How to save money on school uniform

With the summer holidays coming to a close, it is time to start thinking about your children’s school uniform. If the thought of uniform costs is enough to make your eyes water, don’t worry! We have plenty of ways to help you slash the price tag and save money on your children’s school uniform.

Buy cheap, buy twice

We will start by saying that ultimately, you get what you pay for. Buying cheap often means you will be buying twice! So, investing in good quality uniform that will last, is more economical than constantly replacing cheap uniforms. Purchasing decent uniforms for your children can cut the costs for future you, meaning you have more money for other things.

Depending on your children, the uniform could even be passed down to younger siblings or other family members, giving it a second life, so it is worth spending that little bit more, to give your items a longer life!

Label your Uniform

Has your child ever returned home from school missing an item of uniform? You won’t be the first parent this has happened to and certainly won’t be the last! But to avoid any more jumpers and cardigans being lost to the depths of the lost property box, label every item!

Labelling every item can help your kids quickly find their items after PE and help teachers return discarded items home.

You can pick up a packet of labels from your local supermarket cheaper than replacing the entire uniform item!

Top Tip: Iron-on labels are your best friend – with no need to sew them on, you can get all your items labelled quickly.

Order all your items together

To save on costs, consider placing a single order for all your plain and school-specific items; this is more convenient and can save you extra shipping costs. If you are unsure exactly what size to get, you can check out our blog how to choose the right size uniform for your children.

It is also worth checking with your children’s school which items must be branded. The new Children’s Wellbeing Bill states that there is a limit on the amount of branded uniform schools can require as part of their policy. Shopping for plain uniform is significantly cheaper than branded and can be worn again if your children change school or go up to secondary school.

Make do and mend!

Missing button on a cardigan? Dropped hem on their trousers? Don’t take these small damages as a sign to replace the item completely. Instead, take some time to repair and mend the uniform, not only will you be saving yourself some money, but you will also be saving the clothing from potentially going into landfill (and we all love doing our bit for the environment!).

The best part is, you do not have to be a pro in sewing! Most basic repairs only take a few stitches here and there, following a YouTube video you should be able to repair most items yourself. If you are struggling, ask friends and family if they can share their skills, alternatively, pop down to the local seamstress for a quote.

Check if you are eligible for a Government Grant

If you are on a low income and struggling with the rising cost of school uniform, your local authority might be able to help towards the cost of new uniform through a grant of up to £200. It is worth contacting your local authority to see what support they can give you towards the cost of school uniform; currently, all authorities in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales and selected areas in England have schemes in place to help alleviate the cost for parents.

If you can not get help from your local authority, go directly to the school. Schools will usually have a stash of good quality secondhand uniforms or even vouchers that can help towards the cost of a new one.

Get secondhand savy!

A great way to save money on school uniforms is to check out charity shops, online selling pages and sites like Vinted to find your next bargain. Set a notification for school uniforms on these sites and see what second-hand goods you can get your hands on!

It is also a great way to make a bit of cash back on old uniform that may be outgrown. Get online or pop down to your local charity shops and start shopping!

We understand the strain that the rising costs of uniforms can have and the pressure that can put on parents. That is why we are committed to keeping our prices fair and competitive.

To find out more, check out our uniforms or get in touch with our team for more information.