Back to School shopping costs in 2020: The items to cost South Australian parents $568 per child on average
Back to School shopping prices across uniforms and school supplies have risen again, leaving South Australian families with a massive bill — but there are ways to save and get a bargain.
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Exclusive: Back to School shopping is set to create another financial headache for Australian families, who are expected to spend an average of $538 per child in 2020.
New data obtained by News Corp from YouGov’s Annual Back to School Research Report, commissioned by Big W, has found the staggering cost of buying school supplies and uniforms has risen by $62 or 13 per cent on last year.
South Australians are the second highest spenders with a bill of $568 per child, up from $401.
Victorians are expected to spend the most with a bill of $608 per child, up from $503.
Queensland is third highest state which is expected to spend $522 per child, up from $482.
NSW is expected to spend $513 on each student, up from $456.
West Australians are estimated to spend a more conservative $506 per child, up from $439.
On average, uniforms are expected to cost $156 per child, a rise of $24, school shoes will cost $97, up $9, and school bags will cost an extra $9 at $59 each.
Lunch boxes and water bottles will cost $40, up $1 but stationery has seen an $8 price drop down to an average of $79.
Another bill more parents were feeling the brunt of is technology, with an average cost of $242 per child for Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs in schools where students are required to have their own tablets or laptops.
Parents also expect to spend an average of $84 per child on sporting gear.
When added on, they bring the total average ‘back to school’ spend up to a staggering $864 per child for 2020.
More than one in four parents with a child aged 13-17 years expect to spend more than $500 on tech devices this year.
The research, based on 1053 parents, found 54 per cent said affordability was more important to them, and 43 per cent were concerned about the quality of products.
One in four parents said being able to purchase supplies online and having them delivered without going to a store was also important.
Seventy-seven per cent of parents with children aged 5-17 said they budget for these expenses, but only one in four (27 per cent) said they have a very detailed budget in place.
Two thirds (65 per cent) of parents said they always overspend as their children request non-essential items when shopping.
However, mothers said they are better than dads at resisting “pester power”, with 42 per cent saying they do not overspend, compared to just a quarter of dads.
Finance expert and author of Kill Bills!, Joel Gibson told News Corp costs are rising as lists are getting longer and devices used at school were more sophisticated.
“Our kids are wanting to also keep up with the Jones’ and technology is a significant cost on top that can put it at around $1000, which is more than half the average power bill,” he said.
“There is also general inflation and wages are stagnant, making it harder for parents right after Christmas and the holidays.”
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Mr Gibson said there are simple ways to save money by planning ahead.
“Create expectations in advance with your kids so they know what they can get and what the rules are, and don’t take them along to the shops,” he said.
“Go online before hitting the shops and negotiate what items your child can have and stick to the list.”
He also suggested parents shop around and not just accept a school’s price list if possible.
“Convenience costs money and there are cheaper options,” he said.
Mr Gibson also said parents should embrace the idea of ‘Before Pay’, instead of Buy Now pay later schemes like Afterpay.
“Get a jar, put $10 a week into it and don’t touch it before January so it can help you get ahead when you need it for these costs, you’ll have $520 right there,” he said.
‘I ALWAYS SHOP AHEAD’
Mother-of-two Natalie Packer, from Daw Park, has been buying back to school items in bits and pieces for her two sons Rory, 11, and Max, 9.
The most expensive item will be their iPads as they both attend a school where there is a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) program.
“Rory just accidentally broke his and we have to buy a new one after 16 months, they are about $590 and with a screen protector and a case it’s around $700 a child,” she said.
Mrs Packer told News Corp she will be buying them four pairs of school shoes which double up as runners.
“Rory’s usually cost $130-$150 and Max’s cost $100,” she said.
But she tries to make savings with buying cheaper track pants and shorts at Big W or Target which are around $10 but normally up to $30 through their school.
“My sons have to wear the school jumper with a logo and that’s $44 and polo shirts are $33 and I don’t buy second-hand as they’re growing and they can’t share each other’s clothes,” she said.
She said her school supplies stationery for her children but they do like their own individual accessories.
“They like Smiggle and have to have Santa Cruz skater branded socks and a Nike drink bottle, which is about $20,” she said.
She is re-using lunch boxes they had last year and continue to budget weekly for any costs they have.
“I always shop ahead and get stuff on special, when we are buying things from Target or Big W, we have to get in quite early … or everything is sold out,” she said.
“We went right after Christmas to get items they needed.”
One item she finds she is constantly replacing is the their USB sticks for Power Point presentations and their school hats, which cost $14 each.