Why is going back to school items so expensive?!

[yoodledoodle]

I have 2 Dd's, one of 8 and one of 11. Oldest DD is starting senior school. It has honestly cost me an absolute fortune.
£200 at the school uniform shop on necessary 'logo' items
£50 in M & S on shirts/tights/socks etc
£30 school bag
£15 lunch bag
£10 water bottle
£50 school shoes
£85 trainers
£20 pencil case and stationary
£50 new school coat (plain black no logo)

Plus I have younger DD who I have also spent around £200 on to cover her new school uniform and new bits that she needs.

In total over £700 on school stuff!! Plus I have ended up buying little odds and ends! I know this sounds excessive but the majority of her friends and some of it could have been bought a bit cheaper but I don't think anything was particularly excessive?!

I feel so sorry for the pressure it puts on parents who can't afford it. I don't know what the answer is but it honestly can't be to spend this amount of money on uniform

My child starts secondary in September also. Have spent nearly £500!

We had a very long list of logo uniform to buy.

I have had to buy 4 pairs of shoes/trainers not impressed with that one!

We also had a very long list of stationary to buy as well, £40 just on stationary.

Let’s hope no growth spurts for a while please.

I have had to buy 4 pairs of shoes/trainers angry not impressed with that one!

Why? My mind is boggled.

Meh, it is what it is. If you want your kid to have nice things and can afford it then why not. I like buying DD the best so wouldn’t complain about the cost because it’s my choice to spend more than necessary.

My dd started secondary last year, I bought most of her uniform second hand including logo'ed items. Cost me £40 in total for clothing. I got blazer, 2 x pe kit, skirt, tie. I bought her shirts in m&s but still fit and are perfect for this year too.

Shoes were £10 reduced from schuh (can return up to a year so buy in sales). Lunch box, drinks bottle, backpack she already had as they were still in working order. She got a new backpack for Christmas last year.

Stationary cost about £10 in poundland. She used a pencil case she already had. (Got a new one for her november birthday)

Trainers were £15 from schuh. Football boots free from Facebook page.

So total cost was £75. Then if you wanted to include the backpack and pencil case she got for her birthday brings it to £100ish.

This year dd1 needs new shoes, but already got them reduced so £30 in total for trainers and shoes. And bought some pens for £2.

Dd2 needs new polo shirts as she has her sisters old uniform. And some shoes which I've just ordered from schuh for £25.

I dont buy in September unless it needs replacing. Last year the uniform barely got worn so still in great condition.

31% of children in the U.K. live in poverty. Goodness knows what their parents do.

@daisypond

1 pair of school shoes
1 pair of trainers
1 pair of football boots
1 pair of drama trainers

I use to do drama lessons in my socks! madness they now need trainers!

You're choosing to buy expensive versions of everything aside from the compulsory uniform then complaining about it. Isit some kind of weird showing off?

I don't understand your mentality at all, are you unaware of cheaper places to shop? More fool you is my view here

You've picked some very expensive items

200 at the school uniform shop on necessary 'logo' items

(can't help this)
£50 in M & S on shirts/tights/socks etc
(M&S do a school uniform sale every June/July which would have saved you 15% or 20% or you could have bought the stuff at a supermarket and saved money)
£30 school bag
(1 bag or two? If it's for one girl then that's a pricey bag)
£15 lunch bag
(Do they need a new lunch bag? I'm assuming 2 bags for this price)
£10 water bottle
(What happened to last year's ones? I've seen cheaper like yeh Sistema ones!
£50 school shoes
(Unavoidable)
£85 trainers
(Why? Presumably to wear at home because she's outgrown her old ones. I have a brand conscious teen boy and his Nikes for PE aren't £85 and he has astros and trainers)
£20 pencil case and stationary
(Some good deals at the supermarket. Presumably doesn't include printer ink)
£50 new school coat (plain black no logo)
(Is this the official school one? You can get cheaper ones that are fashionable if not)

Good news is they outgrow uniform slower now so you shouldn't be spending this much every year

I'd be surprised if the good trainers were worn for PE rather than out of school. PE trainers will end up caked in mud if it's outdoor pe so in my kids experience they are usually cheaper Nike or Adidas. Weekend shoes are often the trendy styles that can be £85

Stationery!

School stuff can be so expensive-especially logo stuff they have to have.

My son is still primary so it's not too bad but you still have to be careful.

I buy his polo shirts in Sainsbury's which are always good quality. They do the white button down shirts too so that may be worth a look next time.

Water bottle and lunch bag should last a while? I teach and got a water bottle last year from Aldi after I cracked my other one. It was £2.50 and is still going strong. My insulated lunch bag was £5 online and again is still going strong.

Not helpful now but if you have a tesco nearby, get a clubcard -loads of back to school stationery etc. cheaper with a clubcard.

