back_to_school Budgeting

Reducing Back to School Expenses

Posted on 16 January 2017

No matter where your kids attend school, it’s expensive to buy everything they need! From standard school supplies to uniforms, all those little expenses can add up fast. If you are on a tight budget, handling those school expenses can be a struggle! These tips will help you reduce back to school expenses and get your children ready to learn and grow.

1. Set a school supply budget

You know how much you have to spend on school supplies. Set a realistic budget for each of your children. This will help both of you make smarter decisions about what items are needs and which ones are luxuries that you can live without.

2. Know when quality matters and when you can choose the less-expensive item

If you know that the right brand of scissors will make a huge difference for your elementary school student or that high-quality crayons are highly recommended by your child’s teacher, those are worth spending extra on. On the other hand, rulers and paper have the same functionality no matter what brand you buy. Choose the budget brands on those items when possible to keep your spending down.

3. Explore your uniform options

If your school requires uniforms, experienced parents may sell their children’s used uniforms for a fraction of the price of buying new. Consider purchasing a smaller number of uniforms and washing more regularly instead of buying a full week’s worth. You may also discover that if you have a couple of children in the same school, you can save by handing down uniform items as one child outgrows them.

4. Plan your child’s meals

Planning your weekly meals when you do your grocery shopping is a great way to add some extra room to your budget and that means planning your child’s lunches, too. Plan for healthy lunches that are easy to pack in the morning or that can be put together at the beginning of the week. You’ll find that when you think it through ahead of time, you’re able to save big.

5. Label everything

It may seem time-consuming to sit down with a permanent marker and label every item your child is taking to school, but the financial savings are well worth it. From uniform pieces to school supplies that could go missing if your child turns their back for too long, labeling your child’s items will make it more likely that your child will make it home with them at the end of the day–and that means that you won’t have to go buy another one.

School supply shopping can add up quickly. If you’re struggling to come up with the money for uniforms, school supplies, and school fees, we can help you with a short term loan. Contact us for more information.