Back to School Money Savings

A growth spurt is taxed. Children's clothes are VAT free, but only up to sizes HMRC has set. Boys' school trousers stay VAT free to a 28.5 inch waist, their shoes to size 6 and a half. Girls' shoes stop at size 3. Ones with a fastening and a low heel go to 5 and a half. Above those, the same supermarket item carries 20 per cent VAT. A £25 pair of trousers becomes £30. It hits the tall 12-year-old hardest. Being tall is not a choice. From 1 September 2026 a state school in England can require no more than three branded items, four at secondary if one is a tie. PE kit and bags count. If the list has five branded items, ask the school which you must buy. Watch for copycat shops: a real retailer's look, a slightly wrong web address. The NCSC says never pay by direct bank transfer. Section 75 credit card cover only starts above £100, so a £40 pair of shoes is not covered. Fake reviews were banned in April 2025, but a ban will not refund you. Treat five stars as no proof.

Back-to-school shopping becomes expensive when parents buy everything in one panic-filled weekend. Start with the school’s actual list, check what still fits, and separate “needed now” from “can wait until September”. Uniform swaps, nearly-new sales and supermarket basics can save a fortune, while branded stationery is rarely better than the cheapest version. For calculators, buy the exact model the school recommends so you do not pay twice.

Set a fixed budget per child and involve them in deciding where to spend it. Labelling bottles, jumpers and PE kits is also a money-saving tool: lost items are a major hidden cost.

Be cautious with social-media ads offering huge discounts. Check the website address, company details, returns policy and independent reviews, not just testimonials on the seller’s own page. Avoid bank transfers and be wary of countdown timers, “only two left” messages and prices that look impossible. A bargain is not a bargain if the item never arrives.