Thankfully we’re still in the midst of summer but the planning and preparations for back to school time are upon us.
Before we know it the long stretch in the evening will dwindle, the kids will be heading back to school, the traffic will be worse and we’ll be enforcing bed time again.
We didn’t want to mention it…but it’s a costly time of the year again for uniforms, stationary and the dreaded book list! Here we look at ways that you can save money:
Back to School time
Second-Hand Books.
There are plenty of ways to make saving with school books, through swapping with siblings, other parents or online. One very good site is: schooldays.ie
Second-Hand Uniforms.
Uniforms are one of the biggest back to school expenses. It can be difficult to source second-hand uniforms that are still in acceptable condition after a full school year of wear and tear. However, buying some uniform items second-hand like school blazers and jackets that are not worn as often can result in considerable savings.
Buy Generic.
If your school uniform code allows it, buy generic uniforms in chain stores, such as pants, shirts etc. Chain stores usually do offers during the summer months so buy early to get better deals.
Back-to-school allowance.
Check to see if you qualify for the governments Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance – this scheme runs from 1st June – 30th September and helps towards the cost of uniforms and footwear for school children. www.citizensinformation.ie
Bulk buy stationery.
If you have more than one school goer, bulk buying stationery is more cost effective than buying individual items leading up to the return to school. Check out big retail stores for offers during the summer months.
Check out local charity shop.
Charity shops can stock everything from new stationery to kid’s school bags, ties, lunch boxes and more. You’ll be surprised at what you might find.
Buy cheap, buy twice!
Buying a cheaper school bag or rucksack may seem cost effective now, but generally kids will have them destroyed by the end of term. Spend more money on a high quality sturdy canvas backpack that will last through a few years wear and tear.
Pack lunches.
Lunches made at home will save you money than buying lunches at school or at local shops. Homemade food is more nutritious than store bought lunch fillers and is much cheaper. It’s win win!
Plan meals and bulk buy.
Planning lunches a week ahead will provide you with a list of food that you can bulk buy thus saving you money.
Get social.
Post your book list to Facebook and see if any of your friends have second hand copies. Also, certain buy & sell sites allow you to place free ads to sell or buy items. So get online and start saving.
If you didn’t get around to saving money throughout the last school year in anticipation of school costs, then now is a good time to start planning for next year. By saving €5 a week you could build up €260 to help towards the costs for 2018/19 school year.
We can help…
If you have any questions about back to school costs please don’t hesitate to contact us on 094 9022 969, loans@fccu.ie or pop into any of our branches in Castlebar, Achill, Balla and Ballyhaunis. Alternatively, if you want to apply for a personal loan right now, just click here: First Choice Loan or check out our handy calculator below.