13 brilliant back-to-school savings tips

A new school year doesn't have to mean a WHOLE new school uniform. Before you go shopping, have a look through your kids' wardrobes to see what you already have.

If a school skirt, jumper or pair of shoes still have a few months in them, wait until then to buy new ones – it'll help you spread the cost, and you may even find things in the sale after the back-to-school rush has ended.

As well as checking through school uniform, check the drawers for pencil cases, forgotten rulers, pens, pencils and other stationery. You've probably got lots more than you thought already – especially after all those months of homeschooling!

Ever been food shopping without a list and come back with lots of tempting extras and nothing you actually need?

It's the same with school shopping – especially if you've got the kids with you begging for that new Minecraft school bag.

Write a list before you hit the shops and split it into three columns to help you budget:

• Back-to-school essentials – things you need to get now
• Nice to haves – things you can buy if you have any cash left over
• Can wait a while – things you have time to budget for

If you're not sure what you need, ask the school. They often have a supplies list they can share with you, or check out our school essentials checklist to make sure you're not missing anything.

During the summer holidays, supermarkets and high street stores are often tripping over themselves to tempt you with cheap school uniform deals and BOGOF offers. Check out all the different offers available (you'll often get advance warning of sales, reduced prices and offers if you sign up their newsletters or social media accounts) and work out which is best for your needs before making your purchase.

If you find any great bargains and can afford it, buy in the next size too, and save for later in the year.

What is it with kids and growth spurts? As soon as you splash out on new clothes, they shoot up a few more inches.

This can work to your advantage if you're trying to bag a back-to-school bargain, though. You'll find lots of barely worn secondhand school items on Facebook Marketplace, eBay and in charity shops.

Some schools also organise second-hand uniform sales, which is helpful if your school has branded uniform or unusual school colours. By buying secondhand or pre-used, you're also doing your bit for the environment, so it's win win.

Save up the points on your supermarket store cards – like your Nectar card or Tesco Clubcard – and put them towards school supplies to bring the cost down.

Plain pencil cases, stationery, lunchboxes, water bottles and school bags are usually a fraction of the price of their branded or carton-covered counterparts – especially if you buy online from sites such as Amazon.

While teens and older kids might have their hearts set on certain cool brands (that's what's pocket money's for kids!), younger children will enjoy customising plain school supplies with fabric pens and stickers. And voila, you've got a fun summer holiday crafting activity and a money-saving bargain all in one.

It doesn't matter how much you save on your kids' uniform and school supplies if they lose them on the first day!

Make sure you label your kids' clothes, bag, lunchbox and stationery to ensure it doesn't end up in lost property and you end up having to buy again. Don't forget to label shoes, PE kit and plimsols, too.

If you're buying school supplies online, consider using a cashback site such as Quidco or Topcashback. They're free to use and will give you back a percentage of the money you've spent.

It can take a few weeks or even months to get the money though, so don't rely on cashback sites for a quick saving.

Keep a savings account or money jar and place any spare change in it throughout the year. That way you've got money saved for school trips or other unexpected school expenses. Any money left over at the end of the year can go towards next year's uniform.

Whenever you spy school uniform or supplies in sales or going for a bargain then stock up throughout the year.

Make a drawer of 'spares' for when your child goes up a size in clothing (or loses yet another pair of gloves at school).

Older kids and secondary school or college students may need a laptop or other tech for their school studies. Laptops can be expensive but these quick tips should help you save:

- Research exactly what your child will be using their tech for. There's no point splashing out on a laptop with all the bells and whistles if all they need is a basic word processing programme, so make sure you know what they need before purchasing

• Wait till large sales such as Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day to get great offers on laptops and tech
• Buy refurbished products, these are secondhand machines which have been returned to the retailer and professionally reconditioned, meaning they're almost as good as new and come with a warranty. A few sites to try: MusicMagpie.co.uk, BackMarket, Currys and Amazon. (Just remember to do your research, only buy from reputable sources and check out the guarantees and return policy.)

When your kids go back to school, there could be savings to be made on their lunch options. It's worth doing some sums to see which is cheaper for your family.

Cost up the price of school dinners per child and then work out how much you could make a packed lunch for. You may be surprised – a 2018 survey found it's actually cheaper to plump for school dinners.

If that doesn't suit your family, buy in bulk where you can and check out our lunchbox ideas.