How to save money on your back to school costs

From polo shirts to pencil cases! How to save money on your back to school costs

Ad Feature by M&S

  • The cost of living is now the biggest concern for Irish shoppers
  • The average cost of sending a child back to school now exceeds €1,000
  • M&S is helping parents to combat these costs with its affordable school uniform range 

The financial burden of getting our children ready for heading back to school is a growing concern for many parents, and in latest insight from the M&S Family Matters Report, it was found that 82 percent of customers are worried about the cost of living. Understandable when you acknowledge that the average cost* of sending a primary school child back to school costs €1,195 – up €9 on last year, while secondary school parents are shelling out €1,518 per child – up €27 on last year.

While some outlays are unavoidable, there are several ways you can save money on essential items, if you know where to look and what to avoid. So with this in mind, we’ve teamed up with M&S to reveal some practical cost saving measures that can help you avoid the back to school pitfalls that are guaranteed to pinch your purse.

The financial burden of getting our children ready for heading back to school is a growing concern for many parents. Photo: M&S

Shop around for their uniforms

Generic uniforms aren’t created equal and opting for better quality will always win out. The M&S range of school uniforms features incorporated intelligent design features, from growth proof hems in trousers to adjustable waistbands in skirts, and the entire range has also been carefully designed with durability in mind. It also uses responsibly sourced materials, including 100 percent responsibly sourced cotton and recycled polyester. Another sustainable side to the range is how it allows you to buy in bulk, meaning you can rotate staples like trousers and pinafores to prolong their lifespan and minimise wear and tear – a 3-pack of polo shirts starts from just €9.50 while 2-pack jumpers come in at €15.

Minimise food waste

There’s nothing more disheartening that opening up their lunchbox at the end of the day to find your healthy creations lurking untouched and ready for the bin. Meal planning with your kids is a great way to encourage picky eaters to scoff every last scrap of food you prepare for them. From egg muffins loaded with veg to grazing plates consisting of cold meats, cheese and fresh fruits, get inventive, get the kids involved and plan out their week of lunches in advance so you can not only budget accordingly before you do the weekly shop, but avoid food waste in the long run.

The M&S range of school uniforms has also been carefully designed with durability in mind. Photo: M&S

Shine up their school shoes

If the shoe still fits – literally – but they’ve seen better days and are covered in scuff marks and scratches, give their school shoes a new lease of life by bringing them to a cobbler. Here you’ll be able to get worn down heels replaced, the leather buffed and cleaned and minor repairs done so you get another couple of months out of their shoes. Prudent and sustainable, what’s not to love?

Buy in bulk

From pencil cases to copy books, buying in bulk is the way forward. If you have one child, this might seem excessive so why not team up with a couple of friends or family members and split the cost with them instead? Shop around, nominate Not only will you save money, you’ll also ensure nothing goes to waste.

Bulk buying school supplies is the best way to save money on them. Photo: Shutterstock

Tap into the local community

If you’ve muted your child’s class parents What’s App group, change your settings and let those notifications chime in because they’re a great way to access second hand items as well as request if anyone is selling something they don’t need. The same goes for local area community groups on Facebook. From swapping or selling school books to buying good quality school supplies, second hand sales can save you serious money on your back to school costs.

Start a Back to School loose change fund

From an old jar to a piggy bank to Revolut’s Vault feature, catching and consolidating your loose change is a great way to accumulate savings without even noticing. The great thing about this is that multiple people can contribute to a shared wallet so you can link in with your partner or your child’s grandparents if they’ve offered to help with some of the costs and then use this fund to help pay for back to school essentials. Win-win!

Planning out their lunches with your kids is a great way to ensure they eat what you’ve given them in in turn, minimise food waste. Photo: Shutterstock

Visit marksandspencer.com/ie to sign up to the M&S Sparks loyalty programme and visit M&S stores for all your Back-to-School needs or shop online to avail of next day delivery or free Click & Collect to 18 M&S locations.

* The Irish League of Credit Unions (ICLU) annual survey

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