Sorted Blog

It doesn’t seem so long ago that you were setting up the Christmas tree and packing the kids off to the beach.Now the holidays have ended and the kids are returning to school.

You’ve probably already incurred a fair bit of expense with books and stationery to buy, school uniforms and the school donation to pay.

It’s an expensive time and it comes on top of all the holiday costs you’ve just finished paying. According to the Ministry of Social Development, 36,000 New Zealand families needed financial help to get their kids to school last year. And budget services report that February is one of their busiest months.

So, if you’re struggling, you’re certainly not alone.

The key to make it through the beginning of term without getting into dumb debt or needing assistance,is a back-to-school money plan.If you haven’t made a plan, then make it your goal to have one for the next school term.

Firstly, list everything each of your children will need, including uniforms and shoes and/or new school clothes, school bags, fees, text and exercise books and stationery, bus/train passes andafter school care. Then, write the cost of each item and add them up.

If the final sum is enough to make you consider home schooling consider where you can cut some of the costs.

Work out what is essential and must be paid at the beginning of the year and what costs can be delayed for another term or spread out across the year to makeyour household budget more manageable.

Most schools will set up automatic payments for school donations so you can pay them off without paying interest.

School uniforms can be expensive and if young Johnny’s jersey or Susie’s skirt simply won’t last another year consider second-hand options. Many parent/teachers associations have pre-worn uniforms for sale or ask your friends what they are doing with their kids’ uniforms if they no longer need them. The shops that sell uniforms are aware of the strain parents’ budgets face and many offer layby – you can pay it off without paying interest. 

Think through your options carefully and prioritise what you need to pay for immediately. Start saving money aside for those unseen costs like the school trip Marie forgot to mention and the art supplies Nathan will need in term two. Even a small amount a week will make a big difference when the bill arrives.

You can get through the back-to-school budget blues without going into the red if you make a plan.

Tell us what you do to afford all your family’s back to school costs.