Every August and September, families face a concentrated wave of back-to-school spending, just as household budgets may already be feeling the effects of the summer holidays. Uniforms, shoes, PE kits, school supplies and other essentials can quickly add up, with parents expecting to spend an average of £225 per child.
But for many families, the challenge isn't simply the total cost, it's finding the money at the right time.
Our research found that 57% of parents have either gone into debt or run short of money before payday because of back-to-school costs. Almost a third (30%) have gone into debt specifically to cover these expenses, while a further 29% have run short before payday without borrowing.
We explored how much parents expect to spend, which back-to-school costs are putting the greatest pressure on household budgets, and how families are planning to cover the expenses.
£225 is the average back-to-school bill, but 1 in 5 expect to spend £300 or more
The average parent expects to spend £225 per child on back-to-school essentials, but for some families the bill will be considerably higher. One in five parents (20%) expect to spend £300 or more per child, highlighting how quickly costs can add up ahead of the new school year.
The distribution of spending highlights the range of costs families are facing: 40% expect to spend between £100 and £199 per child, while a further 25% expect to spend £200–£299.
For families with more than one child, the pressure can multiply quickly. Based on the average per-child figure, costs could reach around £450 for two children or approximately £675 for three. These costs often come around within a short period, making them a significant annual expense for many families.
The timing makes this particularly challenging. Back-to-school spending arrives in a concentrated period at the end of the summer holidays, when many households may already have faced higher-than-usual spending. The ONS reports that UK households spent an average of £676.60 per week in FYE 2025, a 9% nominal increase on the previous year. Meanwhile, median gross annual pay for full-time employees stood at £39,039 in April 2025.
For households already balancing everyday costs against their income, finding several hundred pounds for school essentials within a few weeks can therefore put significant pressure on the household budget.
School uniform is the biggest cost for families
School uniform is the expense putting the greatest pressure on parents, with half (50%) naming it as one of the hardest back-to-school costs to manage.
It's followed by school shoes (37%), school trips (25%) and technology such as laptops and tablets (19%), showing that the cost of September extends well beyond the uniform itself.
The cost of branded uniform has also been a focus of government policy. Government analysis estimated that proposed limits on branded school uniform items could save families more than £70 million, with some parents potentially saving around £50 a year.
The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 limits state schools to three branded items at primary level and four at secondary level, with the changes expected to come into force for September 2026.
For parents facing a new uniform bill, checking which items are genuinely required, buying non-urgent essentials ahead of time and exploring second-hand uniform schemes or swaps can help reduce the upfront cost.
Back-to-school costs don't end with school uniforms
While uniform creates the biggest immediate financial pressure, parents are also having to budget for costs that continue throughout the school year.
A quarter of parents (25%) say school trips are difficult to afford, while 19% struggle with the cost of technology, 16% with PE kit and 13% with extracurricular equipment such as musical instruments.
Other ongoing expenses include after-school clubs (12%), school bags (11%), childcare (9%), transport (8%) and stationery (5%).
Back-to-school expense | Parents who find it difficult to manage |
School uniform | 50% |
School shoes | 37% |
School trips | 25% |
Technology, such as laptops/tablets | 19% |
PE kit | 16% |
Extracurricular equipment | 13% |
After-school clubs | 12% |
School bag | 11% |
Childcare | 9% |
Transport | 8% |
Stationery | 6% |
The figures suggest that the financial strain of returning to school is not necessarily confined to the initial shopping trip. September can mark the start of a longer period of additional household spending, with trips, clubs, equipment and other school-related costs continuing to land throughout the year.
For families already feeling the squeeze, the challenge is therefore not just finding £225 for the start of term but making room in the household budget for the costs that follow.
Almost 1 in 6 parents plan to use Buy Now, Pay Later for school costs
The cost of getting children ready for the new school year prompts parents to consider credit to spread the expense. Our research found that 16% of parents plan to use Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) to pay for school costs, while around 22% plan to use a credit card.
Among those planning to use a credit card, 15% intend to use a standard credit card and 7% a 0% credit card, while a further 7% plan to use an overdraft.
The figures show that households are considering a range of options, including credit cards, Buy Now, Pay Later and overdrafts to help cover back-to-school costs. Before choosing any borrowing option, it's important to take the time to understand any fees, interest charges and repayment terms, as these can vary depending on which credit product you use.
