13 Best Back-To-School Savings Tips {That Actually Work!}
Want to save money on school essentials and uniform for your kids?
The costs involved with sending kids off to school can really stack up, from uniform to sports kit and school lunches to trips.
And when it comes to sending kids back to school after a break, especially after the summer holidays, those costs can really stack up.
Expenses are likely to run high at this time as kids have six weeks to grow out of old clothes, or are heading into a new class, or even school, that has a different uniform and class essentials checklist.
Luckily there are a lot of things you can do to cut back on the costs associated with school.
If you’re nervous about your back-to-school budget then read on for tips on how you can save big!
Back-to-school savings
These are my tried and tested ways of saving money on back-to-school costs – with two kids at primary school I totally understand how the strain can mount on your budget.
Here’s how I’ve managed to cut costs for my own kids.
1. Take stock early
It’s worth getting to grips with the things that you need as early as possible during the school holidays.
To be honest I have in the past ordered the new uniform before the kids even break up from school.
That’s because in instances where the school has a specific supplier they can often be extremely late at delivering uniform – I’ve known it to take over six weeks. And if you don’t have it in time for the new term then you’ll have to spend on emergency uniform to tide you over. Not good.
Once you know what you need, figure out exactly what sizes you will need to purchase.
Maybe your child needs to size up for next year, or maybe they’re still OK in the current sizing.
Just make sure you check, and if you’re checking at the start of the summer holidays then account for your child’s growth – if things are tight now then they’ll be very tight by October half term.
2. Label everything
Lost uniform means you have to fork out for more. Keep track of everything by labelling it all.
You can get hold of amazing iron-in labels for uniform, or use a black clothes marker pen to write your child’s name into their uniform.
Always check lost property at the end of term.
If you have more than one child then passing down items to younger siblings is an amazing way of saving money.
I’m sure I have saved hundreds of pounds by doing this, as it works with shoes, cardigans, dresses, tights, everything.
It certainly helps that I have two girls, but things like jumpers can be universal for boys and girls when it comes to some school uniforms.
So keep track of that uniform, and try to mend anything that gets torn if you can.
3. Look for non-branded uniform
New rules mean schools have to make effort to make uniform more affordable, so you may not have to buy items with logo on from specific suppliers that tend to be more expensive.
The new guidance has several new rules, which state schools must provide an affordable option for school uniforms.
Schools will still be able to provide their own higher-priced uniforms, often branded with their logo, but an alternative must be available.
Schools will also be encouraged to keep the number of branded items that are mandatory to a minimum.
The policy says schools will have to make sure second-hand uniforms are available.
They are also being told to allow more high-street options as acceptable uniforms.
A big part of the new rules also centres around transparency, with schools now required to make their uniform policy easily accessible, and make their contracts with suppliers transparent.
So what this means is, you don’t necessarily have to buy uniform from where the school says you must. Check the school’s list to ensure you’re following guidance on colour and pattern.
Then shop around for cheaper school uniforms.
4. Check for sales
Pretty much every supermarket and high street store that sells uniform has some form of sale on school uniforms – typically towards the end of the summer holidays but sometimes earlier.
M&S started their school uniform sale ahead of the end of the summer term this year – right at the start of July in fact!
So keep your eyes open, and have that checklist ready so you can
Shop around the supermarkets and high street stores for sales to get the best deals, and don’t forget to use cashback sites when shopping online.
Most schools have secondhand sales or parents may be willing to pass down unwanted uniform their kids have grown out of (join your school’s parents Facebook, most have them, to connect with parents).
5. Try second hand uniform sales
Most schools hold regular secondhand uniform sales, largely to drum up much-needed funds for the PTA.
If you are new to the school then email the school reception to check for dates, or try to join a parents’ WhatsApp group where you can get the information.
Many schools add important dates like these to their website calendar, or their school Facebook page.
6. Ask around fellow parents for uniform swaps or sellers
See if any fellow parents are selling their unwanted uniform that their own kids have grown out of.
It’s always worth connecting with fellow parents, as you’ll often find others keen to have a clear out who don’t just want to throw branded uniform away.
7. Check for help
If affording school uniform is a big struggle for you then check out if there are any local charities that can help.
In our area there’s an amazing organisation called First Days that kits out local children with the school uniform they need.
8. Swap old clothes for cash
Some retailers will happily receive your clothes you purchased from them back after your child has grown out of them and reward you with store credit.
M&S has its Shwopping scheme, which means customers customers can Shwop any item of school uniform, from any retailer, including those with school badges.
In exchange you will get 20% off kids’ daywear. You’ll need a Sparks card to get the offer.
If you bought your child’s last pair of shoes from Schuh then you can get £5 off your next pair when you recycle your old and unwanted shoes.
9. Encourage younger kids to have school meals
Kids in reception to Year Two get free school meals.
It’s worth taking advantage of that and then for dinner you can just give them a simple, cheap meal as they will have had a hot dinner.
If you are receiving certain benefits your child may qualify for free school means beyond this.
If your child is in a year beyond Year Two then consider whether paying the fee for school dinners is worth it.
Weigh up the high price of grocery shopping vs the school fee for the lunch. The cost is around £2.15 a day for Year Three and up and £2.30 a day for secondary age.
10. Always use cashback sites and apps
Use cashback when buying absolutely anything where it is available.
It is especially good for savings when buying tech like laptops.
Plus make sure you’re analysing the price of items over time to get the best deal. Look at Black Friday deals too if you need computers for an older child.
When it comes to things like uniform and shoes you can use cashback sites for that. Most of the big retailers have a presence on the big cashback sites – I like TopCashback.
With shoes, if you shop from Clarks you can get cashback from Airtime Rewards (which earns you money off your mobile phone bill, but still a saving to you).
And JamDoughnut is a great cashback app if you are shopping at supermarkets for clothing, such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
With this app you purchase gift vouchers, that you then use at your chosen retailer and JamDoughnut puts cashback into your account on the app. You can cash out at 1000 points which doesn’t take that long to accrue.
See my full JamDoughnut review here.
11. Start saving for school trips now
Generally speaking school trips, dressing-up days and other events may set you back around £70 a year.
Set some money aside every month for this type of activity.
They tend to cluster around certain times of year, such as Christmas and the end of the school year.
If your child is going into Year Six then expect there to be a big residential trip in which they’re away for a week.
The cost of this is normally between £400 and £500, so take this into consideration when budgeting for the year ahead.
12. Shop for non-branded gear
Shop for simple, cheap lunchboxes and backpacks rather than branded, flash items.
You can get kids to decorate them with stickers and fabric pens in order to jazz them up and personalise them.
Plus check the inventory at home before buying new stationery, you never know what is lurking in drawers.
13. Budget for birthdays
Attending the birthday parties of good friends is part of the joy of attending school for little ones!
But the costs soon add up, so I always make sure I bulk buy small toys and cards so I have things to hand for birthday parties.
Bulk buy cards on the cheap at pound shops and look for deals on toys. Some retailers such as Argos do 3 for 2 on toys.
Tesco runs regular toy sales as well, with as much as half off the normal price.
Simply buy several at once that are aimed at your child’s age group and have broad appeal.
