How I Save for My Kids’ Ksh50K Fees Every Term Without Taking Loans

‍School fees remain one of the biggest financial pressures for many middle-income families in Nairobi today. For parents, especially those with children in private schools, the challenge is often not just paying fees, but avoiding the financial panic that comes with every new school term.

For this edition, we spoke to Shawn, a fintech employee working in Westlands, on how he plans and saves for school fees while supporting a stay-at-home wife and two children in private school on a Ksh100,000 salary. Below is the story as told by Shawn.

School fees became a serious budgeting priority for me after experiencing how disruptive last-minute fee payments could be to our household budget.

Instead of waiting for schools to reopen before thinking about fees, my wife and I decided to treat school fees like a monthly bill.

We save Ksh18,000 every month specifically for school-related expenses instead of scrambling for money at the beginning of every term.

In four months, we usually accumulate around Ksh72,000 in our school fees account.

My children, who are in Grade 3 and Grade 5, attend a private school near our estate in Kasarani. The school charges Ksh25,000 per child per term, bringing the total fees to Ksh50,000 every term.

Also Read: How I Pay Ksh45K School Fees for My Kids Without Digging into My Pocket

The remaining amount usually goes toward books, uniforms, and other school supplies.

One thing that has helped reduce pressure on our budget is the location of the school. There are no transport costs because the children walk to school.

Saving monthly for school fees has helped us avoid loans, borrowing from friends, or sacrificing other household expenses whenever schools reopen.

Beyond school fees, my family still has to manage normal household expenses. We spend roughly Ksh80,000 monthly on household needs, while the remaining amount goes toward savings.

We live in a two-bedroom house in Kasarani that costs Ksh25,000 per month. The location was influenced by proximity to schools, security, and easier access to transport for work.

Transport to Westlands costs me around Ksh5,000 monthly, while electricity, water, and internet consume another Ksh7,000.

Household shopping takes up approximately Ksh15,000 every month, covering food, toiletries, cleaning products, and other essentials.

Also Read: The Hidden Costs of Raising a Student

Because my wife is a stay-at-home mother, I also budget for her personal expenses, allocating about Ksh5,000 monthly for things like salon visits.

We also set aside another Ksh5,000 for children’s outings and entertainment. This includes simple family outings twice a month where we mostly go to fast-food restaurants and spend time together.

Another factor that has helped reduce financial pressure for my family is the support system we created with our parents. Together with my siblings, we helped our parents establish a chicken farming business in addition to the rental houses they built using their retirement benefits.

As a result, they rarely call us for financial support, and that has significantly reduced pressure on our monthly budget.

After covering all expenses, I save Ksh20,000 monthly in a Money Market Fund (MMF), and my goal is to eventually increase the amount to Ksh30,000.

What We Learn From Shawn’s Story

• Treat school fees like a monthly bill instead of waiting for schools to reopen before looking for money.
• Save beyond tuition fees because school expenses also include uniforms, books, and supplies.
• Choosing a school near home can significantly reduce costs such as transport expenses.
• Separating school fees savings early reduces reliance on loans and salary advances.
• Long-term budgeting works better when families plan around predictable expenses early.