Small wins to drive your back-to-school bills down this autumn and winter with our Smarter Living tips that will help you save.
With growth spurts over the summer making the school uniforms a bit snug, stationery going walkabouts and the never-ending supply of packed lunches to contend with, September is an expensive time of the year for any family. To lend a hand, we’ve been crunching the numbers to come up with a few small wins that will have a big impact on your bank balance during the school term. Take a read at our favourite back-to-school money saving advice for the whole family.
- Prep is key
When it comes to packed lunches, preparation is key. Let’s start with snacks, when shopping around for the best value items we’d recommend swapping out big brands for own-label alternatives. This will save you big money in the long run and let’s face it, your kids will not taste the difference! To drive costs down even further, make sure to buy multipacks to reduce the price per snack whilst allowing you to portion control. Or, if you like to bake or get creative in the kitchen, households can make huge savings by prepping homemade snacks such as brownie bites or chocolate covered raisins.
- Smarter Living
Back-to-school means back to early morning routines of trying to get out the door. If you are an early riser, try putting a load of washing on as soon as you get up. That way it has time to air-dry as you go about your day, and you won’t have to use the tumble dryer as much.
This time of the year is also the best time to search for a better energy deal as we use more electricity and heating during the winter months. Check out our current price plans online today or our latest best time to switch energy supplier blog.
- Discounts galore!
With a long list of back-to-school supplies to purchase, every saved penny helps. Ask your friends and family if they have any discounts codes they can share if they are a student or have opted into a corporate perks scheme – it won’t cost them a thing and you’ll receive great savings! Also check your bank before purchasing as some accounts offer cashback incentives or retail discounts.
- Buy pre-loved textbooks
Textbooks can be expensive, especially when we progress through education. Did you know there are hundreds of places to buy pre-loved books online for a fraction of the price? Browse before you buy via places like Amazon, eBay, Facebook Marketplace and Music Magpie to mention just a few. You could even get lucky in your local charity shop and find the textbook you’re looking for.
For even more back-to-school savings, new customers can make the switch to Electric Ireland today and receive a £60 Tesco voucher to spend on the big school shop. Existing customers can refer a friend for £20 to spend or save as they please. Now that’s Smarter Living.