Here’s how to pay less for absolutely everything at school and save yourself thousands of dollars.
For example, many families are time-poor and it’s often easier to send your kids to school with lunch money rather than a packed lunch. But a packed lunch is one of the easiest ways to cut costs on a daily basis.
This money saver takes a little extra effort, but the rewards are twofold. Aside from preparing a healthy lunch for your child, it also ends up costing you far less over the course of the year.
Find out other ways to save money on back to school shopping below.
Children always seem to lose things, but you can minimise lost property by sewing a button on your child’s hat so they can identify it easily. And always label your child’s belongings. A School Pack for $41.95 from You Name It — Labels! has 245 vinyl, fabric and pencil labels.
Cover schoolbooks with Contact, to protect them.Or better yet, let your kids cover the books with stickers.
Limit the choices children have in the back to school shopping.
Sell pre-loved items on eBay or to kids in the year below your child’s to fund new purchases.
Use an old safety razor to remove pilling on a jumper and keep it looking new.
Buy hats, uniforms, blazers and jumpers second-hand from the school clothing pool.
See what school supplies you can find at home before you buy anything new. Are there any from last year you can salvage?
Swap and Hand Down Clothes
When does school start in 2018?
Australian Capital Territory
TERM 1 2018
Fri 2 Feb 2018 – Fri 13 Apr 2018
Students commence Monday 5 February 2018.
TERM 2 2018
2018 Mon 30 Apr 2018 – Fri 6 Jul 2018
TERM 3 2018
2018 Mon 23 Jul 2018 – Fri 28 Sep 2018
TERM 4 2018
Mon 15 Oct 2018 – Fri 21 Dec 2018
New South Wales
TERM 1 2018
Tue 30 Jan 2018 – Fri 13 Apr 2018
Eastern Division, Teachers commence Monday 29 January 2018.
TERM 1 2018
Tue 6 Feb 2018 – Fri 13 Apr 2018
Western Division, Teachers commence Monday 5 Feburary 2018.
TERM 2 2018
Tue 1 May 2018 – Fri 6 Jul 2018
Teachers commence Monday 30 April 2018.
TERM 3 2018
Tue 24 Jul 2018 – Fri 28 Sep 2018
Teachers commence Monday 23 September 2018.
TERM 4 2018
Mon 15 Oct 2018 – Wed 19 Dec 2018
Teachers finish Friday 21 December 2018
Northern Territory
TERM 1 2018
Mon 29 Jan 2018 – Fri 13 Apr 2018
Urban Schools
TERM 1 2018
Tue 30 Jan 2018 – Fri 13 Apr 2018
Remote Schools
TERM 2 2018
Mon 23 Apr 2018 – Fri 29 Jun 2018
TERM 3 2018
Tue 24 Jul 2018 – Fri 28 Sep 2018
TERM 4 2018
Mon 15 Oct 2018 – Thu 13 Dec 2018
Urban schools
TERM 4 2018
Mon 15 Oct 2018 – Fri 14 Dec 2018
Remote schools
Queensland
TERM 1 2018
2018 Mon 22 Jan 2018 – Thu 29 Mar 2018
TERM 2 2018
Mon 16 Apr 2018 – Fri 29 Jun 2018
TERM 3 2018
Mon 16 Jul 2018 – Fri 21 Sep 2018
TERM 4 2018
Mon 8 Oct 2018 – Fri 14 Dec 2018
Year 12 – 16 November 2018; Year 10 & 11 – 30 November 2018.
South Australia
Term 1 2018
Mon 29 Jan 2018 – Fri 13 Apr 2018
TERM 2 2018
Mon 30 Apr 2018 – Fri 6 Jul 2018
TERM 3 2018
Mon 23 Jul 2018 – Fri 28 Sep 2018
TERM 4 2018
Mon 15 Oct 2018 – Fri 14 Dec 2018
Tasmania
Term 1 2018
Wed 7 Feb 2018 – Fri 13 Apr 2018
Teachers commence Monday 5 February 2018
TERM 2 2018
Mon 30 Apr 2018 – Fri 6 Jul 2018
TERM 3 2018
Mon 23 Jul 2018 – Fri 28 Sep 2018
TERM 4 2018
Mon 15 Oct 2018 – Thu 20 Dec 2018
Victoria
TERM 1 2018
Mon 29 Jan 2018 – Thu 29 Mar 2018
First day of Term 1 is a student-free day.
TERM 2 2018
Mon 16 Apr 2018 – Fri 29 Jun 2018
TERM 3 2018
Mon 16 Jul 2018 – Fri 21 Sep 2018
TERM 4 2018
Mon 8 Oct 2018 – Fri 21 Dec 2018
Western Australia
TERM 1 2018
Wed 31 Jan 2018 – Fri 13 Apr 2018
TERM 2 2018
Mon 30 Apr 2018 – Fri 29 Jun 2018
TERM 3 2018
Mon 16 Jul 2018 – Fri 21 Sep 2018
TERM 4 2018
Mon 8 Oct 2018 – Thu 13 Dec 2018
