Crippling cost of sending kids 'back to school' including uniform hits £845
The crippling cost of getting kids back to school ready is being made worse by pester power, research suggests.
Many parents say they face demands from their kids to have the latest gadgets, trainers, and even skincare before the start of term.
That is on top of the usual outlay for school uniforms, sports kit and the rest which can blow a hole in family budgets at this time of year. It comes after a summer which, for many, has left their household finances in a threadbare state.
A new report from refurbished marketplace Back Market suggests parents are now being pestered by their kids to pay an average £845 on new gear for school.
More than half of mums and dads questioned said a new school bag was a 'must have' - even if in reality the old one would have done.
Around a third say they are pestered into buying the latest branded trainers, or a new lunchbox, and 28% say their kids expect to be able to go on an expensive school trip.
Almost a quarter (23%) of parents have been told by their child they have a new laptop for school. And the same percentage say their kids are requesting a new iPhone or other smartphone for the start of the school term, often to keep up with their mates.
Some of the pestering is being driven by social media and merchandise and products plugged online. It has seen Stanley Cups demanded by one in 10 modern kids, as well as skin care fads.
But the result of all this expense comes at a big cost to parents' bank balances, with eight in 10 saying they will struggle to afford everything their child 'needs' for back to school.
The survey also found that 36% felt that there is too much status associated with having the latest tech and gear, and a quarter say the costs are out of control.
Three quarters insist they are told regularly by their kids that everyone else's parents have bought their children the latest gadgets.
Luke Forshaw, head of brand and marketing at Back Market, said: 'The data shows just how much money parents are expected to fork out for their children's back-to-school items - with tech emerging as the biggest drain on parents' pockets.
'We understand that kids may be under pressure to go back to school with the iPhones, laptops and tablets, but there are ways to keep these costs down, receive quality devices, while also looking after the planet.
'That's why refurbished tech is the perfect solution: it offers parents affordable options and gives kids high-quality devices they can be proud of.'
Back to school 'must haves'
New school bag 53% (of parents will fork out for this)
New uniform items 45%
New PE kit 42%
New hoodies / jumpers 35%
New lunchbox 35%
New branded trainers 32%
An upcoming school trip 28%
A new laptop 23%
New iPhone or smartphone 23%
A new tablet / iPad 20%
New haircut 18%
New headphones/airpods 14%
Skincare, haircare and cosmetics 14%
TikTok-famous food & drink items (bubble tea, Prime, Starbucks, etc.) – 9%
New makeup – 8%
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
O2 hands out FREE speed upgrade in 22 locations across UK & it's already live in four holiday hotspots
The full list reveals every site getting the upgrade SPEEDING ALONG O2 hands out FREE speed upgrade in 22 locations across UK & it's already live in four holiday hotspots Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HOLIDAYING O2 customers will be able to bag a free speed upgrade at 22 locations across the UK. They're all holiday hotspots – and four of the speed boosts have already gone live. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 O2 is dishing out major signal upgrades across the UK Credit: Alamy O2 has vowed to upgrade 22 Haven holiday sites across the UK. It's part of what the network is calling its "Mobile Transformation Plan", promising better signal in "high-demand areas". Four sites already have O2's "improved 5G", including Thornwick Bay Holiday Park in Yorkshire and Skegness Holiday Park in Lincolnshire. And O2 says that more sites will be upgraded "this summer and early next year". "With more people choosing to holiday in the UK, we are working to improve our mobile network in some of the most popular staycation destinations," said O2's mobile access director, Dr Robert Joyce. "This work with Haven is a great example of our Mobile Transformation Plan in action. "Bringing more reliable connectivity to the places people need it most. "So whether our customers are off to Skegness, Berwick, or Cleethorpes, they can stay connected this summer." O2 is working with network giant Freshwave to upgrade the sites. Network bosses have vowed to pour £700 million into infrastructure this year to boost connectivity. Sun's tech editor shows NEW 4mm thin folding Samsung – & teases 'flip iPhone' too And O2 is upgrading Haven holiday parks due to higher demand. "Our guests and owners expect to stay connected," said Haven tech boss James Bromley. "Whether it's sharing memories, streaming entertainment, or working remotely. "I'm delighted that our investment in our parks has attracted O2 to ensure we're delivering the best possible experience to families choosing to holiday or own at our parks." WHAT'S KILLING YOUR SIGNAL? Here's what Ofcom says will affect your mobile reception... The power of your local mast, and how close you are to it Hills, buildings, and trees, between you and the mobile mast The capacity of the local mast and congestion in the network, particularly at peak times Which materials were used to make the building or vehicle you're in Bad weather The quality of antenna in your phone Picture Credit: Alamy Haven has 38 holiday parks across the UK, but not all of them are being upgraded – only 22 sites are getting the speed boost. Here's the full list, as sent to The Sun: Haggerston Castle Berwick Primrose Valley Blue Dolphin Thornwick Skegness Seashore Orchards Golden Sands Seton Sands Hopton Combe Haven Allhallows Thorpe Park Cleethorpes Reighton Sands Hafan y Mor Rockley Park Marton Mere Burnham Perran Sands Craig Tara Devon Cliffs Littlesea The upgrade comes just days after Vodafone and Three confirmed that they had jointly upgraded over 600 mast sites across the UK. And earlier this year, EE upgraded its speeds across 50 towns and cities. 2 As many as 22 sites are being upgraded with improved signal, O2 says Credit: Getty O2 merged with Virgin Media back in 2021, absorbing its Virgin Mobile customers. And O2 also secured a deal with Vodafone to acquire a large 78.8MHz chunk of spectrum. That means the company holds just under a third of UK mobile spectrum, making it one of the nation's biggest network providers.
