With back-to-school just around the corner, many of us are once again facing the eye-watering price tag of school uniforms. We reckon our top tips could save you up to £100!
A full uniform set, including shoes, PE kit, and branded items, equals a lot of dosh per child. In a time of rising living costs, that can be a tough pill to swallow.
But the good news? There are plenty of ways to kit out your child for the new school year without breaking the bank. From supermarket steals to swap shops, here’s how we can save smartly on school uniforms.
1. Start with Supermarkets and High-Street Retailers
Supermarkets like Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s offer some of the best value uniforms around. Multipacks of polo shirts start from just £3.50 and trousers from £5. While the quality isn’t designer-level, most now use reinforced stitching and stain-resistant fabrics that hold up surprisingly well.
High-street brands like Primark, Matalan, and Marks & Spencer often run seasonal deals. Keep an eye out for multi-buy offers or “2 for £X” promotions on basics.
2. Embrace Uniform Swaps and Second-Hand Sales
Many schools now host pre-loved uniform sales, sometimes for as little as £1 per item. These events are usually run by Parent/Teachers Associations (PTAs) or school support groups and are a great way for us to pick up logo-branded gear at a fraction of the cost.
We should check our school’s website, Facebook page, or local community noticeboard to see if anything’s planned. If not, we could consider starting one. With prices going up, a lot of schools get why parents need a break and they’re open to the idea.
Some areas also run uniform banks, similar to food banks, where families can request or donate gently-used clothing. We can find them via organisations like Uniform Exchange, Freegle, or our local council.
3. Go Online for Deals and Discounts
Websites like Vinted, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and even Gumtree can be treasure troves for nearly-new uniforms, especially if our child’s school has a unique logo or colour scheme.
We can set up alerts on resale platforms to be notified when items matching our school’s requirements are listed. And we can search by size and postcode to save on postage or arrange free collection.
4. Know What’s Actually Required
Don’t overbuy. Most schools provide a uniform checklist, but not everything on it is essential. Logo-branded items are often optional, and plain alternatives (available in supermarkets) are usually accepted. For PE kits, one pair of trainers and a couple of plain T-shirts will often do the job.
It’s worth asking the school or other parents what kids actually wear day-to-day. There’s no point buying five jumpers if most pupils wear short sleeves year-round.
Final Word
It’s Not Just About Saving Money. Reusing and repurposing uniforms isn’t just good for our bank balance but also better for the planet. According to the boffins at WRAP, around 350,000 tonnes of clothing end up in UK landfills each year.
Image: James Jiao/Shutterstock
