How much on back to school

[parentinghacks]

Aibu to wonder how much has it cost you to get your back to school stuff?

New winter coat, shoes, trainers, polo shirts, jumpers, school logo items, new water bottle...all adds up costs me a fortune!

I only have one child, going into y2. He’s asked for a rucksack instead of a book bag this year so I need to buy that, but I think all his uniform still fits, as do his shoes and trainers. I definitely wouldn’t buy new stuff just for the sake of it - only if worn out or outgrown.

So far I have spent:

DD10

Polo Shirts £12
Trousers £15
Socks £4.50
School shoes - £18
Pe Trainers £20

Also need to get her two school jumpers and new pe kit as realised hers is aged 7-8 . That will be another £30. Already got her a new coat recently on vinted and she got herself a new backpack/lunchbox a couple of months back to they will last.

Total Spend - £99.50

DD6

Polo shirts - £3
School shoes - £42

Also need to get her PE trainers but things like trousers/skirts/cardigans are all passed down from her sister,

Total - £65 approx.

Haven't got a total yet. Mine spent last year in hoodies, joggers and trainers so there's been a lot to get this year. I need to find shoes for DC3, he's 10 but in a size 8

DS needed new shoes and trainers - £60 total. His shirts and fleece still fit and we have trousers passed down from a friend.

DD doesn't need anything - all still fits.

I think I spent about £250 per child. (2 kids)

DD1 has cost £150 because she's moved up a year so all new uniform colours fucking ridiculous IMO

DD2 has cost £48 because she needed new shoes & trainers

Both girls were newly kitted after latest lockdown because they'd grown so DD1 needing new has infuriated me - at least her feet didn't grow!

Neither has had new winter coats bought, DD2 will be fine, DD1 needs a new one but her light jacket will be fine until at least October so delaying that cost.

Both girls are thankfully on board with the environmental aspect of only buying new when necessary so we've managed to change our back to school spending habits for the better. Still sodding expensive though!

About £400 for new starters at primary and secondary, plus a couple of bits for year 9 daughter.

@L1ttleSeahorse

I don't get the "but new everything for September " thing mentioned on mn either!

It's odd.

I think my kids would be more annoyed not to get new stuff as they need during the year. They've never express any interest in having new clothes in September. Even if they had, the idea of going shopping to buy a new kit for each would have put them off

I kept all dd1's uniform for dd2 who starts school this year along with her twin brother. The polo shirts looked quite tatty but the rest was fine. Dd1 tried on all her stuff from last year and the skirts, cardies and coat still fit so I had to get boy's uniform and new shirts and tights for the girls. A friend passed on a winter coat for ds. Dd1 has looked after her stationery from last year really well so I only had to replace the glue stick which had run out. Got joggers for PE days on Ebay for a couple of quid each so I haven't spent much.
Agree it's better to replace as and when needed not all at once. Having said that I need to buy 3 x school shoes and trainers this week which won't be cheap!

Teen DS who is in the middle of his main growth spurt is off to a new secondary, and so far I've spent an unbelievable £600. Mostly on specialist logo'd games kit which he'll either never wear or never appreciate as he hates sport. From now on it's the second hand sale thankfully, apart from shoes. Size 8 men's wide shoes - £89 at Clark's so need to find somewhere else that sells wide fit flat sole shoes he can't destroy in a month...

As for growing, he's currently growing a cm every 3 weeks. Half of the trousers won't fit by Christmas! (Thankfully games kit is mostly shorts... phew)

How much do you all generally spend on a winter coat for your DC?

@parentinghacks usually between €30-€60

Coats are usually £40-£50, but I tend to get them warm, fully waterproof and they last well for that price.

Ireland here, youngest not on a book scheme yet so 150€ for books/stationary.

I needed to replace bag, that was 25€. Another 30 for shoes and 10 for tights/socks. Thankfully she still fits last years uniform.

The teen has outgrown everything so that was 250 in uniform/shoes. He has a book scheme, but I need to hand over 150€ to school next week for the scheme/insurance etc.

Its been a long summer paying for it all, and our household isn't struggling, though we aren't well off. I don't know how people with multiple kids do it, hats off to ye all.

My GC, aged seven has been £150. I've bought the shirts, pinafores and socks. The £150 includes kickers and a waterproof coat. We walk to school.

