Building on the story of how cost-of-living pressures are affecting back-to-school preparations, new research from Finder sheds light on the impact financial difficulties are having on Australian families.
‘Families financially unprepared for back-to-school expenses’
New research from Finder reveals that 29% of Australian families with school-aged children are financially unprepared for back-to-school expenses this year — equating to an estimated 869,000 households.
The Finder survey included 1010 respondents, including 303 parents, and found that 15% will need to go into debt to cover costs, while 8% will rely on secondhand items or hand-me-downs.
A further 4% of respondents said their children would have to reuse last year’s supplies, and 2% reported their kids would go without essential items all together.
Finder’s analysis shows that school-related expenses in 2025 are expected to total $13.6 billion, which amounts to an average of $2671 per primary school child, and $5043 per secondary school student.
‘Costs placing significant strain on families’
Back-to-school costs are place a significant strain on families, says Sarah Megginson, personal finance expert at Finder, particularly after the financial pressure of the holiday season.
“Back-to-school costs are causing a huge amount of financial strain on those parents, who have barely recovered from the cost of Christmas,” says Ms Megginson.
Exploring ways to manage expenses
While the Finder survey reveals that 52% of parents feel pressure from social media to buy brand-name school supplies, Ms Megginson recommends families explore other ways to manage expenses.
This, she says, can include:
- Taking advantage of back-to-school sales;
- Comparing prices between retailers;
- Seeking secondhand supplies through community groups.
“Post on local Facebook groups to see if anyone is giving away unused stationery, and investigate grants or assistance programs offered by your state or territory government,” says Ms Megginson.
For families in financial hardship, Ms Megginson suggests reaching out to schools, charities and nonprofit organisations that offer support for essential school items.
“Some schools have funds set aside and policies in place to help with essential items such as uniforms, excursions, and stationery supplies for families in financial trouble,” she says.
“Local charities and nonprofit organisations can also provide items like backpacks, clothing and other necessities for students in need, so make sure you look at all the options available to you.”
Ms Megginson also recommends setting up a dedicated savings account to help spread the cost over the year and ease the financial stress for the next school season.
“Contributing a small amount each month can help spread the cost and ease the financial burden when the new school year rolls around,” she says.
