Planning for school fees without the January panic

For many families, the start of a school term brings the biggest bill of the year. The fees themselves are rarely a surprise — the dates are printed on the school calendar — yet they still catch many of us short. A little structure changes that.

Step 1: Build a fees calendar

For each child, write down every term’s fees and the date they are due, plus the extras: uniforms, books, trips, transport and boarding items. Add them up for the full year.

Step 2: Turn the year into a monthly number

Divide the annual total by 12. That is what you need to set aside every month to pay each term in full, on time, from savings rather than from a loan.

Step 3: Give fees their own account

A dedicated education savings product keeps fees money separate and away from everyday spending, while still being available when each term begins.

Step 4: Automate the deposit

Set a standing order or a regular M-Pesa deposit for payday. Consistency matters far more than size.

When a school fees loan makes sense

If you are just starting and cannot cover the coming term, a school fees loan can bridge the gap. To use it wisely:

• Borrow for one term at a time, and choose a term that ends before the next fees are due — otherwise loans pile on top of each other.
• Keep saving alongside the loan so that next term is funded from savings.
• Use the loan calculator to see the full cost, including charges.

The goal is to borrow for fees once — and then never need to again.