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To be amazed that people still haven't bought their school uniform?

378 replies

llamajohn · 01/09/2024 13:35

Kids go back on Tuesday. WhatsApp Group is alive with "argh, I can't find X item" or "where can I get the book bag"?

As if it's been a complete surprise that their child is joining reception and the uniform shops and supermarkets have been closed since June...

Why would you leave it to the last moment?

OP posts:
Timeforacuppanow · 01/09/2024 14:26

I’m usually a last minute uniform person then last year got organised, bought trousers in the M&S school uniform offer in July. They fit then but eight weeks later not only were they too small as he shot up over the summer (he was 13) but it was too late to return them. Hence I’m currently one of the many (judging by the people in Asda last night) still looking for new ones for this year! I hadn’t left it late either this year but he’s over 6ft tall and it’s been impossible to find any long enough that fit him and the one lot that do has been out of stock for weeks.

Cobblersorchard · 01/09/2024 14:25

I was far too excited (reception start) so we got everything ordered in June, apart from shoes. To be fair the school supplier shop had a 10% earlybird discount which we wanted to use plus the school was selling new surplus stock for pennies at the parents meeting in July. So there was no excuse.
The novelty will wear off no doubt!

DD started last week though so if I didn’t have it now I’d be in trouble.

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 01/09/2024 14:23

Got you this. Hope you like it x

To be amazed that people still haven't bought their school uniform?
gingeristhenewblack43 · 01/09/2024 14:22

Last year I bought DDs school shirts in the 20% off that M&S do in June / July. By Sept they didn't fit, literally gaping at the buttons. Luckily they have a 90 day return policy and all but one was still in the original packaging. So this time last year I was panic buying school shirts.

Nellieinthebarn · 01/09/2024 14:22

Well one year I smugly bought new school shoes at the beginning of the school holidays, and one little bugger grew a whole foot size in 6 weeks. I obviously fed him too well.

Gogogo12345 · 01/09/2024 14:22

Ponoka7 · 01/09/2024 13:49

My DD relied on next day deliveries. I'm annoyed at her because one of my GC is difficult to size and she's going back with her old backpack. We pick her skirts up on C&C today. Didn't have an issue with the polos/PE kit/Boots. You have 28 days to return items (longer on Asda) so why two sizes wasn't ordered at the start of August I don't know.

But for some people it is the money, because the holidays are expensive.

Why would you be annoyed?

stichguru · 01/09/2024 14:22

So basically you're bragging about being rich and well organised. Well good for you.

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 01/09/2024 14:21

Someone feels a bit superior today don't they.

Well done OP, you're very organised. Shame about the rest of the personality.

LoyalCrab · 01/09/2024 14:18

I’ve bought the basics but can’t buy cardigans and logos as our house move is now going on month 10 of hell and I don’t actually know what school my child will be attending. I want to be organised but I simply can’t be and I can’t even tell my reception starter if she’s starting at one the other or if I have to homeschool her for the first half term

MammaMiaPizzeria · 01/09/2024 14:18

My younger child has gone up a shoe size since the beginning of summer holidays and my older one can't do up his trousers that fit him perfectly 6 weeks ago. They also fit him when he tried them on last week. Now they don't. It's the same every year! Last year his shoes fit him on the Wednesday and by the Friday he literally couldn't get his foot in the shoe they were so small. So we shop last minute!

Flibflobflibflob · 01/09/2024 14:15

If I had bought at the beginning of the summer it wouldn’t have fit, plus her feet have just gone up a size, went on holidays, shoes fit, by the time we got home the other week they didn’t. It is a pain, I’ve just got her sorted but kids are growy.

Also the school uniform shop has specific times and dates at the end of summer (I was away when it opened) and today was the only day I could make it.

I could have been more organised with some other bits and bobs tbf.

