Returning to school is expensive but there are plenty of ways to cut the cost. Image: Anna Drozdova/Editable Vector“Don’t have children,” was the most common advice offered when I asked parents if they had any cost-cutting tips ahead of the new school year. Either we’re a nation of comedians or they have a point. Raising children is an expensive business and free education is anything but.
* If your school has a crested uniform, check to see what parts of it may be generic. Sometimes trousers, skirts or shirts can be purchased from outlets other than a specific uniform shop, which can lead to substantial savings. * If your children’s school is an iPad school, the waste can feel real if books are also required, as they frequently are. For children who have access to their older siblings’ physical books, it may not be necessary to purchase a book you already have again, in order to access the code for the accompanying ebook. Check first with the publisher to see if a new code can be assigned, at a far lesser cost.