Time is ticking for parents to prepare their children for the academic year ahead. This often comes with a long shopping list.
School uniforms, sports kits and shoes might be outgrown and need replacing. Yet parents are often encouraged to buy everything new, from pencil cases to water bottles, so costs quickly add up.
“The start of the school year can be a really stressful time for families,” says Megan Lawler, a parent of three and founder of Dubai Mums Meet.
On top of existing cost-of-living stresses – a 2024 survey by Cigna Healthcare found that 45 per cent of respondents said the UAE cost of living was a leading cause of stress – summer holidays pose extra financial strain on parents. And after weeks of children's camps, family travel or even unpaid leave, come school fees and a shopping list of day-to-day supplies.
“It can feel like a huge financial hit all at once,” says Lawler.
The expensive month of August
An August 2026 poll on back-to-school shopping in the UK by YouGov found that 48 per cent of parents with children spend over £100 (Dh501, $136) on new school items, highlighting the high cost of preparing for the new academic year.
“Some pressure around returning to school is completely normal as parents are helping their children transition from the freedom and flexibility of the holidays back into routines, schedules and responsibilities,” says Natalie Maaitah, child and adolescent psychologist at Thrive Wellbeing Centre.
“However, over recent years, ‘back to school’ has evolved from a practical transition into a much larger social and cultural event. It has become a recurring campaign across shops, online retailers and social media,” she adds. Many retailers have dedicated displays and highlight different trends for each term.
This adds extra pressure for parents, Maaitah says. “As a result, parents may feel pressure not only to prepare their child, but also to worry about whether they are doing enough compared with other families.”
Budgeting expert and mother of three Caz Mooney, who frequently shares her money-saving tips with her 263,000 followers on Instagram, says financial constraints can arise when all expenses are due in one month.
“There is an emotional financial pressure,” she says. “Parents want their children to feel prepared and confident going back to school, and that can create pressure to buy everything new. If money is tight, this added pressure can feel overwhelming. For many families, the biggest issue isn’t necessarily the total cost; it’s having to find the money within a very short period of time.”
Ask: do they need this now or later?
The YouGov poll also noted that 44 per cent of parents say they purchase most items during a dedicated shopping trip before the new school year begins, compared to 38 per cent who buy items as and when they are needed throughout the school year. It’s this second approach which budgeting experts say can help spread the cost.
“We often think of back-to-school shopping as an expense that has to be completed in one massive hit, but it doesn’t,” says Mooney. “It’s important to ask yourself if your child will actually need that item in the first few weeks.”
Many schools send out a list of required items, but it usually covers the entire year. Spreading the cost can ease the pressure, especially when buying for more than one child. “That means you’re not taking one huge hit to the household budget all in one go,” says Mooney.
Second-hand no longer a stigma
Many UAE schools now offer the opportunity for parents to donate old uniforms, while Facebook groups are filled with offers of free or discounted items that children have outgrown.
Alice Crossley, a principal strategic foresight analyst at The Future Laboratory, says a mix of social media influence, cost-of-living concerns, and the rise of environmental awareness has combined to reduce the stigma around buying second-hand that previous generations had attached to it.
“What’s changed societally is that resale and second-hand are no longer a fallback for parents under pressure; they’re how younger generations already shop,” she says. “Whether it's uniforms and school shoes on apps like Vinted or bikes on Facebook Marketplace, Gen Z parents look for second-hand first.
Sustainability is often a welcome by-product rather than the primary motivation for shoppers, as the younger generations have grown up seeing second-hand and resale as routine. “Parents can see that shift as permission to lean into resale as a financial-saving opportunity,” she adds.
“Pre-loved uniforms are a fantastic way to save money, particularly because children can grow out of things so quickly,” says Lawler. “Parents can also swap items with friends or other families, buy second-hand where possible and look for good-quality products that will last several years rather than constantly replacing cheaper items.”
Buying pre-owned can also spark conversations with children about the environmental impacts of clothing and the financial benefits of saving money.
“Involving children in donating items they no longer use can further develop empathy and gratitude, while showing them that possessions can have value beyond being replaced,” says Maaitah. “These conversations also create an opportunity to reinforce an important message: having something newer does not make a person more valued, more successful or more worthy of belonging.”
She cautions, however, that the goal isn't to stop or guilt children for wanting new things. Instead, it's a teaching moment where children can be encouraged to understand whether what they're asking for is a want or a need.
Make do and mend 2.0
Reducing waste has become a key component of UAE government policy, with the UAE Circular Economy Policy 2021-2031 focusing on boosting reuse, recycling and resource efficiency. From large organisations to the home, UAE residents are encouraged to consider what needs replacing and what can be repaired or reused.
“Check to see what you already have,” says Mooney. “Go through last year’s stationery, lunch boxes, bottles and school bags – often the items will be good for a while. Shop your home for stationery. If you are anything like me, I’m sure you will find a few pens in a drawer, maybe even an unopened packet of colouring pens or pencils; it all adds up to save you money.”
Mooney also recommends buying generic where possible. “You don’t need to buy a particular brand of pen, copybook or bag, especially for younger children who are likely to misplace them.”
“We should be teaching children that new doesn’t automatically mean better,” adds Lawler. “If something is still useful, there is no reason it shouldn’t be used again.”
