Sencillo – In conversation with Clare Seal, Financial Coach. "It seems only a few milliseconds since I was holding my newborn baby boy in my arms but, somehow, he is heading to secondary school in September. While the emotional adjustments are intense, the financial ones cannot be glossed over, either. In the place of after school club fees comes a whole host of new financial considerations, from travel costs to school lunches, from uniform and sports kits to trips".

When people talk about university costs, they usually start with tuition fees.

That makes sense. They are big, visible and easy to point to.

But they are not the whole story.

For full-time students in England, tuition fee loans are up to £9,790 for the 2026 to 2027 academic year. That is the headline number many families know.

When people talk about the cost of university, they usually focus on the tuition fee.

That is understandable. It is the big headline number.

But for many graduates, the more frustrating part comes later. They start work, repayments begin, money leaves their salary, and yet the total they owe barely seems to move. In some cases, it even goes up.

Private school fees were already a major commitment.

Since VAT was added, they have become an even bigger one.

From 1 January 2025, VAT began applying to private school education and boarding services, and families have been adjusting ever since.

State school is often described as the affordable option.

In one sense, that is true. There are no tuition fees.

But that does not mean it is free in real life.

For most families, state education still comes with a steady stream of costs. Some are expected. Some creep up more quietly. And when you add them up over the years, they can become a significant part of the family budget.

“Free childcare” sounds simple.

For most parents, it is not.

The help available in England can make a real difference, but it does not mean childcare suddenly becomes cost-free. That is where a lot of the frustration starts.