Get the kids back to school without losing your cool
At the start of the summer holidays it always feels like you’ve got weeks before the beginning of the new school year. But, before you know it, it’s just around the corner and the familiar panic sets in — have the kids got everything they need? Have I forgotten to pay for something essential? And where are those brand new lunch boxes that cost and arm and a leg …
Here are 5 simple steps you can take to avoid the back to school blues and face the year feeling like you’ve got things under control.
1. Plan ahead
We all know the new school year is inevitable, so planning ahead is really the key to a stress free lead up to first day back. Most schools send out book lists and costs by early December, so setting up a plan at this stage — as to how, when and where — is going to make your life a lot more manageable.
Easier said than done, ‘though, given all the end of year events, plus Christmas and possibly a week or two at the beach, which is why we’d suggest setting up a savings account for school costs at the start of every year, to avoid the financial shock just before the holiday season. The other option is to take advantage of the school’s payment plan, where you can arrange to pay the costs off over time. This is a great way to budget as well, as you can factor in the payments to your regular bills — even set up a direct debit for a few months so you don’t have to think about it. Remember ‘though, books and stationary are on top of school fees and have to be paid for immediately, which is where that special savings account comes in handy.
2. Budget
Planning and budgeting are intricately related, and you can’t really have one without the other. As we pointed out above, you do have some idea of the school costs that are coming up, so factor them in to your budget for the second half of the year. And put a cap on things like stationary and accessories, so your kids know they can’t go silly on coloured pens and scented erasers. If there are uniforms in the mix and it’s not your kids’ first year at school, budget for new or replacement items throughout the year so you don’t get whammed in January.
3. Do a stocktake
Don’t over purchase. In early January, get the kids to try on their school clothes and shoes to make sure they fit and make a list of what’s needed. And focus on the items for summer, leaving the more pricey winter clothes until they’re needed, which could be awhile given our lengthy summers of late.
As far as stationary and books go, weed through the stuff left over from last year and recycle as much as possible. If you’ve got exercise books with only a few pages used, tear them out carefully and send the remainder off to school to be filled up. (Just think of the trees you’ve saved!)
We all tend to go a bit crazy with pens and accessories and, let’s face it, a lot of them don’t get used or the school supplies the majority, so paring back can save you a lot of money. Clear out the pencil cases, throwing out all the broken pencils, textas and pens, and replace only what’s essential, which goes for all the other paraphernalia as well. And make that list. Knowing what you’re facing well before the start of term not only helps you budget but means you can spend a bit of time finding good deals, with some of the best offers coming from online suppliers.
4. Source second hand
There’s a lot of money to be saved with putting a little bit of effort into sourcing second-hand clothing and books, and even things like musical instruments. Most schools run a second hand book sale at the end of Term 4 and if the school has a uniform shop, there will be good quality second hand uniforms available. Or ask other parents with older kids if they have any hand-me-downs, including books. After all, a lot of the books on the list are used for a term and never looked at again. And if there are some literary classics on the list, check out your local second hand book store, but make sure you’re getting the right edition, as teachers will more than likely refer to page numbers in class.
5. Sales & special offers
Taking advantage of sales and special offers takes a bit of planning ahead (as above) and research, so start looking around well before the start of the school year. If offers have time limits, make a note in your diary so you don’t miss out. And don’t leave things until the last minute when the queues get longer and supplies invariably run out. If you find a really good deal on exercise books, for example, stock up, which will save you money in the long-run.
If your kids’ school doesn’t have a uniform, check out the discount warehouses for things like clothes and shoes, and grab a few of the basics, such as socks, shorts and t-shirts.
Date:
17 January 2017
Category:
Lumo Community
|
Living Sustainably
|
Lumo Energy