Having a clear plan for how and when borrowed money will be repaid can help households prepare for any regular payments that may continue beyond the start of the school term.
57% of parents have faced debt or a payday gap because of back-to-school costs
The scale of the problem becomes clearer when looking beyond how parents plan to pay and at the impact back-to-school spending has already had on household finances.
More than half of parents (57%) say back-to-school costs have either pushed them into debt or left them short of money before payday.
Of these, 30% have gone into debt specifically to cover back-to-school costs, while a further 29% have run short before payday without borrowing. Some respondents said they had experienced both situations
This suggests the challenge isn't simply how much families spend on school supplies, uniforms and other essentials over the year, but when that money needs to be found. A concentrated wave of spending at the end of the summer can put pressure on household budgets before the next salary arrives.
For families already juggling rent or mortgage payments, bills and other everyday expenses, this creates a potential payday gap: school costs need to be paid upfront, while household income may not arrive until later.
That timing can leave parents with difficult choices, whether to borrow, dip into savings, delay other spending or rethink any purchases until payday.
1 in 5 parents cut back elsewhere to afford the return to school
When there isn't enough room in the budget to absorb the extra spending, parents may have to find savings elsewhere.
Around one in five parents (19%) say they have to cut back on other spending to afford back-to-school costs. A further 16% worry about being able to afford the cost every year, while 8% say they usually need to borrow or use credit to cover it.
This shows that the financial impact of September can stretch beyond the school shopping list, forcing some families to make trade-offs across their wider household budget.
Parents in our research described a range of ways they try to make their money go further, from buying second-hand uniforms and using uniform swaps to asking grandparents to contribute, working overtime and applying for hardship grants. For these families, preparing for the new school year isn't simply about finding the right uniform or stationery; it's about finding enough room in the household budget to absorb a significant annual expense.
Charlie Evans gives his top tips for managing back-to-school costs:
Plan ahead: Treat back-to-school spending as an annual expense and set money aside throughout the year where possible.
Spread out purchases: Buy non-urgent essentials when there is more room in the household budget, rather than paying for everything at once.
Look for lower-cost options: Consider second-hand uniforms, uniform swaps and non-branded alternatives where these meet school requirements.
Check what’s actually needed: Review school requirements carefully before buying to avoid unnecessary spending.
Explore available support: Families facing a particularly large bill could look into hardship support or whether family members can help with larger purchases.
Think carefully before borrowing – If using a credit card to spread the cost, compare interest rates, fees and repayment terms, and make sure repayments remain affordable alongside existing commitments. Those considering a 0% option should also check how long the promotional period lasts and have a plan to clear the balance before interest is charged.
Avoid using new debt to manage unaffordable debt: If existing repayments are becoming difficult to manage, seeking appropriate support is preferable to continually taking on more borrowing
Methodology
Based on a nationally representative consumer survey of 2,000 UK parents of children aged 4–16, fielded 5–10 August 2026 (Censuswide).
Sources
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Allie has spent her career helping people quickly understand complicated topics, to help them save money and focus on what matters. With almost 10 years’ experience writing, leading and managing content, she is an expert in personal finance and insurance products.
Ele Clark is an award-winning editor who has held leadership roles at Which? and news-stand publications in London and Dubai. She’s appeared across the press and media, including BBC’s Panorama. With almost 20 years’ experience in personal finance, insurance and consumer journalism, she leads a talented team at Compare the Market, creating insightful, accessible content to help people make informed financial decisions.
Charlie is a senior commercial leader with close to a decade of experience across the UK’s leading personal-finance and comparison platforms. Before joining Compare the Market as Head of Commercial in 2024, he held senior commercial roles at TotallyMoney and MoneySuperMarket Group.
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What our expert says...
“Back-to-school costs can put significant pressure on household budgets because so many expenses arrive within a short window. Planning for September as an annual expense, rather than a one-off cost, can help families avoid a payday squeeze. Buying non-urgent essentials throughout the year, shopping second-hand and checking exactly what’s required can all help spread the cost.
For families considering borrowing, it’s important to look beyond the immediate payment and understand the interest, fees and repayment terms. With 57% of parents saying back-to-school spending has either left them in debt or caused them to run short before payday, taking steps to reduce the upfront cost and spread spending where possible could make the transition into the new school year more manageable.”