My DD gets regatta and looks for sale items. So she gets a coat for under £40. My GC prefer to be layered up. She buys thermal vests and thermal t shirts to go under clothes. We started that when they were coat refusing. That will change when they get to about 9 of course.

Just to add my GC school isn't allowing bags still. PE is done in any sports gear, which they are sent into school wearing.

My policy is buy bits as needed rather than all at once. However last year I had twins going into year 7 and Dc1 started at college which cost me a small fortune. This year just needed:
Shirts for 1,
Trousers for 1,
Shoes for 1,
Pe trainers for 2,
Because they both seem to have had a growth spurt.
Dc1 who's at college has everything from last year.

DS3 is starting secondary school. Thankfully my last (out of 4). I have spent so far:

£79.50 for a blazer, PE top, shorts, socks and PE bag, and a tie.

£73.60 for Kickers school shoes and bag. (20% off if bought together)

£91.50 for 6 pairs of school trousers, 7 pairs of socks and a good quality winter coat (M&S - bargain!)

£15 for 6 school shirts from Tesco (I know he’ll stain them so I’d rather buy cheap and replace).

PE trainers £26.75 (with 25% off)

Total £286.35.

He has a water bottle and pencil case so I just need calculator, a few odd bits of stationary and a new lunch bag as they only get 30 mins for lunch and he said the queue in the canteen took ages during summer school! I’m going to train him to make his own packed lunch this week (good reminder ) as I hate doing them and I’m done!

Plus a jumper for under his blazer (can get non logoed) uh PE joggers and hoodie for winter which I’ll get during October.

3 school jumpers: £45
2 × 3 pack white shirts: £18
4 x trousers: £22
Shoes: £45
Socks: £8
Pe tracksuit: £35
Pe shorts & polo: £17
Tie: £7
Coat: £30

Total: £227

@parentinghacks

How much do you all generally spend on a winter coat for your DC?

Depended on age: Primary school - around £40/50 but there were often proper ski jackets as they did forest school even in winter and it helped staying warm and dry.

Secondary - the school coat is actually decent at £45 but as she is in adult sizes now the other coat is around £60/70 if I can get it in the sale, up to £90 one year on full price. She needs outdoor brands to cope with being at the stable and doing activities with the Scouts as they can't meet indoors at the moment. She needs the coat at least 3x a week for this alone. Good news, she doesn't need a new size each year anymore.

@Heronatemygoldfish

Teen DS who is in the middle of his main growth spurt is off to a new secondary, and so far I've spent an unbelievable £600. Mostly on specialist logo'd games kit which he'll either never wear or never appreciate as he hates sport. From now on it's the second hand sale thankfully, apart from shoes. Size 8 men's wide shoes - £89 at Clark's so need to find somewhere else that sells wide fit flat sole shoes he can't destroy in a month...

As for growing, he's currently growing a cm every 3 weeks. Half of the trousers won't fit by Christmas! (Thankfully games kit is mostly shorts... phew)

My son has very wide toes, can’t fit in any Clark’s shoes. The only shoes that fit comfortably are the Kangol slip ons from Sports Direct. He’s been buying them since year 7. They are around £30 usually.

Mine are 12 & 14. Neither has outgrown his blazer nor his shoes, and they aren't that worn due to lockdown, so that's two biggies that aren't needed. Winter coats also have lots of room left, as do the logoed PE shirts and shorts. They have 3 ties between them still present and intact.

Just trainers for ds1, and he'll wear those at weekends too, trousers for him (supermarket) and topping up the pencil cases. My cheapest year for ages.

@SnipSnipMrBurgess oh yes I forgot the Insurance and contribution fees so that's another €100 🤪

My youngest is starting high school this time and his sister moves up to year 9 , she has shot up this year and I wont get one more year from her blazer so I've spent.
70 =2 blazers
24= 3 skirts
30= 4 pairs of m and s trousers 20% off
50= 12 shirts between them
10= new ties each form has a different coloured stripe.
60 = shoes
40 = bag for my daughter my sons was practically new.
30= underwear and socks
18 = school logo leggings for pe shorts are going down to be used by son they are practically new.
36 = 2 school logo long sleeve tops for pe
44= 2 soft shell pe jackets
5 = pe socks
20 = sufficient stationary for year and clear pencil cases
5= dictionary
5 =scientific calculator
447 give or take it is a dear do , so much for the uniforms getting cheaper lol