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?

We have noticed that our son tends to have a growth spur in October. And somewhere in May.
So, yes, new clothes every september are needed, but they all look terrible in the first month or two as they are too big. And in June he looks again a bit weird in the slightly too small things.... poor kid.

DC's at secondary school. More expensive items are replaced whenever they don't fit. School shirts are replaced every September as they start to yellow and look crap. Not this year though, they're still fine. So just PE trainers and one pair of school shoes. A cheapish start to the year.

DD1 is heading into her fifth year of secondary school wearing the same pleated gaberdine skirt she started out with. She likes the length it is on her now, if we sized up it would be longer on her. It's bullet-proof and is still too big for her little sister. The jumper has been replaced as it got frayed at sleeves and elbows. The shirts have been passed down to little sister, as have some of the sports gear. DD2 got a new uniform starting out, she's a smaller size.

Our primary school had really good quality branded uniform that was also passed down from big sister to little sister and then some went onto the seconds-hand rail at school

They walk a lot so we buy good school shoes and replace when out-grown or worn out.

Only buy when needed, save your money for college fund.

I replace their shoes every summer, usually at the end of july. Other than that, i replace as needed. I sometimes buy the next size up when there's loads of uniform in the supermarkets in August, just because there often isn't much available at other times of year

New shoes and trainers because they’ve dentally grown but nothing else unless it’s outgrown or truly destroyed. Anything else is stupidly wasteful.

DD3 is in some of DD1s hand me downs. In fact she’s also in some clothes that have been through DNieces x 2 and her 2 big sisters so long as it’s in good shape, so she’s the 5th wearer, and her old stuff goes to my friend down the road for her DDs!

My only “new” thing is a new blazer for high school when they get there so they feel special.

I tend to buy in September and it lasts until whenever in the spring/ summer they start wearing summer dresses. Usually they have grown out of it by the next September, but, luckily for me, DC2 seems not to have grown in the past year so hasn't got new uniform and might need some at some point later in the year. This is fortunate because we can only buy the required cardigans from one online shop and weeks ago they were sold out in age 6-7 with no suggestion that they would be back in stock.

Buy when needed (but will eke out the scruffy until end of summer term if at all possible)

I've never had enough money to spare to replace items by calendar rather than by need.

That would be a really wasteful approach. We replace when things need replacing and then try to get second hand. DS2 always gets DS1's hand me downs. Parent whatsapp group is always busy during the summer as people swap items and school has a second hand uniform sale three times a year. It's an independent though and the uniform list is as long as your arm. Most people buy second hand or pass things on to friends.

Mine always seem to grow a foot taller and several shoe sizes bigger over summer But yes, if I’m lucky enough that something still fits and doesn’t have any holes they are definitely going to keep wearing it!

Replace as needed. Generally I found at primary polo shirts and skirts lasted 2 years.
DD2 has managed secondary with only 1 set of replacements for anything as she stopped growing in y8.

I buy a new set in September, minimal cost at Sainsbury's. He's an infant school boy, the shirts and trousers are trashed by the Summer and he needs the next size up anyway. Our logo'ed school jumpers only lasted a term before they were fraying at the wrists! We're on a new set of Asda plain this year and they should last all year.

PE kit is more as and when, but our school aren't doing PE at the moment so not needed.

We bought new shoes February and I was shocked to find yesterday that they still fit. I don't know how as they've each grown much taller.

Only as needed. I had nothing to buy this year. The bags ans lunchboxes were fine too. I picked up a school jumper each (supermarket so cheap) and they looked smart for first day.

I do buy new each September but I don't spend much. I see so many people spending £100s and I don't know why.
£5 for some polo shirts and £8 for trousers. Daughter has black shoes anyway so doesn't need special school shoes buying.

Replace as needed, but normally would have to replace something between 3 dc.

This year it was bigger school shorts and a games' top for ds.

Replace as needed, sometimes part way through the year but just before September is often a pinch point as thats often when i realise PE kit is too small!
I only replace when outgrown or worn out though obviously.
Trouble is if theyve outgrown one item chances are theyve outgrown everything. some blissful years I dont need to buy much if anything, other years i end up replacing the lot.

Mine are secondary age and I replace when needed. The school also has a very good second hand shop so that is great for spares.

I buy new uniform when it's their birthday (not as a present! ) because they both naturally seem to have grown and need the next size up, which is April and September. New shoes come when they need the next size up. I buy at least 2 weeks worth of uniform each (ASDA) so I only wash / iron a couple of times a month and do it doesn't get AS trashed and generally lasts a year

I refresh a few things at the beginning of the year but only if needed. Don't buy much during the year either except they always seem to grow out of their shoes around Easter.

@Passthecake30 ooh YES PLEASE - thank you for @ ing me as it's slim pickings right now on ebay!! I tried to PM you but you have your PMs turned off so just let me know!

Yes I tend to buy new every year but only because ds tends to have a growth spurt in the summer holidays every year. We are moving soon as well so hopefully the uniform will be similar in the next school.

Will message you @Xiaoxiong, unable to attach a pic to a message so here they are

I also replace as needs and sometimes they do grow over the summer

However the last few years I have bought new shirts around Easter when they are allowed to take off jumpers and blazers. It means if the get a little small or worn they will be under a jumper in the winter

Of course OH bought DS's new shirts just before lockdown 🤭

I replace as and when needed (due to growth or wear and tear). Neither of mine needed new school shoes for this term. One needed new shirts, the other needed trousers.

Reuse whatever we can. Polo shirts did better this year with not being used for the whole summer term, trousers still fit so must have been massive last year!
New shoes and trainers but DD will reuse DS’s Trainers and new PE shirt for both as apparently they have disappeared during lockdown!