Getting back to school can be expensive recent research suggests British parents spend about £1.2bn, with the average cost of uniform estimated at almost £230 per pupil! Just Credit Union have put together some hints and tips to help parents save money.
Plan early - have a look at the school’s uniform list, think about what you really need and, if possible, talk to other parents
Make a list - write down what you need and understand the school’s uniform policy particularly what must be ‘branded’, what does not need to be 'branded', and what they only preferred to be 'branded'
Start buying early - once you have your list, don’t leave buying the school uniform to the last minute. That’s when the shops are packed and there is little time to look out for those bargains
Buy less - be a minimalist, think carefully about how many of each item you really need
Shop around - standard items such as plain white shirts or black trousers can be bought on a budget from supermarkets or a range of online retailers. Even shop around for blazers, it may be possible to buy a school badge and sew it to a lower cost generic blazer
Buy used - many schools have a service where outgrown items are donated and then sold on cheaply to raise funds for the school. Your school might also be open to organising a uniform exchange at the start of term
Check out Social Media - many schools have used school uniform groups set up by parents where quality items can be bought cheaply
Buy quality - choose better quality particularly for shoes, they will last longer and in the long run save money
Buy big! - Plan for growth and buy uniforms that are a bit big at the start of the year. An extra inch of length in the leg and sleeve and an adjustable waistband in trousers and skirts could save you from having to buy new uniforms part-way through the year.
Label everything - clothes are easily left on the bus, lost on playing fields, or mistakenly taken from coat pegs. They are all very costly to replace, so make sure you have time to label everything before the start of term.
