Buying new school uniform

[Notyouraveragecliche]

Is it reasonable to buy school uniform despite the last year's still fitting or do you think it's unreasonable to reuse old uniform?

Boring question but me and my partner have different opinions.

@AuntieStella I completely agree, which is why I donate dcs old uniform every july

@Morfin Yesterday 21:46Morfin

I find it funny that people care what uniform is Iike in September but don't care in July.

what makes you think this??

Definitely a weird class thing. NO ONE at private school buys new uniform unless it is needed. The further 'down' the ladder, the weirder people are about buying new stuff until you get to the people who can't actually afford uniform at all. It's weird.

Weird according to who? Different to your own experience maybe?

We definitely don’t buy new uniform until the DC have outgrown it. That would be so wasteful and unnecessary!

I have to say I am with your dp and everyone I know does exactly the same

Like bollocks they do. Whether too rich to care, or from the sort of background where people spend needlessly because they fear the stigma of being thought to be poor, you'd never find a group of people that universally behave in such a recklessly wasteful manner.

OP, when someone disagrees with you and what they're saying seems ridiculous and outside the norm, it's usually because they're wrong.

Regardless of what you choose to do, please make sure you donate all usable uniform. I work in a school and we really appreciate all second hand uniform, coats and wellies.

I used to replace what was needed which was most things as DS's uniform would be wrecked or too small. I wouldn't just buy new for the sake of it. I've always been small so I rarely had new school uniform. I had my school coat for five years! Uniforms are supposedly about everyone wearing the same and it being affordable. I would save the money for a little trip somewhere

We've had to start new but have mixed it up a bit. Ds4 is quite a tall slim child so two jumper fits absolutely perfectly and his others are next size up so should do him next year.

I only buy new when the old items don't fit.

Certainly wouldn't buy new now when nobody knows if they'll still be in school by half term.
I'd compromise and say that uniform could be replaced for spring term.

Why would anyone buy new if the old uniform still fits and looks fine?

Complete waste of money.

If it’s stained/manky looking, that’s different.

@AuntieStella

"they donate all dcs usable uniform to school swop shops etc ... but if everyone is keeping uniform until its falling apart I don't see how this is possible?"

Because DC sometimes outgrow uniform before they trash it.

Second hand sales are a very good thing!

Yes, children can sometimes grow faster than they can wear out clothes!

I have 3 DS’s, and usable clothes that the older DS’s have grown out of are routinely added to the younger DS’s wardrobes.

We don’t usually have enough usable outgrown school uniform from DS1 to completely supply DS2, but passing things down means buying a lot less uniform for DS2 than for DS1.

DS1 only wears shorts and I've just retired his original ones from yR... he's going into y5! DS2 wears trousers, but I can usually get a couple of years out of them too.

School jumpers last forever. I try to buy them second hand at thd PTA sales.

Polo shirts are most likely to be replaced as they just get the the point of being permanently grubby and marked. Last year, they didn't look so bad and had enough length in them so at least I got 18m out of them.

Last year was a cheap year. This year has needed much more, including a full replacement of sicks as they've both gone over into a new size.

Socks, not sicks. Don't want sick. Hopefully coronavirus measures should control the sick bugs too

I buy fresh shirts every year, but the rest is worn until it falls apart or no longer fits. I don't have oodles of spare money to be replacing things that don't need replacing.

Is it reasonable to buy school uniform despite the last year's still fitting or do you think it's unreasonable to reuse old uniform?

eh? do people seriously buy new school clothes even though the old ones are still fitting? Why would you do this?

I always buy when I need new stuff, e.g. outgrown or ripped and I do this at any point throughout the year. I never buy new clothes for September just for the sake of it. Why would you???

I've bought new lunch boxes drinks bottles pencil cases, new shoes and new uniform (but a bargain). I like them to feel confident going into a new class.

I like them to feel confident going into a new class.

if my child would only be able to feel confident by being kitted out with brand new things, I would worry.

My dm insisted on all new uniform every September. Then there was complaints if we needed new later on. I know my dc grow at random times so I buy when they need it, there's an offer on and I get larger sizes or in one items case whenever I can find it in larger sizes (school has an odd colour selection for something).

That said my DC will have all new uniform this September butt hats only because they both shot up during lockdown and the old stuff won't fit anyway.

*but that's

May start having to use butt hats more often though

I have replaced what needed replacing.

For my 7 year old this is just cardigans and tights.

11 year old has had full high school uniform.

12 year old shoes, a jumper, trousers.

3 year old shoes and polo shirts.

I can't believe people buy new uniform every year if there is nothing wrong with the old one. My gs2 has hand me downs from his brother so long as it is in good condition.

I live in an area where there is deprivation. It is awful when we are forced into one school uniform shop which is really expensive. The school even insist on a tiny logo, which is black like the trousers, by the pocket where it is not obviously seen. I now ignore and buy a 2-pack from M and S. There are 1000 pupils - are they going to inspect each one.

Shoes need replacing regularly, even the dearer ones. People buy the £15 ones from wynsors but they only last til half term.

Another issue is uniform being taken. A new sweatshirt bought and an old manky chewed one brought home. I would use asdas if I could get away with it. He always looks smart.

Dd1 needed some new jumpers as she's final year of primary and they have a different colour - dd2 has not needed a single item of new uniform as she's inherited all dd1's as well as some of hers still fitting. I know people who buy all new each new school year and I just can't understand it. Dd2 still has the shoes that I got her last October. I'll replace when needed

Dd1 needed some new jumpers as she's final year of primary and they have a different colour

It makes no sense for a school to do this. Expect parents to pay out fir something usable for a very short time when they know come june/July they have to fork out for secondary uniform.

What's the point