Jade Wright

Parents preparing for the new school year are advised to check supermarket and retailer loyalty accounts for unused points, vouchers, cashback and referral rewards before shopping. The guidance recommends using rewards before they expire, pooling points where possible, choosing plain rather than branded uniform when permitted, comparing discount codes and final prices, and avoiding misleading sale claims. Primary school uniform costs are estimated at £315–£340 annually and secondary costs at £442–£454, while research from Antavo indicates that 27% of loyalty points go unspent each year and 12% expire before redemption. New rules from September 2026 are expected to limit the number of compulsory branded uniform items many schools can require.

British travellers are using increasingly elaborate tactics to avoid airline hand-luggage fees, including wearing heavy clothing, hiding items in duty-free bags, stuffing pockets and boarding at the last minute. Research commissioned by O2 found that 67% worry about luggage restrictions, 39% have discarded belongings at airports rather than pay fees, and the average Brit spent £28 on unexpected gate charges over the past year. Other major holiday-related costs causing frustration include roaming, hotel Wi-Fi, seat-selection fees, poor exchange rates, onboard food and drink, and hotel city taxes.