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THE new school term is creeping closer which means having to fork out a small fortune on back-to-school supplies if you haven't already.
According to research by retail marketing consultancy Gekko, the average spending on school gear will set parents back an average of £452.40 per child.
And for primary school parents that climbs to an eye-watering £490.80 when uniform, stationery and in some cases tech items are factored in.
Meanwhile, for parents of kids in secondary school or college, the overall costs can come to £422.90 or £390.20, respectively.
A hike in the cost-of-living is still taking its toll, making it harder for cash-strapped parents to make ends meet - and a woman in the know is mum-of-four Casey Major-Bunce.
The cash-savvy parent, better known to her 660k Instagram followers as The Queen of Hacks, says: ''As a mum, I’m always trying to stretch the budget, especially with school stuff.
The cooler months bring the start of a new school year, Halloween, and then Christmas…as well as greater need for heating!
''It’s an expensive time and we’re all in it together. I’m really hoping my hacks can help us all save money, stress and time, and I’m here to help.”
Casey, from Portsmouth, had her first child at 19 and back then she was brutally trolled for ''wasting her life'' as a teen mum.
But fast forward to October 2022, Casey successfully launched her Instagram account, bursting with tips and fun family ideas - that have even been liked by Stacey Solomon and shared by everyone's cleaning pro, Mrs Hinch.
Since then, she's grown a huge fanbase, sharing money-saving hacks and easy recipes that take minutes to whip up - and with September almost here, Casey suggests how to make the return to school more affordable too.
If you're yet to sort uniforms The' mum-fluencer' has a handy hint: ''If you’ve got friends with kids in the same school, try teaming up to buy multipacks and split the cost," she says.
''Sometimes you don’t need four of the same shirt, so why not share and have two and a friend have two?''
When it comes to shopping on the high street, Casey suggests heading to Matalan, which for her, ''has been a lifesaver''.
''I find their products are good quality at great prices, with trousers starting at just £4," she says.
Looking for trendy bags that won't break the bank? Primark's got it all, says Casey.
The popular pocket-friendly retailer offers just about any design and size your little one is after, whether they're a Disney fan, obsessed with Hello Kitty or Minecraft.
Featuring multiple compartments, the backpacks will provide plenty of space for all important back to school stationery and books - and prices start from as little as £6.
For second-hand uniforms, the mum-of-four suggests checking out Uniformd, where parents can ''search by your kid’s school and snag some great deals on gently used items''.
IF you can't get targeted help from your council, you might have some other options available to you.
In some areas, you can talk directly to your school, which might be able to offer you clothing.
Or, you might be able to get cheap garments from low-budget shops or charity stores.
Some charities offer help to families in need too.
But bear in mind charities often have a limited amount of money to give and usually have specific criteria which must be met in order to get a grant.
Charity Turn2Us has a free grants search tool on its website which you can use to find out what help is available to you.
Meanwhile, you can always try approaching your nearest Citizens' Advice branch.
If you don't know where your nearest Citizens' Advice branch is, you can find out by visiting www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/nearby/.
If you're not eligible for a school uniform grant you might be able to get help through the Household Support Fund.
''School shoes are another big expense, but I’ve found that shopping at outlets can really help," Casey explains.
''We saved £18 per child this year just by buying last year’s styles at a Clark’s outlet on the internet.''
According to the money-saving whizz, who also has a brilliant 50p food hack for flights, parents 'can also recycle last year’s shoes through Kickers’ Reskinned program and get £15 credit toward a new pair.
''Schuh also has a great programme where you get a £5 voucher for every pair of shoes you donate through their Sell Your Soles scheme," she adds.
The best part? They don’t even need to be from Schuh and you can redeem the voucher in store or online, whatever works for you - a win-win for you, your wallet and the environment.
Although it's easy to pick up a meal deal from your local supermarket or pre-packed lunches, the costs will soon rack up - and more often than not, store-bought meals also contain huge amounts of sugar and very little nutritional value, for growing kids especially.
Instead, simply cook a larger batch when preparing dinner the night before, whether that's a hearty pasta dish or a curry - and it will also help tackle food waste.
Looking for more inspiration? Check out The Lunchbox Mama by Rachel Stirling who has plenty of ideas to make sure the grub you pack the little ones is cost-effective, nutritious, delicious and filling.
SEVERAL major supermarkets and retailers are set to launch their sell-out uniform deals.
Prices for the bundles and offers start at just £5
Among the chains offering bargain deals on kids' uniforms are Aldi, Marks and Spencer, and Tesco.
Asda
Asda's George range offers the following key pieces:
Boys Uniform
Girls Uniform
Peacocks
Discount fashion retailer Peacocks is offering its cheap uniform range in all stores with 20% off from July 28.
Its kids' uniform goes from age 2-3 up to age 14-15 years, which is a new age range for this year.
Among its key items are:
M&S
M&S has held prices on its school uniform since 2021 and has confirmed the return of its popular 20% off school uniform early bird offer from July 2.
You can get the discount by shopping online or in stores where uniform is stocked.
Some examples of its range include:
Tesco
Tesco is bringing back its 25% off uniform deal again this year, the sale starts on July 23.
It doesn’t tend to run for a long time, so it might be a good idea to stock up while you can.
You need to ensure you have your Tesco Clubcard or app when you get to the till so the discount is applied.
Tesco is yet to reveal the exact items available in the offer.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's says it has maintained its 2022 prices on its school uniform.
It is said to be introducing its 25% off sale on June 19.
Last year you could pick up two packs of polo shirts starting from £3, trousers from £4 and two packs of gingham dresses from £10 both online and in stores.
Dropping the little ones to school can get pretty pricey over time, especially if you're driving every day - but Casey's come up with a solution.
''Find some friends with kids at the same school and take turns with the drop-offs and pick-ups. It’s a great way to save on petrol and time!''
No school year is complete without fun trips with classmates - but although the kids are having a grand time with their peers, your wallet is the one bearing the costs.
To make sure your finances don't suffer a major blow, the thrifty mum will ''always ask the teachers about any upcoming trips and try to budget ahead''.
''I’ve started putting away a few pounds each week so that when those big trips come up, we’re not caught off guard,'' she adds.
