Cost of living: Save money on common kids’ expenses

When you have a family, cutting costs means thinking outside of the box. Find out how to save money on toys, sports equipment and school uniforms.

WHETHER your family includes toddlers, primary school students, or teenagers, there are myriad ongoing costs that can quickly spiral out of control.

“Any (cost of living) rise is magnified by the fact there are often four or more people in the household,” parenting influencer Olivia White said.

Ms White, who runs popular Instagram page @houseofwhite said parents needed to start thinking outside the box.

Parenting influencer Olivia White. Picture: Supplied

“When things start to get a little tight, it’s good to start looking at alternatives, like second-hand or lending such items,” she said.

“There are great thrift stores, toy libraries and resources online like Facebook Marketplace where people can try to find some ways to save on these items.

“There are also pay-it-forward pages or communities online dedicated to helping out and offering items to people in need.”

SCHOOL UNIFORMS

Whether your child goes to a private or public school, uniforms are an out of pocket cost no parent can escape. And they’re not cheap, usually costing hundreds for a full set. It’s not a one-off cost either, as kids quickly outgrow or outwear them.

Uniforms are a costly but unavoidable expense. Picture: Supplied

But rather than head straight to the school uniform shop, why not put your old uniform to good use, while saving money on a new one.

“The benefits of recycling school uniforms is twofold as it saves the parents money and benefits the environment at the same time,” Sue Turner said.

Ms Turner started the Uniform Exchange after moving to Australia and finding it hard to find second hand uniforms for her son.

The Uniform Exchange allows parents to buy and sell second-hand uniforms. Picture: Supplied

The Uniform Exchange is a free community exchange for second hand uniforms, accounting for most schools across Australia.

Sue Turner owns and runs The Uniform Exchange. Picture: AAP Image/Tim Pascoe

“My mission is that nothing goes in the bin so very item will be reused or sent away to disadvantaged children in underdeveloped countries,” Ms Turner said.

There are other options too, such as the Sustainable School Shop. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, it’s worth joining your school’s Facebook groups to keep an eye out for other parents selling outgrown uniforms. You could also post an update that you’re on the lookout and someone may come to you.

TOYS

Let’s face it, toys are an important and part of life for most children. It keeps them off their devices, providing hours of healthy entertainment. That is, of course, until they get bored with what they have, and want new toys. That’s where things become expensive.

But rather than fill your home with unwanted goods, while also breaking the budget on toys destined for landfill, why not consider a more temporary solution, like borrowing from a toy library.

Toys are important for children’s development, but can be costly. Picture: Supplied

“Toys are an essential part of development, but the cost of high-quality toys is really restrictive,” Louise Bell from Toy Libraries said.

Toy libraries work like regular libraries – you borrow your favourite toys or games, play with them at home, then return them and swap them for something else.

“It doesn’t matter if the child borrows the same toy every time if that’s there interest,” Ms Bell said.

Toy libraries also offer games, puzzles and ride-ons.

Toy libraries allow parents to borrow toys and swap them when children get bored. Picture: Supplied

“You can’t get a cheaper access to a broader range of high-quality toys and resources. It’s a no-brainer.”

If you prefer to keep your toys, but want to save both money and the environment, you could also consider swapping toys with other parents looking to freshen up their children’s toyboxes.

Do a quick search for toy swap groups on Facebook and you’re bound to find one in your local area. If you don’t, consider posting the idea on the Facebook community group for your suburb – you might find your neighbours are in the same position.

Visit www.toylibraries.org.au to find your local toy library.

SPORTING EQUIPMENT

If there’s one thing we don’t want to discourage our kids from, it’s participation in sports. But it does come at a cost. Registration fees are expensive enough, but buying the paraphernalia to go along with it can also be costly.

Opt for second hand sporting goods, via online marketplaces or at garage sales.

Buying second hand sporting goods is a great way to save money, without compromising on quality. Sure, they may show signs of pre-love, but that’ll happen in no time anyway. Second-hand goods websites, such as Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and eBay are all great places to start.

If you prefer to see and touch before you buy, check out your suburb’s community Facebook groups and keep your eyes out for items for sale.

Community groups on Facebook are a great way to find local second hand goods.

The old-fashioned garage sale is also a great way to find sporting goods for your kids, particularly larger items. They’re not as easy to find as they used to be, but www.garagesalefinder.net.au is a great way to start.

“It’s about getting resourceful and thinking outside the box,” Ms White said.

“Sit down and really get a good understanding of your financial situation, as I think we are all guilty of just going along with what is, and not stopping to see where we can actually make some significant change in our household budgets to weather the increasing costs.”

Originally published as Cost of living: Save money on common kids’ expenses