How much do you spend on children's school uniform (per child)

[BluePandaBox]

Not so much an AIBU - but I think this is such an unreasonable situation to be in for most families!! I've two children, they attend the same school, they require at least one logo-ed top and jumper and a book bag. I buy the rest from sainsbury's/Tesco. I would love to say the youngest child has the oldest hand me downs but as they are two very boisterous boys the clothes never last long enough so basically I have to start afresh each year!! I spend, per child, around £40 on logo-ed bits, £60 on non-logo-ed bits and another £45 on shoes for each of them (we're trying to buy indestructable shoes in an effort not to replace them every 6 weeks!!), and £30 on PE kits - say £25 each on a winter coat. That's £200 per child - £400 for both!!! Crikey that's the first time I've added it all up - that is A LOT!!!

DS1 is at high school and everything is logo'd now, plus each blazer is £70, plus he's over 6 foot tall so wears mens clothing and shoes. Add on to that he's studying GCSE PE so needs personalised PE kit plus the regular school PE kit, each kit costs £66, plus trainers and school shoes (size 13) and it can easily add up to over £4/500.

DS2 is easier as his uniform is logo'd but cheaper and he can wear non-logo'd stuff from M&S, so probably around £200 with shoes, PE kit and trainers.

August is the month of financial ruin, but we chose to send DS1 to a school that's pernickety about uniform so it's one of those things.

It is a lot but they wear it every day for 39 weeks. I spend about the same. I could reduce the costs if I bought less shirts and trousers but I find inevitably some get stained or develop holes so it lasts to the end of the year.

Also, I have to say M&S uniform has always been incredibly hard-wearing for mine (and they're very tough on their clothing). The trousers especially come up perfectly week after week and mine tend to grow out of them rather than wearing them out.

I just spent £100 On my reception starters uniform

What is the breakdown of the non logo-ed bits at £60 per child? I've spent £8 on 6 shirts, £16 on four trousers (Sainsbury's), I can't think of anything else I've bought as we have logo-Ed jumpers and a polo shirt.

I find Sainsbury's TU clothing very well wearing, I've also got 100% plain cotton jumpers from Asda that were excellent. I really don't think you need to buy M&S (or similar) brand, a lot of their reviews are rubbish.

Also, Clark's outlet is a massive saver for shoes, ours were £26 this year rather than £40+.

It’s crazy how much it can all cost and next year my eldest goes up to middle school and I’ve already seen the uniform list 😬 but for now my two are both in infants and with a two year age gap I generally only buy new for the oldest and if I’m lucky one of the other mums will offer their older kids jumper etc. I get my polo shirts from Lidl or Asda and trousers, shorts and PE kit from Asda. We get them both new shoes from Clarks but luckily my mum buys those so that’s a huge saving every year.

Other than when starting new schools, I've never bought a full new set of everything (actually even then there was some 2nd hand/handmedowns), so the cost varies wildly.
This summer the only thing I've bought is new PE leggings for DD, and they were £15.

I don't really find school uniform any more expensive than "other" clothes tbh - and they have to wear something! But DC's school is quite sensible about not insisting on branded specific stuff.

Assuming OP's DC are primary age, £100 on just uniform for one child sounds an awful lot - I'd be interested to know how that breaks down?

Not sure individually we've just spent £850 on uniform for 2 children (including shoes) the actual uniform is reasonable but they do outdoor sports (hiking etc) their waterproofs and backpack cost quite a lot. I found it really expensive in Asda though, we brought 4 trousers (2 each for the boys) 2 pairs of leggings and a pack of tights for DD and some stationary, which wasn't loads.. 2 packs of biros, 2 pencil cases 1 pack of markers and a couple of geomatry sets - £97!!! I need to by a couple of t-shirts and some socks still. It was expensive because of one starting school, so it'll be easier from now on because we'll just replace things as he needs them but... its all my student finance gone, in one day.

My son is 5 and pretty much needs clean uniform each day - Lord knows how he gets so messy

I work full time and so I buy enough uniform for a full week.

I spent £40 on school shoes.

£21 on red polo shirts from debenhams (could have got white but see above 're messy!).

I bought 1 logo jumper for £11 and then spent £8 on some supermarket ones from Sainsbury's.

About £18 on trousers - again Sainsbury's.

Plus £13 on PE kit.

£30 on a good winter coat - thankfully, the outdoor shop had a sale and we will use the coat at home and when we go to the Lake's as well.

Luckily, his book bag and PE bag are fine.

So, £141 in total. I don't think it's too bad as he has multiple of things and wears them 5/7 days.

We are lucky though that his primary don't insist on logo items and loads of kids wear plain.

I dont count but I have 6 and except for the youngest all are in school, I just took them shoe shopping and it came to 290 pound for 5 pairs of shoes!

My oldest starts high school this year and everything except for trousers has to be the schools version with logo so it will be hundreds just for his.

starting a new school sorry not starting school

For my secondary age child, a few hundred pounds. For the primary age child less than £100.

But you’d be buying shoes and winter coats anyway, so you can knock at least £70 per child off your total.
Mine had the same book bags throughout primary school. Other items were handed down.
There is no need to buy so much stuff!

Year 2 here. Around £50/60 for school shoes. We can only purchase uniform from the school supplier, each polo shirt is £8 x5, jumper is £10 x2, school trousers from Marksies are 2 pairs for £15, school bag £10. PE kit is black pumps £5, t shirts £7.50 x2, black shorts £5. It doesn't half add up. Plus I top up throughout the year as my son goes through shoes.

£500/year. Easily. But this is private school.

Primary child - £86

Secondary children £210 & £290 for the new starter at secondary. This has had to include new trainers and football boots though.

I've spent around £100 this month on uniform/school stuff for 2 kids, that's polos, trousers and a lunchbag for DS and
polos, shorts, shoes and a Logo cardigan for DD. They had new coats last winter so I'm hoping they'll still fit but we'll see! 🤷‍♀️

I spread the cost through out the year so it doesn't cost loads all at once. I've spent about £220 on two primary school boys.

I just spent a fair bit on new uniform for secondary school. PE kit alone was over £100, and that doesn't include trainers.
For the main uniform, I managed to get a few bits at the PTA second hand uniform sale, but still spent probably another £100 at least (mostly on a brand new blazer).

But DC2 I've spent £11 on new shirts this time, and that's it.

Back when they were at primary it was about £100 but it lasted 2 years and I handed down everything but tights (girls), secondary was £150 lasted 2 years and handed down, sixth form (private) £200 lasted 2 years, other dd (state) ordinary clothes cost way more, you got have the right stuff you know!

Just done the university shop £196 and that wasn't everything

It’s cost so much £66 on PE kit still have trainers and football boots to get. £45 on blazer and £5.35 on school tie. £70 on M&S shirts and trousers (6 shirts and 4 trousers) gum shield £13, £14 on calculator, other equipment, pens and pencils £15. School bag £40. Still have coat to do. This excludes primary school aged DC.

£140. I havent bought anything with a logo on. I buy enough for 1 clean uniform per day.

Oh forgot still need to buy thermals also.

Ds1 £250, DS2 about £150 as we do hand stuff down at the moment. £80 of that is shoes and trainers.