Parents across West Midlands sending children back to school could face more than £1,000 in costs for essentials
The cost of sending a child back to school and ensuring they have the best experience could send up costing parents close to four figures per child.
In a survey conducted by price comparison site Confused.com, the average cost for sending a child back to school and being able to take part in extra curricular activities was estimated to cost around £1,007 per child.
The survey, which was carried out by OnePoll on behalf of Confused.com, was with 2,000 UK parents with children aged between four and 18 and was conducted between August 11 and 15.
It found that school trips (£151), extra curricular activities (£146), and after school clubs (£134) topped the list of the most expensive back to school costs, while new uniforms, shoes and bags could cost parents more than £300.
Despite these high costs, the survey also found that 89 per cent of parents believe it’s important for their children to participate in extra curricular activities.
The most popular choices for children aged four and 18 included sports (66 per cent), music (36 per cent), and technology (31 per cent).
Another finding from the survey as that as parents want the best for their children, they could feel pressured when it comes to spending.
More than half (51 per cent) of parents said they felt this pressure because they want their child to be healthy, fit, and active, which was followed by 46 per cent of parents who spend more because their child has expressed interest in certain activities.
More than two in five (41 per cent) parents also said they wanted their child to learn new skills and 30 per cent wanted to give their child the opportunity to make friends and fit in.
Jessica Willock, personal finance expert at Confused.com said this all resulted in an increase in spending on school holiday extra curricular activities.
She said: “For many families, school holidays, extra curricular activities, and back to school essentials are becoming increasingly expensive.
"With more options available than ever before, it’s understandable that parents want to seize every opportunity for their children, but at what cost?
“With personal and household spending habits taking a hit to keep up with school and holiday associated costs, some parents are weighing up which of their finances can be compromised to compete with their children's activity and school expenses.
“However, it’s important to understand that costs for extracurricular and holidays can quickly add up, especially for households with more than one child.
"That’s why setting a clear budget and allocating costs for each activity or necessity for your child is important.
"Planning ahead and setting aside a steady, affordable amount each month can also relieve some of the pressure when the holidays hit.
“Knowing how much you can spend will help to avoid overspending and having to sacrifice other essentials in your life to cover holiday and back to school costs."
