Back to School shopping costs in 2020: The items to cost Victorian parents $608 per child on average
Back to School shopping prices across uniforms and school supplies have risen again, leaving Victorian 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.
Victorians are expected to spend the most with a bill of $608 per child, up from $503.
South Australians are the second highest spenders with a bill of $568 per child, up from $401. 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.”
Mr Gibson said there are simple ways to save money by planning ahead.
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“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 LOOK FOR SPECIAL DISCOUNTS’
Mother-of-four Linda Pillay from Wantirna South shops all year round for her back to school items for her daughters Aaliyah, 9, Amikah, 7 and Amelie, 4.
She told News Corp she will probably spend around $700 on her back to school shopping this year.
“The school they go to has a checklist and some things can be re-used, but we have to buy other items like a set of headphones for each child.
But the school provides all of their technology they need to learn on,” she said.
Mrs Pillay said she browses online at places like Costco, Big W Best & Less, Target, Kmart, David Jones and Myer.
“I always look out for special discounts, promo codes and sales, sometimes I pick up a size bigger than what the girls need so I have it ready for the following year,” she said.
“I’m buying school shoes for Amelie this year and am paying around $80, when usually they’re over $100.”
She said she also uses cashback sites like Cash Rewards and Shopback to get money back on her purchases.
“Just on shopping everywhere I have saved $1000 through these websites, even if you’re getting a small eight to 10 per cent back on items it adds up and I can put that back into my savings,” she said.
But she’s constantly looking for sales on sport shoes and she might take her girls to a store to check the sizing, but in the end she shops alone.
“My children hate shopping, it’s not really fun pushing the pram around with the kids, and they don't like browsing and walking around the shops so it’s easier for me to go or do it online.”