![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UBXPATQ4ZZFYTELG5J5Q3R3EKY.jpg?smart=true&auth=08536e3a9b7ebdb3373dd973b76d151ba7851501a3e781d2b5161d20ed13f5bb&width=400&height=225)
Each year, families spend thousands of dirhams on school uniforms, bags, shoes, caps and sports kits before the new term. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7UQDJBD4SJAPHCPUF3MTAKDLAY.jpg?smart=true&auth=f238527ea1ba517d093697a03f3d89c5b3a133e8a7984e6eed3c743e00b21845&width=400&height=225)
Arpita Trivedi and her family use buckets for bathing to save water at their home in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5TG2HXDPCRCGPBIU57YSUYB2DQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=3a507636d13db7c582faf57db2620ef8eeca5a2ffb474e3ee8584437b0d9e925&width=400&height=225)
Ms Trivedi says the pandemic changed her family's shopping habits, as they found many items they used to buy turned out to be unnecessary. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K3XSOSETAQNSTTDFH6MQ6UJT4M.jpg?smart=true&auth=9bf7445833de1e4d83f1307bfc05834419c285d45a3d757702419aaa670f2d84&width=400&height=225)
Moomal Tariq, pictured with her son Ayaan and her husband Tariq, learnt to drive to cut down on transport costs. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F3A5YRC6SW2ADSZGBPMQI4D7YU.jpg?smart=true&auth=fc4218403c49e7fd08a8e12c46cd5797b782631f946148c8949d864ebd18a1bf&width=400&height=225)
Many parents are opting out of school transport to take turns picking up and dropping off their own and their friends' children. Delores Johnson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NNBPGJOVQRDY3PRD3VJZCOFX5Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=2c2f2a373a5917948bda95f8241e8b57784746c2e9ce691252ca7ebf41c65ed7&width=400&height=225)
Before the new academic year begins at the end of this month, parents have many costs to think of, including for new books, notebooks and stationery. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UBXPATQ4ZZFYTELG5J5Q3R3EKY.jpg?smart=true&auth=08536e3a9b7ebdb3373dd973b76d151ba7851501a3e781d2b5161d20ed13f5bb&width=400&height=225)
Each year, families spend thousands of dirhams on school uniforms, bags, shoes, caps and sports kits before the new term. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7UQDJBD4SJAPHCPUF3MTAKDLAY.jpg?smart=true&auth=f238527ea1ba517d093697a03f3d89c5b3a133e8a7984e6eed3c743e00b21845&width=400&height=225)
Arpita Trivedi and her family use buckets for bathing to save water at their home in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5TG2HXDPCRCGPBIU57YSUYB2DQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=3a507636d13db7c582faf57db2620ef8eeca5a2ffb474e3ee8584437b0d9e925&width=400&height=225)
Ms Trivedi says the pandemic changed her family's shopping habits, as they found many items they used to buy turned out to be unnecessary. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K3XSOSETAQNSTTDFH6MQ6UJT4M.jpg?smart=true&auth=9bf7445833de1e4d83f1307bfc05834419c285d45a3d757702419aaa670f2d84&width=400&height=225)
Moomal Tariq, pictured with her son Ayaan and her husband Tariq, learnt to drive to cut down on transport costs. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F3A5YRC6SW2ADSZGBPMQI4D7YU.jpg?smart=true&auth=fc4218403c49e7fd08a8e12c46cd5797b782631f946148c8949d864ebd18a1bf&width=400&height=225)
Many parents are opting out of school transport to take turns picking up and dropping off their own and their friends' children. Delores Johnson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NNBPGJOVQRDY3PRD3VJZCOFX5Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=2c2f2a373a5917948bda95f8241e8b57784746c2e9ce691252ca7ebf41c65ed7&width=400&height=225)
Before the new academic year begins at the end of this month, parents have many costs to think of, including for new books, notebooks and stationery. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UBXPATQ4ZZFYTELG5J5Q3R3EKY.jpg?smart=true&auth=08536e3a9b7ebdb3373dd973b76d151ba7851501a3e781d2b5161d20ed13f5bb&width=400&height=225)
Each year, families spend thousands of dirhams on school uniforms, bags, shoes, caps and sports kits before the new term. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
UAE parents find creative ways to cut costs before new academic term
Parents exchange text books and buy used uniforms to reduce expenses as the new school year begins
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Anam Rizvi
08 August, 2022
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