To be amazed that people still haven't bought their school uniform?

[llamajohn]

Kids go back on Tuesday. WhatsApp Group is alive with "argh, I can't find X item" or "where can I get the book bag"?

As if it's been a complete surprise that their child is joining reception and the uniform shops and supermarkets have been closed since June...

Why would you leave it to the last moment?

Genius !!

I have got bits and bobs here and there. It does annoy me though why the supermarkets have the sales BEFORE the holidays start, who wants to think about it then?! Youngest is starting school and is having the eldest's hand me downs but none of it is washed yet. Tbh I have been so busy with summer holidays doing stuff with the kids and then working in between so uniform has not been top priority.

So many replies on this thread are the classic MN "just use your other money".

I know same every year!
Also the inevitable "when do the kids start back" post on school facebook page!
I left buying a school jumper for my DD until last week and thought I was being last minute, but the uniform shop was busy!

I tend to buy stuff at various points through the year. Most of the time they still fit last years for September. If they don’t it’s likely as they had a growth spurt in July/August.

Do you realise some people wouldn't have the money so they delay it till last minute?? Jesus

But like so many of us are saying, not everyone has spare money in July.

The idea of a 31 July ritual is all well and good, but it's just giving it such space in your life. School uniform just isn't a big deal here, it doesn't need to be done a month in advance. I don't do Christmas a month in advance!

Spot on

Tone deaf as OP. As for ‘when do the kids start back?’, maybe people want to be sure, or lost the date or it’s not on the website or they’ve had conflicting dates or the school app isn’t loading or they noted it down incorrectly with the best intentions to be organised or they know the date but aren’t sure of the time or you should maybe not be so smug?

I haven’t got a school age kid yet, but I would imagine that it’s to do with people having to wait for payday. Uniforms can be very expensive, and there is a cost of living crisis going on, plus the summer holidays can be very expensive for people.

@Runnerinthenight I’m only p/t so it’s not a time issue but it would never cross my mind to do it in July. As dc we were often away for most of the summer too so perhaps I just copied my parents example. My dc are all still in primary so not as much branded stuff to get, at secondary I will likely have to get the blazer sorted early but not there yet.
Im tall as is DH & I definitely would grow over the summer, one of my dc is going into yr 3 but still in age 5 shorts as they are lanky, so I tend to buy a range of sizes in bottoms and see what fits. Logo’d tops I size up as they tend to be short in the body.
I think a lot of people focus on summer/summer holidays in July & just don’t want to think about school any earlier then they have too plus some have financial constraints. Also I’m a Londoner & there is normally a lot of people on waiting lists in Aug and lots of movement happens at the end so many can’t buy early anyway.

She does, we do. Unlike on here, the kids around us have always got new school uniform etc to go back in.

I tend to leave it fairly late as children grow over the summer. If you’re organised op, I wouldn’t worry what others are doing.

I didn't have "spare money" either but it had to be bought one way or another.

As for "giving it such space in your life" - that's just silly. It still takes "space in your life" whether you buy it on 31 July or 31 August. Ridiculous! We couldn't buy generic - everything was logo'd - so it just made so much more sense to be a little bit organised and it saved money in the long run too.

I usually start buying for Christmas in the summer. What's wrong with that? I buy things as I see them that I know my kids will like.

Only a 20 mile radius? I’m amazed (like OP levels) that didn’t go for 50.

I ordered ours on 9th July and despite numerous phonecalls it hasn't arrived. It's his last year and he's only in two days a week. The school changed the complete uniform at the end of June and chaos has ensued. He'll be wearing plain trackies till the branded arrive.

She does, we do. Unlike on here, the kids around us have always got new school uniform etc to go back in.

I think that’s a big difference perhaps. My dc wear some new stuff, hand me downs, 2nd hand so I don’t have the need for a load of new stuff at the same time. The 2nd stall at the school fairs are always super busy & no one is judged for it. I get the impression that some think it’s abuse to put your dc in 2nd hand uniform 😆😆

As I said, I can understand extenuating circumstances but I'd have hated to be under pressure at the last minute, and things out of stock.

I remember DD2 around the age of 15 telling me that her PE shirt was too tight. When I checked, it was to fit age 10...!!

@Runnerinthenight 😆

I’ve never not been able to get anything so there’s no pressure & no fear. I got a lot of shirts/polos yesterday in Sainsbury’s whilst doing the weekly shop. I think I need another PE jacket but I will pop into the school shop on the high street this week & it’s still warm here anyway.

Aw that's cute.

My grandparents bought all the uniform that would be needed by my children before they planned to have my parents, so that subsequent generations would have uniform ready and waiting before they or my parents or me or my children were conceived because there were about 67 years to plan for this so personally I just don't understand the lack of organisation. They also meal planned up until 2054.

But I am sure you are trying your best.

Our school shop was only open this last week as office staff were on holiday themselves. Could also be due to finances...

Most people wait in case their kids have a growth spurt, i think?

I ordered the one branded jumper in July it still hasn't come, on the other hand the next order was delivered this morning with everything else. I leave it till the last minute as DS is currently growing like a weed!!

😆

@orangesandlemonssaythebellsofstclements you win 😆😆