests factoring in the cost of technology.
"Tablets and laptops are a major expense, but they don't need to be replaced every year. In our household, we aim for technology to last between three to five years," he says.
Finder also factored this into the average annual costs of secondary school supplies. For example, some costs in the graph below (e.g. school bag, lunch box, water bottle) may seem smaller than usual because Finder assumes they are not purchased every year.
"Budgeting for tech over the long term helps spread out the cost and prevents unexpected bills down the line."
5. Extra tips to save
It's never too early to start getting ready for the start of the school year.
"Increasingly, we need to treat back-to-school budgeting like we do for Christmas: start early," says Bird.
"You can even get ahead by gifting practical items like school bags and water bottles at Christmas."
You can also wait for sales in early to mid January, she says.
"But if you leave it too long, you risk popular items like school uniforms selling out.
"I still have flashbacks of running around multiple discount stores, trying to find black shorts for my youngest-never again."
For Foster-Ramsay's family, a simple but effective cost-saving hack has been opting for a Sharpie over iron-on labels.
"Using a permanent marker to label your child's clothing is a simple and cost-effective alternative to iron-on labels," he explains. "It saves time and money, and it's perfect for kids who grow fast or for families with multiple children."
Lastly, Foster-Ramsay reminds parents that if back-to-school costs are getting too tough to manage, they should reach out to their school's family welfare officer.
"They're there to help," he says. "Don't be afraid to ask for assistance if you need it."
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