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UK back-to-school costs rise as eight in 10 parents cutting back on essentials

An AliExpress-commissioned survey of UK parents of school-aged children has uncovered the extent of the financial squeeze families face as UK back-to-school costs mount ahead of the new term

[Expensive times (stock)]

Expensive times (stock)(Image: Natalia Lebedinskaia via Getty Images)

A thorough survey of UK parents with school-aged children, commissioned by AliExpress, has revealed that families nationwide are grappling with a severe post-summer financial pinch in order to afford essential back-to-school items.

As kids gear up to return to the classroom, a mix of summer holiday overspending and relentless cost-of-living pressures has compelled many households to tweak their shopping habits, stretch budgets, and make significant sacrifices.

The findings indicate that keeping children amused over the summer break came at a steep price. 74% of parents confess they overspent against their planned summer holiday budget (30% overspending significantly and 44% slightly), leaving little wiggle room for autumn expenses.

[The costs are rising (stock)]

The costs are rising (stock)(Image: Catherine Delahaye via Getty Images)

This post-summer squeeze aligns directly with September routine costs. When quizzed about the impact of inflation and general economic pressures, 85% of parents stated that the escalating cost of living has shrunk their budget for back-to-routine purchases this autumn (42% reporting a significant reduction and 43% a slight reduction).

Overall, Christmas remains the biggest annual financial pressure for parents (44%), closely followed by the summer holidays (24%) and general family holidays (13%).

Finch Li, AliExpress UK's General Manager, said: "The transition from summer holidays to the back-to-school routine is always a challenging period for family finances. While families are facing tough compromises, they don't have to compromise on quality. AliExpress provides a smart value alternative, enabling parents to navigate rising costs by accessing millions of everyday upgrades directly from manufacturers at competitive prices."

To soften the financial impact, UK parents are tightening their belts elsewhere. Nearly eight in ten (79%) respondents report reducing spending in at least one area to ensure they can afford essential back-to-school and September routine costs (with only 21% saying they have not cut back on anything).

The main areas where parents are reducing expenditure include:

• Takeaways: 43%.
• Dining out: 43%.
• Clothes for themselves: 38%.
• Family days out: 29%.
• Food shop treats: 28%.
• Holidays or trips: 26%.

Financial pressure is also changing when parents shop. Rather than spreading costs throughout the entire break, many postpone purchases until term time is nearly here.

• 45% of parents begin buying back-to-school items two or three weeks before the term starts.
• 24% shop three weeks before, and 21% shop two weeks before.
• Only 21% purchase items as soon as the summer break begins.
• 7% wait until the week before.
• 2% wait until a few days before term commences. Overall, parents kick off back-to-school shopping an average of 3.7 weeks before term begins.

Yet, regional patterns differ considerably: Greater London parents delay shopping the longest, averaging 3.48 weeks. AliExpress claims that owing to its 27-day delivery speed, even the most last-minute shoppers can effortlessly tick off their back-to-school lists with time to spare.

Money influencer Gemma Bird, also known as Money Mum revealed her personal back-to-routine plan: "For my own kids going back to routine this September, we sit down together to separate the 'must-haves' from the 'nice-to-haves.' We meal-plan weekday lunches in advance using bento lunchboxes, and we can also benefit from AliExpresss efficient 27-day delivery, which means we can place an order and get it in just one week.

For tech upgrades like study lamps, headphones or smartphones, I shop smart through Brand+, AliExpress's dedicated channel for top-performing products and brands of the best value. With their Best Price Guarantee on thousands of items, we start the term organised without breaking the bank."

To make their budgets go further, shoppers are increasingly embracing value-focused retail tactics. When purchasing tech accessories and homeware, 83% of parents reckon that more than 10% of a premium brand's price tag is purely for the logo rather than the actual quality of the product.

As a result, 32% of parents are actively ditching famous brands for unbranded or lesser-known alternatives with identical specifications to combat the September squeeze, while 40% compare prices across multiple online retailers before making purchases.

The AliExpress Back-to-School sale begins online Sunday 16th August from 6 pm.

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