QUICK SMART WAY TO SAVE DOLLARS

THE back-to-school process can be daunting for many Townsville parents but Burdell’s Olivia Darlow has it covered.

She said the back-to-school list distributed by teachers could be extensive and extremely costly.

“Previously I’ve set my children up and it could cost anything up to $400 or $500 per student,” Ms Darlow said.

“I’ve got two boys so this year I’ve been quite organised and gotten in early … it’s cost me under $250.”

Her eldest son Trystahn, 12, attends Calvary Christian College while her youngest Kyahn, 11, goes to Townsville State High School.

Ms Darlow said she was thankful her boys had entered high school as the primary school list was wasteful.

“We were quite shocked to see some of the primary school needs … and some of the expectations that parents had to supply things that the students never used … photocopy paper, hand soap, tissues and sunblock,” she said.

Ms Darlow is thankful she got in early this year and beat the queues.

“Normally I’m doing it with the rest of Townsville … you’re fighting 200,000 people … you’re in lines for hours at Officeworks …

“This year I just thought that with the after Christmas sales that it would be a lot easier and quicker to start getting things … I’m second week into holidays and getting the kids ready to go back.”