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??

Colouring pencils will go down in price if you wait until shops start their back to school promotions.

I bought uniform when M&S did their 15% off uniform event.

I bought shoes last minute like everyone else because you don't know if they'll grow. We'd go to John Lewis for when it opened. We used to book a shoe appointment with Clark's but had bad experience with them so swapped.

Good point!

This is the first year we've resolved to buy nothing except some bics and paper. Last few years we bought everything the school wanted - this is in France where you buy everything on a loooong long long list - and most of it is unused or reusable.

So next year my kids will be the ones without some weird ruler thingy at 20 EUR and no-one will care

I buy books as early as possible and uniform and shoes as late as possible. I stock up on stationery throughout the year when it’s cheaper.

Ive ordered pe kit, jumpers and book bag as thats the stuff with the school logo on, everything else il try hold out another month.
Although i already have shoes as he needed some smart ones for a wedding a few months back so brought some school shoes in the size up so theyl be perfect for sept.
Im excited and anxious as its all a new experience. My other half laughed at me when i said it was ordered saying what do i thinks going to happen, shops arent going to run out. But you never know

I got bits in the M&S uniform discount: everything else will get over the summer. It shoes I worry about she has very wide feet so trying to buy shoes and what’s available means I do have to buy them earlier and hope her feet don’t grow too much!!

No. I paid 500euro for the school bus at the start of the month because that and a laptop are my biggest cost then the government announced that the school buses are free this year which is great but god knows when I will get a refund on that. So I had good intentions but instead have just tied up 500euro for no reason. I have a laptop, repair on my other child's laptop, about 400euro of book rental/school fees to pay for, a trip to the Gaeltacht for my 1st year for 'bonding' which is 80euro, school uniforms because one is just starting and the other is growing like a weed, shoes, masses of hardback notebooks and stationery to buy. That's before they go back and the I need a tenner for this and twenty for that starts. I'm feeling more than a bit stressed about back-to-school costs this year, primary was a doddle compared to secondary.

One of them will definitely grow a load just to spite you!

DD starts reception this year. I'm the most organised I've ever been. Just need shoes, pe trainers & pe bag.
But miffed that I paid full price in m&s before 20% discount BUT it is all done.
Eldest wants to swap school for yr11 - if that happens it'll be an expensive panic

Blimey. So sour.

@randomsabreuse the chances are fairly slim but failing that, I have ordered everything online so I can send them back 👍🤣
@Choopi that’s a lot! I’m dreading secondary school 😭

I wouldn’t dare! My two will grow like weeds over the summer.

I have booked the shoe fitting appointment for the third week in August. That’s it so far

Got shirts, skirts, trousers, bags and started stocking up on pens etc. Shoes, trainers and blazers will be later. It's a predictably expensive time of year, alongside the day trips and holidays. My DC are older and the bigger sizes sell out quickly in M&S and Asda.

I have bought all the uniform except shoes. I have 7dc at school (or 6 at school and one about to start) so would have to be organised. Shoes will be bought near the end of the summer holidays. Stationary will be done at some point in the holidays, the kids like to choose their own stuff.

That's what I thought. I used to buy stuff as it was needed (generic uniform so available year round) and things like crayons, water bottle, school bag lasted his whole school life!!

@starfishmummy yes I definitely don’t buy a new school bag or lunchbox every year. I try to keep waste to a minimum. I’m in Ireland though where we need to buy all the school books and stationery ourselves

Why? Urgh smug organised boasting, can’t bear it.

I always get the uniform we will need in June/July. Then it spreads out the cost of replacing shoes which I do late august.

Also I like to buy from Asda for most uniform and I find they sell out really quick once the holiday starts.

Sorry I mean shoes will be about £100 and I spend about £100 on clothes too so it means I don’t have to buy it all in one go.

I’ll wait till the end of August, see what DC can manage with and panic by the rest, as usual. I’m hoping all his branded stuff is good to go again.

All the new uniform stuff I need has arrived today and I've the books and copies ordered from a local bookshop which should be ready for collection tomorrow so then just all the other stationary will be needed. No one needs new bags this year and I always send them back in whatever runners they were wearing during the holidays and get something heavier in a month or so.

@Glitterspy what is wrong with being delighted about being organised!!??…Jesus wept. Does every post on Mumsnet need to a moan or a vent? Nothing wrong with being happy and positive.

What's to sort?

That's what I was thinking, I normally just do a john lewis shop, Clark's & Whsmith visit the weekend before.

The only thing DS needs will be new winter school shoes, and I will buy those in October so his sweaty feet don't destroy them in the warm weather. He can wear his school sandals in September, so there's nothing to buy now.

And I'll pick up some second hand stuff at the summer fair