Stressful time for parents as costs mount

PARENTS and students throughout the local area are preparing to go back to school or college in just a few short weeks. For many, this can be a stressful time as the costs involved begin to mount but there are lots of way you can help to ease the financial burden on yourself. For many parents, the cost of getting children ready for back to school can be huge, especially for those with more than one child in the system.

Between books, uniforms, bags, shoes and voluntary contributions the cost can often run into hundreds of euro and more.

For those heading off to college, the costs can be even higher with fees and accommodation to be covered as well.

However, there are always ways to reduce the stress and the financial strain at this time of year.

A recent survey carried out by the charity Barnardos found that one in ten parents is forced to go into debt to pay for back-to-school costs. The survey found that the average cost of sending children to school is €340 for a child in senior infants, €395 for fourth class pupils, and €775 for a child in first year of secondary school.

Your local credit union or financial institution are always available to offer small loans to help to spread the cost and make the burden more manageable.

Shopping around when it comes to uniforms and footwear is also a good way to cut down on costs and starting to buy a little every week will help to make the costs more manageable.

Of course September is also a time when many adults make the decision to return to the classroom to add to their skills base.

Whether you want to gain an extra certificate or diploma or simply want to take up a new hobby or skill, there are a huge array of courses on offer locally.

If you want to add new skills to your CV, participate in a training course to change direction in your career or simply to gain a new hobby like photography or pottery, the local area has a range of courses and night classes on offer to suit all tastes.

Evening courses can boost your career, change your life or just brighten up your weekdays.

For the more mature amongst us, night classes and courses offer the opportunity to learn new skills, get professional training and gain a qualification.

The can also provide a great way to meet new people with whom you share a similar interest.

The main motivations for engaging in any type of learning include personal interest in the subject, to get a qualification, and to get a job.

Expectations are often high when it comes to evening classes and the courses on offer don’t disappoint with everything from marketing to car maintenance, creative writing, photography, cookery to yoga and various fitness classes.

The world really is your oyster and the local area offers a huge range of subjects and interests to pursue by further study, either part time in the evening or on a fulltime basis.