Whilst the summer holidays may only just be under way, already hard-pressed families thoughts are turning to meeting the costs of returning to school in a few weeks time. The price of purchasing school uniforms can be a ‘real worry’ for many families already under increasing financial pressure. Whilst the price of a uniform will vary depending on the school, research from The Children’s Society says parents will spend an average of £287 on primary and £422 a year on secondary school uniforms.
Just Credit Union have put together some hints and tips to help.
Hints & Tips to Save Money
Start saving  – we know how difficult it can be to save particularly at the moment but opening an instant access Just Credit Union savings account and start putting a small amount away each week it soon mounts up. Don’t forget you could have your child benefit paid in to the account and you will have some savings when it comes time to buy! We have put together some Savings Hints & Tips
Plan early & buy early – have a look at the school’s uniform list, think about what you really need and, if possible, talk to other parents. 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
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 prefer to be branded remember schools and councils have a duty to ensure their uniform options are “affordableâ€Â
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 and look out for used uniform schemes – many schools have a service where outgrown items are donated and then sold on cheaply to raise funds for the school or they run a uniform exchange scheme. Councils also provide used uniform services and charity shops can be a good source of cheap items
Check out Social Media – many schools have used school uniform groups set up by parents where quality items can be bought cheaply. Have a look at your local Freecyle group and any ‘free and unwanted’ groups operating in your school’s area
Buy quality – if you can 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.
Borrowing to Meet School Uniform Costs
Just Credit Union encourages people to save to meet school uniform costs and even a small amount helps, however we recognise that many families may need to borrow this year. Just Credit Union offer ethical affordable loans from £300. We will ensure any loan is affordable and will even set up a savings account to help with future expenditure. Parents should be very wary of unregistered illegal money lenders or loan sharks at this time of year. These may appear to be a “˜friend’ helping out with a small loan but rates will be extortionate and can result in intimidation and threats. There is help available for any one who has borrowed from an illegal lender from the Stop Loan Sharks Team.
Parents are likely to be offered Buy now, pay later (BNPL) schemes when buying many items of school clothing. These offers might look harmless and appear to be an attractive option to spread the costs. They are however still loans which can have significant long term consequences. The providers make no affordability checks, and it is very easy for borrowers to become over committed. Anyone considering a BNPL option should  keep a careful track of any commitments of this type and make sure you have a clear means of making these repayments. Just Credit Union has put together a guide to using  BNPL schemes.
Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Uniform Schemes and Support
Here are some links to schemes operating in this area we will be adding more over the coming days
