Three mums have shared how to save up to £160 before the schools go back next week.
According to a recent report by the Schoolwear Association, the average school uniform costs parents £101.19 per child.
Meanwhile, separate research from Lloyds Banking Group shows mums and dads are spending roughly £183.30 per child to get them ready for the new term.
So if you’re struggling with costs, and you still need to kit out your little one, there are some quick ways to save cash.
Of course, the amount you could save in reality depends on your individual circumstances - so you may be able to save more or less than these mums.
Their tips range from selling your unwanted clothes, to cancelling subscriptions and cutting out booze.
We have a handy guide on how to find the cheapest school uniform from the likes of Aldi, Tesco and Lidl ahead of the new school year.
Prices start from £4.50 for a bundle containing polo shirts, a sweatshirt, plus a skirt or trousers.
'Banish the booze and have freezer food'
Manchester mum and fashion influencer Emma Stretton has two young boys and has racked up 4,000 followers online by sharing money-saving tips.
She explains how cutting down on food and alcohol expenses is an easy way to save more than £100 to cover Back to School costs.
Emma and her partner can save around £40 by giving up alcohol for two weeks - £20 if you're starting now, ahead of the school term.
Again, the amount you could save may or less depending on your lifestyle.
What are your favourite money-saving tips? Let us know in the comments.
She told Cash Lady: “For the last two weeks we’re reining it in to save money and get healthier before the cold nights and comfort food starts.
“A crate of beer and a bottle of prosecco costs about £20, so a couple of weeks teetotal can save us up to £40.”
Emma also cuts back by going for "super simple meals" like porridge and jacket potato and beans - stuff that is cheap, but still fills the family up.
Another favourite is a classic "picky tea" where they make use of what is left in the freeze for a "beige buffet" - saving them around £30.
Finally, the money-savvy mum can make around £20 a week by selling clothes on eBay and saves £60 by having a date night at home instead of going out.
Emma added: “We all know how important it is to grab some time together, even more so during the summer holiday slog. But those fancy meals add up.
“Instead, get the kids in bed and do date night at home. Loads of the supermarkets do great deals nowadays.”
- Cut out alcohol - £20
- Sell old clothes on eBay - £20
- Eat simple meals - £30
- Use last year's shoes and hand me downs - £30
- Do date night at home - £60
Total: £160
'Sort out subscriptions and save £40'
London-based Moira is a mum of two girls and set up a second-hand clothes shop @re_style_tribe in lockdown to make some extra cash.
She says cutting down on costly subscriptions and activities are good ways to save some cash ahead of schools going back.
Just getting rid of subscriptions she no longer uses has saved Moira around £40 a month.
She said: "I regularly review the subscriptions I’ve absentmindedly signed up for that had a month or three free at the start that I no longer need.
"At one point, on top of a Sky tv subscription, I also had subscriptions to Disney plus, Spotify, Netflix and Amazon Prime costing over £40 a month."
Another tip to cut back costs is to check if you're paying for a packaged bank account that you no longer need.
These banks typically provide extra services like insurance policies but you may not necessarily make use of them.
Moira added: "I got rid of the bank account I was paying £20 a month for as the services provided (gadget insurance etc) were already covered by existing insurance policies."
Her final tips are to rotate your kids' toys between friends and family, so you don't need to buy new ones, which could save you around £40.
Finally, Moira says she saves around £50 on expensive activities by looking for free events and things to do with her little ones.
- Review monthly subscriptions - £40
- Rotate toys instead of buying new ones - £40
- Look for free kids entertainment - £50
- Get rid of packaged bank accounts - £20
Total: £150
'I make £30 a month selling clothes on Depop'
Nottingham mum Holly Robinson is a mother of two boys and works in a school, so she knows first-hand how expensive school uniform can be.
She says selling old clothes can be a great way to earn some extra cash.
Holly's favourite way to flog unwanted belongings is through second-hand selling site Depop - and she reckons she makes around £30 a month doing this.
She said: "I’ve found Depop much easier and profitable than a lot of other resale sites.
It’s easy to put up items you no longer wear and because there is no ‘end date’ for the items you are selling.
"It's a great bonus when you get a notification pop up out of the blue telling you you’ve sold an item."
Holly says her and her friends also now swap school uniform, saving them around £50 compared to having to buy everything brand new.
Finally, making home made snacks is another way Holly cuts back on costs - saving her an estimated £10 each week.
- Sell old clothes on Depop - £30
- Do a clothes swap - £50
- Use homeware apps - £15
Total: £105
Have you got any extra tips to share? Get in touch: emma.munbodh@mirror.co.uk
