Kids school stuff is costly. I get it! I have two teenage boys.
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Here’s a few tip to help you prepare for the year ahead and hopefully save some money.
1. Plan, plan, plan
If you don’t plan, you plan to fail – that’s all there is to it.
Look at your overall budget. What can you afford for sending kids back to school?
Too many people just print off the list and head to the shops with a credit card without actually considering whether they have the money or not.
2. Do a supply sweep
Get together a pile of all your stationery and other school supplies and do an inventory of what you already have.
Chances are you’ve got about 20 or 30 pens lying around the house in various spots just begging to be used.
Each one represents money you can save.
3. Look for second hand uniforms
School clothing pools are a godsend for making big savings on uniforms.
You could also put up a post in a local Facebook group calling for uniforms in your kids’ sizes.
You’ll be surprised at how many people will come forwards with supplies.
4. Buy generic
This applies to everything! Food, lunchboxes, stationery.
That cutesy, smelly stapler is likely going to cost you about 20 times more than a generic one.
Be realistic – your kid’s probably going to lose it in the next six months anyway.
5. Don’t take the kids with you
If you take them you’ll inevitably spend more as they put things in your trolley that they really don’t need.
6. Shop in one store, if possible
You’ll save time and fuel.
7. Don’t forget the Creative Kids and Active Kids programs
You could save $100 per child on sports or creative pursuits ($200 all up if they do both a sport and a creative activity like music, drama or art).
8. Plan lunches to save
Packaged food is always more expensive so are brand names.
Don’t buy brand names!
Buy a large yoghurt and spoon it into a smaller container, a piece of fruit or two, a sandwich, some home made popcorn or cake.
Make a slice or cake in advance and freeze lunchbox portions.
Get more bright spending tips from the website www.brightspenders.com.au
Information about the Active Kids Program is available at https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/active-kids
You can learn more about the Creative Kids Program at https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/creative-kids
Anthea Falkiner
Budgeting advisor at Bright Spenders
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