To be practically sorted for next school term!Anyone else

[Cuddlywuddlies]

All I have left to get are new trainers and colouring pencils for both dc and I’m done.
School books and uniforms are ordered, I have spent just over €200 so far so I reckon I can get my costs in under €400 (including the school contribution of €40 per child! Feeling proud and very much ahead of myself 🤣 anyone else??

I don't dare take the risk of ds outgrowing everything by September so won't be ordering any uniform for a while.

My eldest is starting school this year and I'm feeling very organized,I've all books got,covered & labelled,as well as his folders all in his bag,uniforms got,just a few extra polos to pick up on Tuesday,shoes picked out& ordered,fees paid €85,pencils,colours etc that are needed for homework. I have about 4 bits to get like his scrapbook our school has specified a particular brand,a large cereal box,some pritt stick & his lunch box to order but I'm feeling very organized & pleased as I've done it alone (dad left last year),I've spent about €200 maybe a bit more but feel very accomplished 😄

I would normally be doing so but we’re moving house sometime soon (fingers and toes crossed) so I’m holding off in case stuff gets lost!

Err, this term hasn’t even ended yet. Why on earth would I buy colouring pencils 7 weeks in advance- we aren’t expecting a global shortage are we?

As soon as school broke up (last week) I did a big order with shirts, trousers, skirts, cardigans and school bags. Neither of mine have ever had big growth spurts they are very steady and predictable so easy to pick sizes. I will take them next week to choose stationery. The only thing I will leave until August is shoes.

So far I’ve ordered his school jumper. Cut off date to get it in time is in a couple of days so I had to get a move on! He's going into third year so really he just needs a scientific calculator. We have masses of stationery (total stationery hoarder!) so he's all sorted for that. Cheapest year yet!

Smug was my thought. Be glad you can afford to do so and not have to wait for August's pay.

DD grew about half an inch this month. Goodness knows how tall she will be in several. And her feet? <shudder>

If you want to buy pencils, fill your boots.

@Immaterialatthispoint the school year finished 2 weeks ago for us.
not a world wide shortage no but I like to be prepared.
@rainbowandglitter i just order the next size up…it’ll be fine.
@Fridaysgirl17 yay!! Go you!! 💗

My daughter grows like a weed, hasn't made it through a school year without growing out of her shoes at least once, she's 8yo and just moved into size 4 shoes and need 10-11 clothes for height.

I'm waiting till the last minute to buy anything, last time I bought her school shoes at the beginning of the summer holidays she needed new ones by October half term and I'm not doing that again.

What's to sort?

I've bought top-up pencil case items and diaries. That's all I need to get. They don't have uniform, so I replace clothes as and when. School bags and gym bags still in good shape so am about to pack away for the summer. I'll double check indoor shoes the last week of the holidays.

I need to buy a lunchbox, school shoes and socks (what happens to all the socks?) and then I'll be done.

I buy new stuff when it's needed.Not because it is September

DD's at college.
Last year I had to kit her out with overalls, workboots, etc.
This year zero, zilch, nothing to buy at all.

My Primary DD always goes back to school in summer uniform and summer shoes. So I don't get new winter uniform til end of October. I never understand all the queues for school shoes in August when it's still summer. I do plan what she needs over the summer, though. We are in England so don't need to buy any books, stationery or contributions, thank goodness as she has grown out of all her old winter uniform so will need all new. I do always take her to Wilko for a few bits of stationery she can use at home (for homework and otherwise) as our 'back to school' ritual.

@balalake not being smug. June’s pay or August pay…I still have to pay it.
@MrsTerryPratchett my two are fairly predictable slow growers…thank god. But yes I’ll leave the trainers until august

I've come to the conclusion DD eats one of each of her socks as they just disappear!

Some terms have ended, but still, it seems complete madness to be buying so far ahead. What's the rush?

Aldi had it's 'back to school' special leaflets out the other day, and that's in England where it's nearly 3 weeks until they break up, let alone think about going back.

Sounds good then.

And who cares if it's smug? Why can't we congratulate ourselves? If everyone shopped like me the shops would be bedlam in September! Thanks for clearing the way OP!

Tbf, if you can afford to get it all from August's pay, then you're doing pretty well too!

@user29 I’m Ireland we need to buy all of the school books ourselves so I like to get those early and have them sorted.

i do only buy what’s needed though. For example my DS is getting DD’s older jumpers and polos and I’ll buy him new pants.

@UndertheCedartree Ah that’s handy, we don’t have summer uniforms but my dd usually gets 2 years out of her skirts 👍

Just because people might buy things in August, it's not necessarily all from August's pay. Has no-one ever heard of budgeting and putting money aside to cope with peaks and troughs in expenditure?

I’m imaging you are in Scotland or Ireland? In England schools haven’t yet broken up. I need to get new shoes for DD, not much choice in shops yet, she will go back in summer dresses until October half term or when it gets too cool. So no dramas here and she has the whole of the summer ahead of her

Sort of!

Lucked out with being given a bag of hardly worn uniform by a friend who is moving overseas. So nothing to buy except socks.

Had to buy shoes a few weeks ago as DD2’s has holes in the toes. She’s year 8 though so I am not expecting her feet to go up another show size especially as she’s now the same size feet as me and slightly taller height wise.

DD1 is off to 6th form so will be wearing her own clothes next year.