Cost of Living: Back to School Essentials

For this week's article, we'll look into the essentials for getting your kids ready for going back to school. Plus, FOUR £25 Argos Gift Cards and a £50 Wilko Gift Card are up for grabs.

Date:

11 August, 2022

Cost of Living: Back to School Essentials

DISCLAIMER: This article contains affiliate links. We only suggest products we believe are good value for money, but these are not recommendations on the back of trying and testing. Please note that, if you use these links to buy any of the suggested products we may earn a small commission.

As summer holidays draw to a close, that can only mean one thing for a lot of us: back to school. Well, for the kids at least, but it might feel like it’s you as well! Your kid(s) might be making their debut at primary school or high school, or just going up a year, but no matter what, getting ready for September is key.

Contrary to popular opinion, back-to-school ‘must-haves’ aren’t all necessary. Kitting them out with every type of pen in existence, for instance? In reality, a couple of decent biros and a pencil for good measure will do. This extends to uniforms – the spares for ‘just in case’ scenarios. Really?

Buying the essentials adds up, so parents, guardians and carers are right to choose carefully. Here’s our guide to navigating back to school essentials in 2022...

Learning your own lessons about school things

  • First day – start time and date. Schools start their terms on different dates. You wouldn’t be the first, but do you really want to turn up and see the school gates closed because they’re not open for another day?!

  • Fill in paperwork, such as medical contact forms. Most schools make sure vital information is collected before the kids start, but does the school have everything they need?

  • Registered to start. As kids have to be officially registered at their school – and most schools have a limited number of pupil places – have you done all the necessaries?

  • Required items such as kits. PE kits are an obvious extra but some schools even request a drama kit – check on the school website but keep an eye on ‘optional’ if you’d prefer to see how things pan out.

  • School policies. Policies change from one school to the next. A good example is are boys allowed to wear black trainers, or not? Can girls wear trousers? If the answer is no, don’t fork out for unnecessary extras!

  • Plan for trips. Newsletters and text alerts about future planned trips are great if they arrive on-time but to be doubly sure, sign up for them so you can prepare for extra financial things if you can wangle it.

Equipment Essentials

The allure of buying the kids every type of stationery is tempting – we all collected notebooks and pens when we were kids, too, but let go of your inner child… Basics will see them through.

  • Pens: it’s almost certain your kid will lose at least one pen this year. Fancy calligraphy pen? Just invest in classic biros and stock up in bulk! Make sure you check which colour ink you buy; some schools only allow black and blue.

  • Pencil case: which needs to fit everything in without too much of a squeeze. It may even limit the number of bits that get lost this year…

  • Ruler: classic 30cm ruler is classic stationery. Investing in a bendy one reduces the risk of snapping.

  • Pencils: you don’t need to break the bank buying pencils. Just accept that it is VERY likely they’ll be left behind somewhere, passed around students like a family heirloom. Don’t forget a sharpener and rubber too.

  • Highlighters: highlighters and studying go hand-in-hand. Buying four colours helps when it comes to revising so they can arrange notes in their own unique way.

  • Calculator: potentially available in class, but making sure your kid already has one means they won’t have to share or sneakily open their mobile when they’re not allowed.

Our top picks

Girls school shoes (link here). These leather shoes for girls by Marks & Spencer are great for school, being durable and offer Velcro fastenings to make an easier fit. They are anti-scuff, have rubberised soles and feature Freshfeet™ technology.

Boys school shoes (link here). At this price, you’ll be daft to look at any other shoes for your boy. These swish leather shoes have a matte finish, twin Velcro straps and cushioned soles.

Girls backpack (link here). Stand out from the crowd with this super cool rucksack for girls. The backpack comes in black, having a chic quilted finish that every fashionista will love. Not only is the bag trendy, it also is practical with its zippered compartments and adjustable straps.

Boys backpack (link here). This rucksack for boys is the perfect blend of comfort and practicality, making it a stylish addition to a boy’s school look. The awesome inverted design will surely draw attention, but its main appeal is definitely its durability. Padded straps, an antiperspirant back and varied compartments are other details.

Best value laptop (link here). This ASUS Chromebook is an absolute steal of a deal, having a great range of Google apps, 32GB and a whopping 10 hours of battery life. It’s been through military-grade tests to ensure its durability, making it classroom-ready against any rough handling; not to mention perfect for those with butter fingers.

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Competition: Win a £25 Argos Gift Card or £50 Gift Card from Wilko! 

This week, we’ve teamed up with both Argos and Wilko for another exciting competition. There are FOUR £25 Argos Gift Cards up for grabs, and Wilko is offering one worth £50. How awesome is that!? 

 A high-street staple, Argos is one of the UK’s biggest catalogue retailers – with nearly 800 stores located across the UK. They sell a whopping 60,000 products, meaning you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to shopping at Argos.  

Wilko has been a favourite for more than 90 years, starting out in Leicester as a single store. In 2022, there are now 400 stores in the UK and a whole host of products that offer value as well as quality. 

 To enter, pop us an email at [email protected] telling us what you most need from Argos and Wilko this summer – and why. 

 Needing some inspo? Check out Argos and Wilko’s websites for some ideas.

T&Cs apply - here

PLEASE NOTE, THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED

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Kids stuff

Keeping the kids busy is a task in of itself, but the following offer fun while also being educational: 

  • Hungry Little Minds - a collection of activities for kids of all ages 

  • Big Eyed Owl - a hub of information for parents, carers and guardians 

  • National Geographic Kids - a site with online games, resources and information with a focus on the natural world above, you can sell anything that you’ve handmade 

  • BBC Bitesize - a website all about learning with a focus on making education fun 

  • Cbeebies - offers a variety of games, topics and puzzles and quizzes for younger children 

  • Cbeebies - Grown-ups - a support hub for parents, carers and guardians 

  • Cbeebies Radio - listening activities for kids 

  • Booktrust - lots of free reading resources

  • DK Find Out! - has options for both teachers and parents to encourage learning all while having fun 

  • Crayola - a free resource for colouring activities 

  • Ted Ed - an educational site full of videos and articles for kids to learn from