Tutors Field

Tutors Field

It’s that time of the year again. As a new school year looms closer, as does the crippling fear of spending a fortune on brand new supplies that your child supposedly has to have. Follow these golden rules, so both your family and your bank account will thank you afterwards.

Find what you already have. Almost every school list will have something on it that you most likely already have laying about at home. Don’t get trapped in the chaos of trying to tick everything off, and instead take a moment to think about whether you already have that 30 cm ruler or pack of blue pens in a desk drawer at home. As for uniform, opt for hand-me-downs or second-hand buys and you’ll save a bunch. You’ll breathe a sigh of relief when you find out how much you save from simply using things you don’t need to buy brand new.

Use the school list as a guide, not gospel After you’ve followed the first tip, use the school list as a non-obligatory directory for your purchases. If it’s ‘recommending’ a $4.99 sharpener, it’s probably okay to go for a $1.99 one if you find it. This applies to an array of items like pens, pencils, erasers, notebook and folders, where there’s always a range of different prices that you can pick from. Go for unbranded or homebrand supplies which are often significantly cheaper than big names, and practically the same quality.

Wait. I can’t buy unbranded textbooks or calculators though! For the older year levels, textbooks and fancy calculators come into the mix which can skyrocket back-to-school debt. Fear not! Like uniforms, buying these second-hand is a life (and bank) saver. Many high schools hold second-hand sales before the term begins, and other sites like Gumtree and eBay are great online platforms where textbooks and calculators are re-sold for a much lower price than their RRP.

Take advantage of sales and discounts. There is nothing tacky about saving money, which is why no one should be ashamed of going bonkers on back-to-school sales or using a cheeky coupon (or two). Do keep an eye out for 40-50% off bargains, but don’t get too sucked into a sea of bright sale tags and buy things you don’t need. See the next point.

Be realistic and honest. Sure, that brand new lunchbox is 25% off with a really cool design,  but do you actually need one with three other lunch boxes sitting at home? Stick to your lists and avoid buying things on impulse. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it. Remember that you are the superstar who knows how to keep both yourself and your kids in check.

So, take a deep breath and dive right in. Unleash your inner frugal funk to make your money work smarter, not harder for this school season.

 

You may also like to read:

Back to School – Checklist for All Stages

Going Back to School