Back to school costs.

It may just have been a couple of short weeks since school broke up for the summer but many parents of school going children are already bracing themselves ahead of the back to school shopping season. The cost of school going children to parents is a significant financial burden and can put pressure on other areas of the family budget.  The Irish League of Credit Unions has this year taken a look at just what the costs for both primary and secondary school children are.

Average spend on School Related Costs

In the survey, parents stated that they believe uniforms / school clothing are the most expensive items to purchase for their children going back to school. Parents of primary school children are spending an average of €166 per child on uniforms/ clothing, up from €160 in 2014. Secondary school parents are spending an average of €258 per child on uniforms/ clothing, down from €266 in 2014.

Books are the second most expensive item on the list with parents of primary school children shelling out €106 on books, down slightly from €107 in 2014 and secondary school parents spending €213 on books, up significantly from €166 in 2014.

School lunches are the third most expensive item on the list (all parents), with primary school parents spending €116 per child in 2015, down from €122 in 2014. Secondary school parents are spending €147 per child, up from €134 in 2014.

Some useful tips on how to save money on Back to School costs can be found here.

Also, check to see if you are eligible for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear allowance. Details can be found  here.

If you do find that you need to borrow for Back to School Costs, Core Credit Union can provide you with a loan at our special rate of 6.5%(APR 6.7%). If you would like to apply for a Back to School loan, or want further details, please contact any of our offices.