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Crippling cost of sending kids 'back to school' including uniform hits £845
The annual outlay for the start of the school term is a big drain on family finances - but include demands for the latest trainers, gadgets and even trendy haircuts The crippling cost of getting kids back to school ready is being made worse by pester power, research suggests. Many parents say they face demands from their kids to have the latest gadgets, trainers, and even skincare before the start of term. That is on top of the usual outlay for school uniforms, sports kit and the rest which can blow a hole in family budgets at this time of year. It comes after a summer which, for many, has left their household finances in a threadbare state. A new report from refurbished marketplace Back Market suggests parents are now being pestered by their kids to pay an average £845 on new gear for school. More than half of mums and dads questioned said a new school bag was a 'must have' - even if in reality the old one would have done. Around a third say they are pestered into buying the latest branded trainers, or a new lunchbox, and 28% say their kids expect to be able to go on an expensive school trip. Almost a quarter (23%) of parents have been told by their child they have a new laptop for school. And the same percentage say their kids are requesting a new iPhone or other smartphone for the start of the school term, often to keep up with their mates. Some of the pestering is being driven by social media and merchandise and products plugged online. It has seen Stanley Cups demanded by one in 10 modern kids, as well as skin care fads. But the result of all this expense comes at a big cost to parents' bank balances, with eight in 10 saying they will struggle to afford everything their child 'needs' for back to school. The survey also found that 36% felt that there is too much status associated with having the latest tech and gear, and a quarter say the costs are out of control. Three quarters insist they are told regularly by their kids that everyone else's parents have bought their children the latest gadgets. Luke Forshaw, head of brand and marketing at Back Market, said: 'The data shows just how much money parents are expected to fork out for their children's back-to-school items - with tech emerging as the biggest drain on parents' pockets. 'We understand that kids may be under pressure to go back to school with the iPhones, laptops and tablets, but there are ways to keep these costs down, receive quality devices, while also looking after the planet. 'That's why refurbished tech is the perfect solution: it offers parents affordable options and gives kids high-quality devices they can be proud of.' Back to school 'must haves' New school bag 53% (of parents will fork out for this) New uniform items 45% New PE kit 42% New hoodies / jumpers 35% New lunchbox 35% New branded trainers 32% An upcoming school trip 28% A new laptop 23% New iPhone or smartphone 23% A new tablet / iPad 20% New haircut 18% New headphones/airpods 14% Skincare, haircare and cosmetics 14% TikTok-famous food & drink items (bubble tea, Prime, Starbucks, etc.) – 9% New makeup – 8%
Western Telegraph
a day ago
- Western Telegraph
All iPhone owners in the UK issued urgent price warning
"The iPhone resale market stays the same year after year, yet most people still wait until after the new models are announced to sell their old phones," Wilson said. "By then, it's too late, and the market becomes saturated with old models and values drop." According to Wilson, this year's iPhone 17 announcement, which we expect in mid-September, will trigger the same price drop that happens every year, yet most owners remain unaware of this short-lived selling opportunity. Wilson pointed out that higher-end models typically experience the most notable declines. "Pro and Pro Max versions can lose £150-300 in value within the first month after a new launch. That's a lot of money they could have pocketed by acting just a few weeks earlier." For owners of older models like the iPhone 13 or 14, Wilson still advises selling now rather than waiting. "Even if you're using an iPhone that's a few years old, you'll still see a big drop in value after the new announcement." According to data from Statista, iPhone models historically show varying rates of depreciation following their launch, with some premium models maintaining better value than others in the months after release. Wilson explained that the depreciation pattern isn't unique to Apple products, although iPhones do hold their value significantly better than Android alternatives, at least until a new model comes along. "iPhones generally retain their value better than other brands, which makes the timing of selling even more important. "You're starting from a higher resale value, so the actual amount you lose by waiting can be huge," he said. The expert advised that if you're planning to upgrade, you should act quickly. Recommended reading: "Start the selling process now, even if you plan to upgrade in September. A lot of buyback services allow you to lock in a price today but keep using your phone for a few more weeks." The resale market for smartphones continues to grow as more consumers become environmentally conscious and cost-aware. Wilson pointed out that selling unused devices is better for the planet and makes financial sense. "When you sell your device before values drop, you're making a smart financial decision that's also environmentally responsible," he said.
