Free School Lunch Budget calculator with clear step-by-step results.
Prices a mixed lunch strategy - some cafeteria days, some packed - across every child and every school week, then shows the annual saving against buying lunch every day. The monthly figure spreads a term-time cost across the whole year for budgeting.
Weekly cost
Weekly = (cafeteria days x meal price + packed days x packed cost) x children
Annual cost
Annual = weekly cost x school weeks
Usually by a third to a half once you cost ingredients honestly, including the fruit and snacks that go with it. Convenience items narrow the gap considerably.
Yes. Many households qualify and do not claim. It also often unlocks other support, so it is worth checking against current thresholds.