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?

Another example of using the wrong word. You're really not amazed, slightly surprised perhaps - that's down to your lack of awareness however, not anyone else's failings.

Wow - you come across very judgey, OP.

You must have a very narrow life to feel the need to post this.

I agree it's crazy to buy that early on at full price (unless it is on track to be one of the 'must have' sell-out toys of the year), but I've found the Black Friday sales aren't always the cheapest either. There are often better discounts in the early bird sales some shops have around September. I usually have most presents bought by October half term for this reason, leaving a little bit of budget for last minute requests/new interests.
Lego is a great example of this. At certain points throughout the year there can be 30-40% off. The Black Friday and similar multi-retailer sales periods will often only have 20-25% off.

No they put price up in October to slash them for Black Friday. I was a sad arse and kept a spreadsheet of gifts I wanted for my daughter to see.

Sorry that's mine 😂

I co-parent because my DD is a LP and my GC have health issues/disabilities. It's sad that so many on here don't have invested parents and GPs. As MC as this site is, it is also full of anxiety and highly dysfunctional families.

But what's the issue with the old back pack ? If the back pack is in goodm condition then no need for a new one ? Not everything has to be bough new every year

People’s lives are busy, they don’t always have the money, the date sneaks up on them etc, not everyone is a huge pre-planner either. I personally had it all sorted at the start of summer but that’s because I knew it would be a nightmare finding stuff last minute. Each to their own though and no judgement here.

Dss goes back Wednesday. Got back from holiday today. Getting uniform tomorrow.
if shops have any left

That.

op, it sounds like you want people to look bad because they couldn’t achieve what I can only assume you did.

Acting like that will generate fury and kickback at the first opportunity. I hope you are wiser and kinder in real life. Indeed, if you are very smart, you should be humble. If you have the means, noone needs to know. If you see a fellow mother falling short, lend a hand, it might come back saving you later.

good luck 🌺

@SkankingWombat yes I do the same. Literally buy in September and October all the important ones I can’t « not have » then leave it as last minute as possible for all the rest the great offers as long as it has the prime or fast delivery service…then I pray 🤣🤣🤣

I do the same with the food reservation. Early birds or be hungry 🎅🎅🎅

MasterBeth You're not. You've got a potty mouth.

Just jealous as I'd like to be perfect too.

I buy my kids uniform the week before as their known to grow over the summer and I cba with returning and rebuying

Winds me up when everything is out of stock by end Aug / beginning Sept payday. End July / beginning Aug wage is for the extra food we have to buy. (Never mind a holiday what's one of those?)

So sorry to disappoint your expectations, what with being poor and all that.

10/10 for snootiness OP.

I wanted to wait to make sure my teenager got the grades to return to do A Levels

My DD has been working in a school uniform shop for a summer job , today was the busiest day of the year , schools go back tomorrow around here - I couldn’t believe people would leave it so late - they have barely any stock left and had lots of angry customers, but I can’t help thinking, what did they expect?

Every year it depends on my finances. If I've got spare money, I'll spend it when M&S do their 20% off before the kids break up, but this year I had to try and sell the old uniform to pay for the new one (self-employed, either feast or famine sometimes). She goes back tomorrow, we finished the stationery-buying today. I used to work in Clarks, most people bought school shoes in Mid-Aug, when we go back in the first or second week of Sep here, but you always had a lot of people the day before schools start. Also I'm ADHD, so planning and organising goes to pot a bit sometimes 😂

Eldest DS moved out first two weeks of the hols. Then we went camping. Then decorated a room, then holiday.
Last minute school uniform shopping this week, guilty as charged!

Everyone is different I guess. Although I am in your camp even though my really tall children grow so fast 😂

Judgy much? Maybe just help if you can, and butt out if you can’t.

Bad mum here who left it till last minute......can't find age 6/7 black joggers for pe anywhere, and my 15yo is going back to school in leggings as no black pleated skirts available online or any supermarket locally 🤣🤦‍♀️

@Horsemum40 next have black joggers in stock.

My kids grow 2 sizes in summer holidays

Ha ha I am one of those people! To be honest summer is so busy for us - couple of holidays abroad, 2 breaks in this country, little bonus trip to a theme park today. Don’t understand the stress of “school uniform” - we grabbed new shoes for one of my 3 boys last week when on a day out and I did a M&S school shop which I picked up this morning.

I think at the start of summer holidays it seems like such a crazy long time until they go back that I’m not surprised people leave it / forget about it

H&M had loads of black joggers in that size