Londonrach1 · 01/09/2024 14:14

We returned today after a 2 week holiday after we both not stopped working during the summer juggling childcare and work...thought I was organized buying school shoes before we went away....but dd feet grow whilst we were away so on a school shoe hunt. Yabu. Theres lots of reasons why people don't shop till the end. One being money. Lots reduced now.

MiaFeysImprobableBosom · 01/09/2024 14:14

Smithstreet · 01/09/2024 13:49

I like to make the holidays last as long as possible so do not like to think about anything school till the last minute. Just arrived back from holiday and am working tomorrow. Luckily my day off is Tuesday so will go through what we have see what fits still and if needed go to supermarket. 2 of mine start back Weds and one Thurs.

I remember as a kid always feeling a bit dispirited and deflated when "Back to School" marketing and stuff started appearing everywhere about halfway through the summer holidays (as it was then).

I understand why companies do it, and I understand why parents might want to prepare early if they can, and I understand that some kids wouldn't mind or would be happy at the thought of going back.

But personally I always wished I could just be allowed to enjoy the holidays without constant reminders in shops and newspaper adverts and everywhere else of the looming imminent return to school.

SamRatulangi · 01/09/2024 14:12

My sister passed away in the summer holidays last year, which meant I got caught up in the last minute scrabble to get everything ready for the kids a day or two before term started, because I had more pressing issues on my mind for most of the holidays

Danikm151 · 01/09/2024 14:11

Uniform was purchased months ago but book bag will be on the day as school has been closed and the parent app hasn’t had the option for book bags over the summer

dothehokeycokey · 01/09/2024 14:10

Thankfully we aren't in that position anymore but I remember vividly the July payslip having to cover the holidays that the kids were off and the sheer volume of extra food they got through let alone anything else so it was always August payslip to cover uniform and yes we know all year round however saving anything isn't always possible when your struggling to pay bills

Don't be a smug twat

Namerchangee · 01/09/2024 14:10

Good for you OP. Meanwhile in the real world people have money worries and all the rest of it.

LostittoBostik · 01/09/2024 14:09

LateDecemberLove · 01/09/2024 13:38

There are many reasons and you are just showing how fortunate you are by not being able to understand this.

Plus, this

LostittoBostik · 01/09/2024 14:08

A) my kids don't go back on Tuesday - it's later in the week
B) focus on your own family and stop worrying about how other people parent

I've actually got mine, but these sort of posts wind me up immensely

Hobnobswantshernameback · 01/09/2024 14:08

What a bizarre thing to feel superior about

Goldensunnydays81 · 01/09/2024 14:07

I work pretty much 7days a week in the summer holidays and ds who is 13 keeps having growth spurts he wouldn’t fit In them if I got them at the beginning/ before the summer holidays

ILovecamdenMarket · 01/09/2024 14:06

Blueybanditbingochilli · 01/09/2024 14:06

Yeah it’s just way too organised for me!

It's worth it for the money lol 😆

Blueybanditbingochilli · 01/09/2024 14:06

ILovecamdenMarket · 01/09/2024 14:05

Actually it's not that I'm super organised in the way that most people are m&s did the 20% off school uniforms months back and I save tons of money by starting my Christmas shopping in the boxing day sales 🙃 for example getting £120 perfume sets for £50!

Yeah it’s just way too organised for me!

Barney16 · 01/09/2024 14:06

Waiting so it fits? Or waiting until they have enough money. Or, me, years ago, assuming that it would fit only to discover, two days before the new term that it didn't fit. None of it.

ILovecamdenMarket · 01/09/2024 14:05

Blueybanditbingochilli · 01/09/2024 13:46

Nothing worse than these types of people - buying school uniform in July, Christmas shopping done by September, meticulously planned World Book Day costumes, who absolutely glow when others are a bit stressed or flustered and love to drop a tinkly comment in about ‘that’s why I did mine in X’

Edited

Actually it's not that I'm super organised in the way that most people are m&s did the 20% off school uniforms months back and I save tons of money by starting my Christmas shopping in the boxing day sales 🙃 for example getting £120 perfume sets for £50!

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