Many Kenyan families find themselves under strain during the school reopening week.

Fees, transport costs, books, uniforms and even food requirements tend to overlap. However, parents sometimes do not need to worry about purchasing all requirements at once.

Effective planning may cut costs significantly while maintaining quality education standards.

Saving money is not just about earning extra cash; it may involve proper expenditure, wise decision-making and avoiding panic buying.

\The following tips may assist Kenyan families to save money while preparing for the school reopening week.

Purchase only essentials

It may not be necessary for a child to own 20 pens, six boxes of tissues or multiple exercise books on the first day.

While some purchases should be made immediately, others may come later when their necessity becomes clear.

Essential purchases include at least three pens, a sufficient number of books, school shoes and other uniform-related items.

Later, parents can replenish these supplies after seeing how much the kid uses.

Avoid taxis and cabs

Travelling by private vehicle can result in high transport costs.

Instead, choosing a public minibus for school transportation may allow parents to cut down on costs.

For example, while one taxi ride to school can cost up to Ksh1,000, public transport will require only Ksh70. In other words, the saved Ksh930 can cover stationery, bread or milk purchases.

Parents can also consider walking to school when possible.

Use old items

While the start of a new term requires some purchases, there may be no need to acquire everything new.

Instead, parents should consider using an existing backpack, sweater, lunch box or any books previously used by a child.

This tip helps families to spend less money while prioritising essential expenditures.

Compare prices

Prices vary between supermarkets, estate shops, market stalls and wholesale shops.

Parents who compare prices before purchasing save quite a lot of money during each trip.

If they do not want to search for cheaper options, a purchase in the first encountered store results in higher expenses.

For example, a short look around will help find a store selling exercise books at a lower price.

Bring food from home

It is also worth considering that buying snacks every day results in significant expenditures.

Bringing packed sandwiches, fruit, boiled eggs or leftovers to school may save money for other things.

This step will also allow parents to monitor what their children eat and ensure healthy eating habits.

Budgeting for the whole month

Purchasing everything required for the school reopening week leads to financial problems. Instead, it is better to distribute monthly expenses.

For example, parents can set aside a budget for transport, emergencies related to schooling and lunch items. With this approach, they will have money left at the end of the weekend.

Involving kids

Children should be taught to protect the family budget. They should be instructed not to misplace stationery, throw away food and demand items not needed for learning.

Involvement in money management makes kids more responsible for school-related purchases.

Although the school reopening week appears very expensive, it is easy to save money through small steps.

Planning in advance, avoiding expensive travel, using old items, and budgeting allow for better expense management.

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