Managing the back-to-school bills
The kids are back-to-school and along with new friends, teachers and experiences, also come back-to-school bills.
10 January 2011
If you’re a parent, including school costs in your annual spending plan will ensure your child can make the most of available opportunities, while keeping your spending on track.
The new school year often brings the cost of kitting out your children with stationery and uniforms. But it’s important to take into account expenses that may crop up during the year, like camps, field trips and donations and include these in your spending plan for the year.
If you’re unsure exactly what costs to plan for, call your school and find out what the ongoing costs for your child are likely to be. Once you have an idea of additional expenses, consider putting a set amount aside each payday to go towards these costs.
The Budget calculator on sorted.org.nz allows you to include school-related costs so you can plan and understand how these costs fit within your finances throughout the year.
If you’re having trouble meeting fees, talk to your school. Some schools will let you pay in instalments, making them easier to manage.
Sorted.org.nz is a free independent money guide, run by the Retirement Commission. Along with the Budget calculator, Sorted has a range of information and tools to help you make the most of your finances.
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