The cost of kitting out the kids ready for the new school term can soon mount up, especially uniforms for growing children, plus don’t forget the PE kits and school trips. So here are our tips for keeping the cost under control:

• Budget. Work out how much you might need for school uniforms this year, don’t forget sports equipment and coats. Is your child having a growth spurt and likely to grow out of their shoes and clothes soon? Some kids are just hard-wearing and need replacements more frequently.
• Change when they get home. Keep the uniform for school only so it doesn’t get so worn out.
• Supermarket trousers, shirts and skirts can be good value.
• Secondhand is OK. Ask if your school sells secondhand school blazers and other uniform items.
• Ask your friends. Do your friends have uniform their kids have grown out of already?
• Spend more. We don’t often suggest this, but sometimes spending a bit more on good quality, durable shoes may be better value than cheap shoes that wear out and need replacing frequently.
• Oversize. Buy the next size up, particularly blazers which can be more expensive – they will soon grow into it!
• Check price per item – sometimes multipack items of shirts, polo shirts aren’t cheaper. Also, do you need that many items?
• Cool is not cool. Wearing the most expensive trainers for school isn’t necessary. Keep your best trainers for wearing outside of school.
• Grants, awards and funding – there isn’t often financial help to buy school uniform, but it is worth checking what is available in your area, particularly if you claim benefits or have a low household income.
• Benefits checker – Are you claiming all the benefits you could be entitled to? Even if you are earning, financial support may be avaiable to support your household living expenses. See our Benefits Calculator

How Derbyshire Community Bank can help

• Open a School Uniform Saver account to save regulary towards your uniform costs
• Subscribe to our newsletters – we will let you know when the uniform sales start or any special offers we think would help you
• Christmas Saver – save regularly for the Christmas season, withdraw from 1st October – 31st January
• Goal Saver – Choose your own savings goals
• Loan from DCBank could help spread the cost of school uniforms this year. Don’t forget, you can use Child Benefit to repay your loan and keep saving.