Do you buy new school clothes each September?

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I thought we had a bit more time before they went back to school. Alas, it has crept up again. I noticed lots of school uniform shopping posts on here and social media. I planned to do it today. However, I have simply dusted off the old school uniform and washed it. All looks good. Only new purchase is shoes as we buy cheap and frankly it's a false economy.

I understand this year may be different as a lot of growth may have happened in between March and now but typically, it's six weeks.

Do you buy new stuff every year? If so, do you also buy throughout the year?

Replace as needed. This summer we needed 1 pair of shoes, 2 sets of polo shirts, 1 set of skirts, 2 sets of tights, socks, and pe shorts. They had new cardigans in February, one had new shoes in Feb and thankfully they still fit. Youngest got handed down skirts from eldest.

Replace as needed. DS1 needed new trousers, polos, jumpers and shoes. Luckily his pe kit fits still.

DS2 needed blazer, shoes and all pe kit including trainers. He'll need a bag as well but they are only available from school.

I only buy new stuff when a) they need it, b) I don't have the right item/size in the hand me down bags from friends and c) they don't have it in the school second hand uniform swap shop. It's kind of painful for me to buy new as so far they have grown out of uniform things long before they've worn them out. Back to school shopping for us usually is just shoes, pants and socks.

This year they finished school before lockdown in size 1 shoes (white trainers, black shoes, rugby boots) - measured today and both boys are size 3 so 6 new pairs of shoes I'm hoping at least the rugby boots I can get second hand on eBay.

Buy as needed here too. Son had a few new things for this term, nothing for daughter needed.

Replace as needed. I have just bought a load though as has shot up about a foot since last wearing uniform in March. Old stuff kept for younger siblings.

Buy when needed

I've had to buy new everything this term though as my teenage sons have grown like mad over lockdown

I replace when outgrown or trashed, whichever comes first.

Only as needed. I’ve only got dd3 a coat and cardigans this year, she’s ok for everything else. Dd2 doesn’t need anything.

As required, dd1 needed entire new wardrobe, going into sixth form, it's cost a fortune. Dd needed new pe kit so saved money there. Thank goodness.

No, of course not, just replace as and when.

I like to buy new shoes for September school start, and then just what’s needed.

As children we had new uniform and shoes each September, January and Easter, 3 of us, must have cost a fortune. My mum said it was her pleasure us all looking nice - I was naturally the scruffiest child ever

New shoes x 6 here (2 kids), new skirts and joggers for dd, new trousers and shirts for ds. They’ve grown a lot since March. Dd has grown at least 2”. Ds has grown 2 shoe sizes.

@Xiaoxiong I need to put (grown out of) size 3 rugby boots on eBay, if you’re interested message me.

I find it simpler to just shop once a year. Mine are mostly in hand me downs and last years clothes, but I get a new pack of polo shirts and a pair or two of trousers if they are likely to need them over the next year. Plus it’s worth having one set of smart clothes for the school photo. The rest of them are covered in mud every day anyway!

I do. I don't buy throughout the year though. I like DS to look smart, as he's still in primary his clothes tend to get quite messy and look scruffy by the end of the year.

Replace as needed. T-shirts & cardis fit. Skirts, pinafores and shoes all needed replacing.

Yes. My DC have grown dramatically over the last few months due to eating none stop. They are also naturally tall, long legged and big boned too.

I buy new uniform for September - shirts, trousers, pinafore dresses/skirts and tights. Jumpers and shoes are replaced as needed.

Even if the uniform fit, it’s pretty tatty by the summer term anyway.

Yes I buy whole new sets in June from M & S for the September. I buy in June to get the 20% discount. It's served me well over the many years I've had kids at school. I also buy school shoes and trainers the week before school starts in September.

Works for me

KS1 primary with ordinary cheap uniform you can buy in a supermarket. I don’t see a point in buying new in September for the sake of it. If something still fit and was in decent condition I wouldn’t replace in September but alas this year everything bar one jumper and a PE t shirt is way too small. So pretty much everything is new for September. Normally I buy as needed over the year but with lockdown that didn’t happen this time.

No.
This year I've bought 2 pairs of trousers for ds and a pair of joggers (he's grown over lockdown!)

He's had the same school cardigans since year 1 and he's going into year 6!!

His sister's stuff all still fits too.

I buy new every year to get the 20% off in M&S in June.
My dc are all at the older end of the year so by September/October they’ve generally grown and gone up to the next size.
DS1 is pretty hard on his uniform so there’s not much that I can pass down to DS2 anyway.

Of course not.

I did when they were in primary as they grew every year but at secondary I have just replaced as necessary. This time I've only had to buy some trousers for DS. Dd has stopped growing and her school shoes from last year are fine. She's managed to make her blazer last from the start of year 7 and is going into year 11 now so it's the last year of uniform. Ds has got taller and thinner so new trousers were needed and I got him new shoes as his last ones had rips in the back. School bags are the same just got some new stationery. I think this has been the cheapest year yet!

Normally I do a bit of everything, some new bits in Sept normally shoes, some still fit and I buy some second hand.

This year I just could not be arsed and even got dd shoes off FB ( new unworn but outgrown).

Nope, nope, nope to shoe shopping right now 😭 dd might look like Britney Spears in her tiny uniform tomorrow. Let's hope not.

My plan is to see if they are still in school by half term.and re assess then. Besides the school second shops and supermarkets are normally ok for such emergencies ( but I have noticed a supply chain problem this year when looking for other kids clothes)

Only as needed.

Although this year I've bought a set of uniform secondhand, next size up for my ds, because the boy had them new in February, locked down in March and grew out of them by the summer.

Hopefully see ds through the next 18 months at minimal cost.