MAKING CENTS: Budget now for school and don’t learn hard way

IT IS six weeks until schools reopen, but parents are already bracing themselves for the expense, writes Gráinne McGuinness

A survey published last week by the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) estimates an average cost of €967 to send a child to primary school, rising to €1,474 for secondary school. Parents should plan and manage their spending carefully to minimise stress.

Everyone knows that books and uniforms must be bought, but there are many other, less obvious expenses, and an unexpected one in September can make a mess of a budget.