Half of parents can’t afford back-to-school costs

Half (52%) of parents are struggling to cover back-to-school costs this year, new research from Creditspring shows.

Parents spend an average of £1,756 a year for each secondary-school aged child, according to Loughborough University.

On top of stationery and supplies, school uniforms cost hundreds of pounds – £287 for primary and £422 for secondary – so back-to-school costs can quickly add up.

What parents are worried about

The Creditspring research found that:

• 58% of parents expect the new term to cost more in September than ever before
• 48% cut back on other essentials before the start of the new school year
• 48% worry about affording back-to-school supplies
• 40% feel back-to-school costs are unaffordable
• 34% said they’d think about homeschooling their kids to avoid these costs

Forced to borrow money

Four in ten (39%) of parents said they’d be relying on credit to cover back-to-school costs, while 37% said having to spend so much on school supplies would put them in debt. The study revealed that:

• 20% said they’d cover costs with credit cards
• 13% would rely on their overdrafts
• 10% would turn to buy now, pay later
• 6% said they’d borrow from families and friends

Help for parents

Thankfully, there’s help available to make the back-to-school burden more bearable. We've also got loads of tips to bring costs down too.

Aldi is giving away vouchers for £100 to 100 lucky parents throughout September – find out how to apply.

You might be able to get a grant to help with back-to-school costs. Many local councils and specialist charities offer grants to help with uniform prices, transport costs, essentials items or educational tools. If you’re not eligible, or your council doesn’t offer them, you may be able to get help from the household support fund – it’s been extended until April 2025.

Don’t forget, you can pick up a free pre-loved uniform from your nearest swap shop or uniform drive. Find your nearest one here.

If there’s no drive near you, check with your school to see if they’re offering second-hand uniforms for a cheaper price. Your school’s parent teacher association (PTA) might also be able to help you so check with them too.

Struggling to afford to send the kids back to school?

You're not alone – 97% of parents we spoke to said they were worried about school uniform on top of existing debts.

If you're finding it hard to cover the back-to-school costs, it might be time to ask us for help. All our advice is free and can be accessed online or over the phone.