Staff at the Tauranga Budget Advisory Service are reporting that it appears fewer parents are struggling with the costs of sending their children back to school.
In previous years, the organisation has been inundated in January and February as parents face the financial strain of school costs.

Tauranga Budgeting Advisory Service manager Marjorie Spicer says January and February are typically their busiest time of the year when parents get billed for uniforms, stationary, school fees and camps.
'We haven't seen the demand for help this year to the same degree as past years.”
'It's the added expense. Parents know it's coming but it's so much at one time. It's not cheap.”
Marjorie says she is unsure why this year appears to be particularly quiet but says the message could be getting through to parents.
'Maybe a lot of them are more proactive.”