We have a range of back to school loan options available to members. Why not make a quick loan enquiry and we will call you back.
Back-to-school time might seem like a long way off at the moment, but a significant number of Irish homes will have no choice but to start preparing for the associated costs.
Many parents will need a little financial assistance, whether it be dipping into their savings, borrowing from loved ones or taking out small loans. In fact, three quarters of parents of school-attending children say they view the back-to-school spend as a financial burden, with 29% saying they will get into debt. The findings were revealed in the 2017 Back to School Costs survey commissioned by the Irish League of Credit Unions.
The same survey found that on average, parents were spending €1,209 per school-going child to get them ready for the school year ahead. The cost has continued to increase over the years and was up 2% on 2016, and up 4% on 2015. In fact, a substantial one in four parents said they would be forced to deny their children basic school items in 2017 because they simply could not afford them.*
Helen Courtney Power, Business Development Officer of Killarney Credit Union says that many parents can be tempted to use quick, but ultimately expensive means to fund the back-to-school spend.
“With more than a quarter of parents saying the costs will negatively impact on household bills, it’s very understandable that it’s a significant source of stress and that many might feel the easiest option is just to use the credit card or worse, turn to a moneylender. However the interest rates with these options can be extremely high, and parents can find themselves in significantly more debt than they had planned for. We would urge all parents in the South Kerry area who might be considering these options to come in and talk to us in the first instance. We offer a range of short term loan options which is typically approved within 48 hours. We can also work with parents to ensure that the loan repayments are structured in a way that suits their individual circumstances best. We never charge administration or transaction fees, or penalties for paying a loan back early.”
Helen continued: “I would also say to parents to feel free to drop into us for a chat about how to budget and spend within their means, so as to ensure they don’t get into unnecessary debt around back-to-school time. For those who are considering a loan, we stand ready and willing to lend to new credit union members, as well as those members we may not have seen in years. There is no need to save with us for a set period of time before applying for a loan. Our aim is for all parents in the South Kerry area to enjoy the summer holidays with their kids without the worry of a looming financial burden.”
*All findings from ILCU 2017 Back to School Costs survey
