Between uniforms, books, shoes, stationery and novelty lunch boxes, the cost of sending your little ones back to school can quickly mount. Add to that the current increase in the cost of living and you're looking at a slightly more stretched budget than you may have felt last year.
But it can be a manageable affair if you have the necessary know-how. With a few key tips and tricks up your sleeve, you can keep costs relatively low and avoid a few common pitfalls. Here, we’ll take you through some essential steps to ensure your back-to-school expenses won’t break the bank.
Don’t buy a brand new uniform - recycle or get crafty
Whether it means checking in with neighbours, relatives or friends you’ve made at the school gate, you’ll find that everyone is in the same boat when it comes to the yearly scramble for a uniform in the next size up. Children outgrow their uniforms at an alarming rate, but rather than having to buy a brand new one (and not to mention a PE kit) every year, investigate whether a swapping system could work for you.
Scour the school Facebook page or WhatsApp group and see what’s out there. Even if you can just grab a jumper, that’s one less thing to worry about. Otherwise, get crafty. If there’s a school crest, buy one and sew it onto a jumper that matches the school colours. Nobody will ever know the difference.
Search online for second-hand school books
A pristine new schoolbook only stays that way for mere seconds before it’s stuffed into a bag with a leaky flask and a scattering of breadcrumbs. In addition to saving time by not having to cover a new book with plastic wrapper, a second-hand book will also save you money.
Some websites provide a service where you can buy and sell pre-loved school books from all over the country. Or if you’d rather stay a bit closer to home, enquire about book-swapping at school or with the parents of other children at the school. Just make sure the books are in good condition (with minimal artwork of the teacher in various comical situations added).
Consider an alternative way of doing the school run
While you may have the efficiency of the school run down to a tee, there may be a slightly more cost-effective way to get in and out each day. If possible, check if a more economic alternative is available instead of your usual arrangements. For example, if you usually drive, entertain the possibility of walking even once a week, or see if there’s a bus route nearby that could be helpful. Or investigate the benefits of equipping the family with bikes (and the necessary safety gear, too) to get from A to B.
While it won’t always be an option for everyone, a more environmentally-friendly and low-cost transport alternative could potentially save you money, help the planet and give you some exercise along the way. Or if you’re stuck with the car, check if anyone else in the area would be interested in splitting the commute a few days a week.
Raid the 'odd bits' drawer in the kitchen before you buy new supplies
Stationery is another area where costs can mount, but you’ve probably got a lot of it lying around at home. Before you hit the shops, do a quick scan of the kitchen drawer where you keep a bit of everything. You’ll be surprised with what you find. Pens, pencils, rulers, calculators, maybe even that missing key for the shed you’ve been looking for.
They say the streets are paved with gold, but they also say that the kitchen drawers are paved with forgotten stationery essentials. For anything else you need, keep an eye on a certain supermarket’s notorious middle aisle for budget-friendly multipacks of what you need.
Check if you're due a tax rebate to help your funds
Every little helps at this time of year, and a tax rebate can certainly go a long way in making your back to school budget a bit healthier. With over €620m having reportedly been overpaid to Revenue in the last three years, it’s worth your while checking if you’re owed anything.
Services like IrishTaxRebates.ie will go back over the last four years and check for refunds on income tax, USC, medical expenses, flat rate expenses, employment expenses, work-from-home credits, marriage, and family tax credits. The application takes less than a minute to fill in and they’ll have the review completed in just 12 working days.
To help alleviate rising living costs, consider increasing your tax rebate. Click here to find out what tax credit reliefs you can claim depending on your situation.
