Survey reveals that 95% of parents face financial strain during back-to-school season.
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GUEST – Hayley Parry, Money Coach and Facilitator at 1Life’s Truth About Money
As families prepare for the 2026 academic year, 1Life Insurance’s annual Back-to-School Survey reveals that stress and financial pressures remain a major concern for parents, despite encouraging signs of progress in budgeting. An overwhelming 95% of respondents admitted that back-to-school preparations were stressful, highlighting the emotional toll this period continues to take on households.
The survey further revealed that 80% of families experience financial setbacks during back-to-school preparations, forcing compromises that hinder their journey toward generational wealth building. Encouragingly, this marks a slight improvement compared to last year’s 88%. School uniforms and school fees continue to emerge as the most expensive items for 62% of respondents – down from 75% in the 2025 survey, stationery at 28% of responses and 9% citing extramural activities, transport, food - with the remaining 1% indicating that these costs were not concerning to them.
As families prepare for the 2026 academic year, 1Life Insurance’s annual Back-to-School Survey reveals that stress and financial pressures remain a major concern for parents, despite encouraging signs of progress in budgeting. An overwhelming 95% of respondents admitted that back-to-school preparations were stressful, highlighting the emotional toll this period continues to take on households.
The survey further revealed that 80% of families experience financial setbacks during back-to-school preparations, forcing compromises that hinder their journey toward generational wealth building. Encouragingly, this marks a slight improvement compared to last year’s 88%. School uniforms and school fees continue to emerge as the most expensive items for 62% of respondents – down from 75% in the 2025 survey, stationery at 28% of responses and 9% citing extramural activities, transport, food - with the remaining 1% indicating that these costs were not concerning to them.
