How to save money on the back to school day

The first day of school can be pretty rough for parents, as they have to buy their kids everything they need for the year ahead

08:49 27 October 2013

Parents in the UK pay up to £100 for each of their kids' school needs, but this cost can be greatly reduced by careful planning and following simple steps. So you shouldn't worry if your budget is slightly reduced this year, or if you really need to increase your savings. Here is what you should do to save money:

• make a list of all the things your kid is going to need, and try to organize it so that you can easily see the essential things and the 'would be nice to have' things. To boost your savings, first take care of the essential ones;

 

• the school uniform is one of the most expensive thing you'll have to buy, so try to find out if there are any ways to buy a second-hand or cheaper uniform to add to your savings;

 

• you can easily increase savings on pens and pencils by shopping around and finding promotional offers; however, make sure that you don't buy more than you need, as these offers will most likely try to trick you into it;

 

• books are also expensive items that your kid needs, so if you want to increase savings, look for second-hand books from older kids or local shops; you can find bargains online;

 

• sports equipment can damage your savings a lot, so make sure that you only buy what your kid is going to use; community sharing sites may be a good solution for you;

These are just of the easy ways for you to boost your savings on first school day. Remember that the key is to shop ahead, as most supermarkets increase their prices in this period.