Back to school: Five things you should know

Kids – and parents! – will be looking forward to something approaching normal when September comes around.

No doubt plenty of uniforms will need replacing after months gathering dust. Here are my tips for back-to-school shopping: Shop early: Many of the main high street brands and supermarkets usually run great offers at this time of year – just add a size or two to allow for growth spurts before September.

Shop with a plan: If you think about what you need to buy and stick to it, you’re likely to spend less. Shop around: Compare prices before buying, which is quick and simple to do online. Shop cheaper: Check if there are offers on vouchercloud. com, vouchercodes.co.uk and joinhoney.co.uk.

Shop smart: Look at sites such as quidco.com and topcashback.co.uk to see if they are offering cashback on items.