Beat the bill blues

CASEY families are being offered a savings program to help beat the back-to-school money blues.
The Brotherhood of St Laurence is helping provide a dollar-for-dollar (up to $1000) savings program called Saver Plus for such expenses.
According to its research, 95 per cent of 115 families surveyed had difficulty paying for school uniforms and 87 per cent also had trouble handling the cost of books.
Sonia McCann, the Brotherhood of St Laurence’s Saver Plus program manager, said while fees at government schools could range from $190 to $390, other items such as books, uniforms and stationery could reach up to $660.
The Smith Family found parents spent an average $1500 per secondary school-aged child a year when additional items like school camps and excursions were included.
“Saver Plus can reduce the stress on families at the start of the school year by helping them save for important educational items such as new uniforms, textbooks and excursions,” Ms McCann said.
“We have found the item most commonly saved for and purchased by participants is a computer to help with school work.”
Saver Plus was developed by the Brotherhood of St Laurence and the ANZ bank in 2002 and has already helped 668 Australian families save $617,000.
Overall, Saver Plus will be delivered to 5400 families in 18 areas across Australia between 2006 and 2009, with program providers including the Brotherhood of St Laurence, the Smith Family, Berry Street Victoria and The Benevolent Society.
Eligible participants must be over 18 and have a Health Care or Pension Card, earnings from paid employment and a proven capacity to save. They must also have children enrolled in a school in or near Casey, Frankston or the Mornington Peninsula or be attending or returning to vocational education themselves.
To apply contact Dawn Dalgarno on 9781 5724.