To not buy DD new school uniform, shoes, bag etc.

I haven't really bought my kids anything new for school this time round.

The only thing I have bought is an A4 binder for DD. They've never had all new for school. If their bags, shoes and blazers are still fine then why buy replacements?

I only buy new if something needs to be replaced. I’ve ended up spending a fair bit this summer, but everything is needed.

@ZippyLimeSnake so if your child has a perfectly good shirt, that is clean, intact, and still fits - you’ll throw it away and buy a new one? Just because it’s September.
Bizarre.

@Invisimamma why? It’s just a huge waste of money and resources to replace stuff that doesn’t need replacing. And it’s school uniform, it’s not even clothes kids can have fun in or like the look of. It’s not fashion, it’s not new football kit, it’s not a pretty new dress. Literally no reason to replace it unless it’s outgrown or grubby/tatty.

I’ve only bought the things which needed replacing - they’ve kept last years stuff that still fits.

DD wanted a new bag from Smiggle (not needed at all) so I chipped in a bit but she used her own money for most of that purchase.

I buy as we need it. Ds is going into year 10 and all he has new is his school shoes.

when I was growing up it was hard to get uniform at other times of year so people buying it for September made sense. Now it is much more widely available all year round so no need to buy until it’s needed.

My son going into y5 literally has nothing new (unless you count some hand me downs from his brother!). He last got shoes in the spring which still fit. His bag is about 3 years old and he shows no sign of wanting to replace it.

Yay for normalising kids wearing uniform until it is worn out or doesn't fit! I'm definitely in the minority amongst friends for sending my kids in the same uniform they wore in July - it was only 6 weeks ago, it fits, I buy as and when they need (new shoes like you say, or DS had new t-shirts last term as he'd grown). I reckon DD will need new shoes after Christmas but otherwise nothing.

I literally don't know anyone who thinks the norm is to buy new clothes for interview / new job and I've just asked the 8 other people in the room and they're all equally puzzled. Yes the clothes should be smart but why new? This seems incredibly wasteful.

I’ve bought new trousers for my youngest, as he’s sprouted extra leg acreage but nothing else is needed.

I have, but only because mine has outgrown everything and the white polo's have mud and paint stains on them. I didn't purchase anything new during the year though, they lasted the whole year, with the exception of shoes. If he hadn't outgrown the uniform and it was in good condition, I wouldn't have bought brand new.

Shoes should be lasting more than a half term though, sounds like you need something more robust.

London and tweed 🤷‍♀️🤣

Why on earth would you buy new stuff every year if it's not needed?

My dd's uniform lasted more than one year most of the time.

My DC outgrew all of their uniform this year, but they had it from Sept-July without replacing anything. The last couple of weeks of term DS's trousers were up his ankles and DD had to squeeze into hers! So we bought all new clothes for the new term. I'm fairly certain some of it was from 2022/2023 as well.

I was going to buy them a new backpack each but neither of them could decide what they wanted so they're having their old ones. They got new water bottles, though.

Unless the DC is joining a new school and therefore needs a complete kit-out, it's just plain wasteful to buy new before the item is outgrown or trashed

And surely only those in very affluent circumstances can afford to buy again when things don't need replacing?

I got my son going into year 2 new shoes, socks, pen and pencil case and that's literally it. All his uniform still fits and he doesn't need a new bottle or bag so the existing stuff will remain in use.

This is the first year I haven't bought all new. He's 13 and having little growth spurts, so I'm only changing when actually needed,which for shirts and trousers will likely be soon, but not yet. He couldn't care less,if his shirt isn't pristine for a few weeks. Get your moneys worth out of uniform OP.

I’ve been a primary teacher for many years. Children that age don’t notice uniform. Many children start a new school year with ‘old’ uniform.

Does it still fit her? No holes / tears? Clean? If so it is absolutely fine.

I only buy them what they need. This year DD1 just needed one new jumper and a pack of 2 bigger skirts. DD2 needed bigger jumpers at Easter so haven't bought her anything for next week apart from new trainers

We also buy new polos every term or so. They're a few quid from the supermarket and seem to be a magnet for paint and holes. Everything else is as it's worn out/grown out of/lost.

everone round here kits their kids out in brand new stuff in September….shoes, bags, water bottle, packed lunch bag, coat ….maybe last years pe kit if it still fits…..I’m NW England….this is a working class area

@Summerbreeze456 our pre prep also does excellent second hand trade. We have a lovely ‘shop’ at the school where everything is hung up in size order by the PTA. I’m not paying £20 x 5 for a polo shirt unless it’s absolutely necessary!

I also can’t believe that people bin white tops if they’ve greyed a little, surely a quick soak in laundry bleach and they’re back white?

Tbh OP maybe the people on Facebook are buying new things because they need them? It doesn't mean they buy new every year

I could be seriously rich and still not do this. SO wasteful. I really don’t understand the mentality.
My eldest has new polo shirts this year, middle has hand me down ‘new’ and youngest more hand me down ‘new’ plus a new fleece. Shoes still fit + youngest in hand me down ‘new’ shoes.

They all have second hand ‘new’ bags / lunchboxes as we have never done packed lunch but they want it once a week now. So my son my we’ll go in absolutely beaming with his new bag/lunchbox but his old one (used for about 3 years) was school branded and he wanted one for something he was into.
We earn well (household income 110k pre tax - not stealth boast as on MN that’s pennies but for context) but maybe it’s because I grew up poor I love a bargain! Plus it’s just the sheer wastefulness of it. My kids get exactly what they want or need but I always look second hand first 🤣 my eldest has been kitted out this year with a whole new wardrobe and I’ve saved probably thousands. I’m not joking.

I certainly don’t feel bad for not buying new!

DD had the same rucksack for all of primary, a new one for secondary which she still had in year 9. She's still in the same uniform in year 9 that she had in year 7, except some new PE kit. If it fits then it still gets used. Her friends are the same, and no one thinks it odd