Okay I can see that a lot of people are going on about the trainers in particular. I get it- the trainers ARE expensive! But I have seen with my own eyes that her friends all have expensive trainers and I wasn't willing for her to be the odd one out! Yes I could have bought a cheap pair from Primark, but they would have lasted all of a month.

She needed a new school bag/lunch box as her one is from 2 years ago at primary school. Likewise her new uniform is complete different from her primary uniform so the stuff that still fits her couldn't be used.

The £700 odd included her younger sisters uniform too!

Of course if she wasn't at school I would still have to buy her clothes/shoes/coat etc but obviously I buy all of this anyway AND uniform! I know it's my job as a parent, that's why I have done it! The point I am making is that it is a massive amount of pressure on parents! Only a few years ago I would have had sleepless nights over the price of the uniforms. Yes some of it was a bit pricey but it's not like I shopped in Harrods! Just average high street stores!!

Thought we were good this time. Bought 3 supermarket polo shirts and 2 pairs M&S shorts for DS a few weeks ago. Fast forward to yesterday and dd needs pretty much everything. The stuff she hasn’t grown out of is ruined, even the straps of her school bag are hanging off. Have got a small Next in town. Got 2 pairs of tights for £7.50 and a pair of PE leggings £11 (bought age 12, she is 9 as that’s all they had and they’ll last FOREVER). Drove 3 towns away to Tesco, no socks or red polos in the size we need. Went to B&M, school bag £12.
Still need 2 branded cardigans £17 each, PE skirt, socks, PE hoody, extra long skirt (out of stock online)
The uniform shop is a 20 minute drive away and there’s an M&S, Sainsbury’s and Tesco there. It’s a nightmare, luckily I drive. Add £15 petrol to the uniform bill.

Good news is that they grow out of uniform slower now

How old is your ds @AllTheSingleLadiess? I've got a 13 and 15 boys and this is not my experience at all. Ds2 has grown 8 inches and 4 shoe sizes in the last 2 years.

It is expensive for uniform and shoes but the other stuff is not necessary to spend so much on or if you need it at all .
I was in a clothes shop today and saw people buying school coats for their teens it’s 20 odd degrees here and it’s unlikely to get cold for a few weeks buy it then it’ll just be carried about . It’s not likely to turn cold come next week for winter coats . Lunch boxes don’t need to be expensive and why do you need to buy new trainers too ? .

It isn't a binary between £85 shoes and Primark.

@AfternoonToffee

It isn't a binary between £85 shoes and Primark.

I agree, I buy Nike or Adidas trainers for work from sports direct and I never pay more than £45 for them. They last a good 16-18 months of wearing them five days a week with plenty of walking.

I never understand why people have kids then moan how expensive stuff is

Perhaps you should have thought of this ffs 🤦🏻‍♀️

£85 on trainers for PE 🤣

My Y8 is from the “wealthy” feeder primary to her secondary, and I can tell you that within her immediate friendship group there is mild and good natured envy about who has managed to get what trainers from parents. They are NOT all in £85 trainers. As a PP said, it’s not that or Primark🙄 Most of her friends have things like outlet store or sale Nike type brands, for around £30.

What happened to her water bottle from last year?

I’m with most replies… no, it’s not cheap, but you have made it far more than needed.

On the bright side… my Y8 hasn’t outgrown anything (despite growing - we buy big but not ridiculously so!) and I have spent £0 on Y8 start. So near in mind a portion of your spend isn’t for a year, but more.

@AfternoonToffee

It isn't a binary between £85 shoes and Primark.

You're putting pressure on yourself though, clearly I don't know anything about your school but it can't possibly be the case that every girl has stupidly expensive PE trainers, how do you even know? Are you doing kit inspections before she's even started at the school? I find that hard to believe

The point I am making is that it is a massive amount of pressure on parents!

But you're adding to the pressure by indulging in £85 trainers, and buying new lunchboxes / stationery when it's not needed. You're contributing to the very same problem you're moaning about

@yoodledoodle you don’t have to spend £85 on trainers for them to last more than a couple of weeks. You are choosing to do so.
YOU don’t want her to be left out.
Having kids is bloody expensive OP. But you are choosing to make it more so then moaning about that!

The trainers will get stolen ! I can easily afford expensive trainers but buy cheaper ones for that reason .

Yup OP is the one creating the pressure for other parents. 😔

I thought I was doing ok. Starting yr 7 . £200 on logoed stuff, could have been alot more but got 1x new of everything and then topped up from second hand shop before the rush especially on stuff that gets lost/stolen. Trainers/shoes in sale 4 weeks ago. Back pack in sale. Water bottle/lunch box/winter coat still fine.. trousers/skirts m+s 20% off. Bought in June a size too big. all fitted 3 weeks ago DD just had a massive growth spurt and shoes/ trainers/ trousers and skirts too small...sigh... goingto keep as all except skirts are boys styles which she likes so will keep for DS but replacements now not in sale and limited sizes as school rush on..