It can be incredibly hard to stay in control of family life when you’re a mum. Keeping everyone on track, organising everything you can and being there no matter what can be a real juggle. When it comes to school, it’s your responsibility to ensure that the kids are all dressed in clean and neat uniforms, while it’s also up to you to attend the various events, parent’s evenings and performances that your children will inevitably invite you to throughout the school year. Throw more than one child into the mix and you can see why mums are so busy all the time!
One thing that you don’t have to worry too much about though, is buying their school uniforms. It can seem like a minefield when you have to consider colours, sizes, various stores and various styles, but it doesn’t have to be that difficult if you don’t want it to be. After all, we love the simple life and if we can make certain things easier, then that’s even better!
Check the list
Every school should provide you with a list of must-haves. Sometimes, you will have to use official suppliers so that the school’s logo is on the uniform, but most schools give you the option to buy generic uniform alternatives instead, which are often much cheaper. When it comes to trousers, skirts and school shoes, you don’t have to worry about spending a fortune on each item. George’s school shoes, for example, are just as good and of high quality, without having to fork out £30+ for each pair you buy.
Shop around
You may be busy, but it does pay to shop around. Take the opportunity one evening to browse the various online stores to see where you will get the best value for money.
Start early
The last thing you need is to be shopping last minute, only to find some of things you want aren’t in stock. About a month in advance is advisable, because there’ll be less chance of a growth spurt. You can always add to their uniform throughout the year, anyway.
Decide how much you need
It’s up to you how much of each item you buy. It’s a bit of a toss up between budget and laundry. If you don’t do many washes a week, you may wish to stock up on more of the same items so that you don’t have to battle with a washing machine every day.
Label, label, label!
Don’t forget to label everything so that things don’t go missing. And yes, we mean everything. You can get iron-on labels at a reasonable price online, so that you don’t have to rummage through lost property boxes all the time. Remember that if you’re a little thrifty and you’re planning to hand down uniforms to younger siblings, just add the surname to the label (as long as your surname is unique enough, anyway!)
Whether your kids are going off to school for the first time and you wave goodbye with a tear in your eye, or they’re moving into a different year group, buying their school uniform doesn’t have to be a chore; neither does it need to cost an arm and a leg! Be savvy with your buys and you’ll be able to tick this chore off your to-do list in no time.
Disclosure: This is a collaboration post.