We get it. Kids are expensive. None more so than Back to School time. Uniforms, supplies, school fees, weekly packed lunches – it adds up. Not to mention, fresh shoes (for some families, they need new shoes every few months for growing feet!). Budgeting these days is an absolute must to help you keep on top of a busy household and for keeping finances in check,

Read our guide to help you manage Back To School on a budget.

Keeps tabs on outgoings

Spending can often get out of control, especially if you have growing children. We recommend creating a big spreadsheet, either on a computer (or even on paper) with all the outgoings and costs for the upcoming season to assess costs for things like new uniforms and school fees.

Check with the school in advance on fees

Often school fees can increase for the new year, so make sure you are prepared by checking with your childrens’ school on the new year school fees so you’re not left out of pocket at the wrong moment.

Reuse what you can

A resuable, insulated water bottle is a must, rather than buying disposable plastic bottles, this will also help to save on space for you.

Similarly, if your kids’ devices are reasonably new, there’s likely no reason to purchase new laptops and phones each year.

Bulk buy your supplies

Buying school supplies like stationery in bulk is a smart move when you’re working with a reduced budget. Keeping pens, pencils and notebooks ready for when they need them, rather than buying ad-hoc means you’ll always have stock on hand for the kids but you’re also saving on impulse, more expensive individual stationery purchases on the fly.

Explore The Athletes Foot Budget School Shoes options

Just because they’re offered at lower prices, doesn’t mean you’re compromising on quality. Here at The Athlete’s Foot we have a whole range of school shoes under $100 – that all follow uniform friendly guidelines from prep through to high school. We also offer athletic styles as well as formal styles so you can make an informed purchase without the stress – there’s even footy boots. Explore footwear from Alpha, Nike, Ascent and more.

Plan lunches and meals in advance

Just because you’re keeping to a budget, doesn’t mean your kids have to have unhealthy, albeit cheaper food. Plan your school lunches well in advance so you can keep track of costs and ingredients, rather than buying as you go.

We recommend downloading the apps for your local supermarkets so you can keep tabs on offers for things like fresh fruit and vegetables – this way it offers variety for the little ones, but also means you’re saving money each week.

We hope our tips help you plan a more budget savvy Back To School season this year!