POLOKWANE – For mother of six, Sophia Hislop, planning is essential when it comes to getting her kids prepped for school.
Review caught up with the busy mom to ask what advice she can offer parents who want to reduce the costs involved with putting a child through school.
“I think the most important thing which factors into how much you will spend depends on the school your child will attend. The school fees are a set amount and thus should make up the bulk of your budget. Special arrangement can be made with the school regarding the school fees, however, this is not a given. My advice is to look at the school’s term programme to find out when there will be events or excursions that will require an additional fee so you can plan ahead and adjust your budget,” she said.
Sophia advised that most schools offer a discount if the school fees are paid in advance, so it is advisable to put aside your bonus for this purpose as it will save you money on your monthly expenses. She added that it is lucrative to put your bonus money in a separate account which will earn interest.
“If you struggle to pay the monthly school fee, you can talk to the school to find out if you can make a special arrangement. School fees are the one constant which makes it easier to budget for.”
Buying stationery:
• If you are part of a rewards point system, save your points throughout the year to help with buying stationery.
• It is not necessary to buy new stationery at the start of each year. Go through the old stationery and see what is still usable.
• Buy stationery through the year as and when they are on special and keep them in a designated place. That way you can cut down on costs.
• Keep unused paper from old writing books for summaries and notes instead of buying new books for this purpose.
• Buy stationery that will last, not stationery that looks pretty. For this purpose it is best to leave the kids at home when you go shopping for stationery to avoid giving in to a pleading face for “that super, extra special, awesome” pencil case.
Buying school clothes:
• If you receive a voucher as a gift, use it to buy school clothes.
• Buy school clothes slightly larger than your child’s size so they can wear them longer.
• Only buy school shoes when needed as children do not wear them all year round, especially the younger ones.
• At the end of the season most stores will have a sale. Seize this opportunity to buy for next year.
• Only buy what is really needed.
• If you cannot afford to buy new clothes, go to the clothing bank. Also let your child ask at the clothing bank if they have lost an item of clothing to see if it was handed in. This might save you from having to replace the missing item.
Catering for extramural activities:
• Extramural activities are a luxury.
• Most schools have extramural activities that are not expensive to take part in when compared to extramural activities elsewhere.
• When you enrol your child in extramural activities, ask what other costs might be involved.
• Make use of lift clubs for the children.
“It is not necessary to give your child tuck shop money every day. Rather teach them how to make their own lunch box, you can help make it interesting and save money,” she concluded.
