Parents warned against making this one mistake this summer holidays: 'Beware'

Parents considering doing their back-to-school shopping now may want to press the pause button, financial and ecommerce experts have warned, as late July and much of August is when prices will be at their highest. One cautioned: “Beware the back-to-school surge pricing period.”

Just as Uber is known for its surge pricing model, where it charges more when demand is high, so many retailers do the same — with the result that many parents piling into the shops in the next five to six weeks could pay a premium.

Marty Bauer, eCommerce expert at Omnisend, said: “Most families do their back-to-school shopping in late July and August, but that’s when prices peak. Beware the back-to-school surge pricing period. So if you've not started yet, it may be worth holding back until right at the end of August, or very early September when the discounts kick in.”

Scott Gallacher, Director at Rowley Turton, also urged parents to consider holding back on some purchases: “Delay big tech buys, as schools sometimes offer loan schemes, and laptop prices often drop in September.”

It's vital, Bauer says, that parents do their own homework before going online or heading for the high street: “Before hitting the shops, do a full audit of last year’s supplies, sports kits, and uniforms. Most families already have 30%–50% of what they think they need.”

He added: "People can also club together with other parents to bulk-buy stationery, socks or lunch gear and split the costs. It’s often cheaper than buying single packs. For bigger kids, laptops and tablets from places like Amazon Renewed, Back Market or Currys Refurbished are up to 40% cheaper and come with warranties. School uniform swap shops are now available in every UK region, with families saving up to £348 a year. Try local Facebook groups or Vinted for savings. Lastly, separate essentials from “nice to haves” and stick to a spending cap."

Rowley Turton's Scott Gallacher also said bulk-buying can pay dividends: “Team up with friends, family or neighbours to bulk-buy supplies — whether that's pens, pencils or glue sticks — and split the cost.” And he, too, urged parents to not buy things they already have: “Raid your drawers before buying — you probably already have rulers, notebooks and calculators at home.”

Meanwhile, Philly Ponniah, Financial Coach at Philly Financial, urged parents to “check local parent Facebook or community groups, where you’ll often find barely-used uniform, shoes, even laptops going free. Many schools also run end-of-term uniform swap shops. For basics, head to supermarkets for plain shirts and trousers. Refurbished tech sites like Back Market offer decent laptops at a fraction of the cost. And when shopping online, use voucher plug-ins like Honey or Pouch and check cashback sites — the savings add up fast.”

David Belle, Founder of Fink Money, sounded a note of caution: “With the cost-of-living crisis ongoing, it can be tempting to resort to buying key school items from sites like Temu. In some cases, that can be fine and offer great value, but beware the quality as certain items on the platform, including kids' clothes, have been in the news recently for not meeting standards — and even being dangerous.”