Whilst the summer holidays may be in full swing, some families are already feeling the pinch with sending their children back to school. The cost of school uniforms can be a real worry for many families, who are already under increasing pressure from the rising cost of living. According to The Children’s Society, the average uniform costs £315 per primary school pupil and £337 per secondary pupil. Just Credit Union have put together some hints and tips to help parents with these costs.ÂÂ
Here is Our Top 10
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 “Ëœbranded’, what does not need to be “Ëœbranded’, and what they only preferred to be “Ëœbranded’
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 up
Check out Social Media – many schools have used school uniform groups set up by parents where quality items can be bought cheaply
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.
