How To Find Affordable School Uniforms For Next School Year

Whenever the school year is fast approaching, there are usually a lot of expenses that you need to consider. Aside from the tuition, you also need to pay for miscellaneous items such as books, school supplies, and uniforms. If you’re a thrifty mom, you want to save on these items as much as possible since you won’t be using them anymore once school is finished, especially with school uniforms where children usually grow out of them faster.

You have two choices when looking for affordable school uniforms: either you purchase used or new ones. The former will give you the most savings, but you have to be keen in terms of its condition. You also have to be wise when buying new uniforms and check the price and quality.

Buying secondhand uniforms

1. Check out a thrift store

Wise mothers love going to thrift stores because there are a lot of good deals available without spending too much. With a wide selection of kids clothes available in stores, there’s a high possibility that they have school uniforms. The price can be as much as half of a new uniform so buying uniforms in thrift stores is a great option, especially if you’re on a tight budget.

Another good thing about buying in thrift stores is that you’re also helping others. A portion of the profit generated in thrift stores usually goes to humanitarian projects in your local community.

2. Ask fellow mothers

Another option in finding school uniforms for your children is to ask fellow mothers if they still have their children’s old school uniforms. Especially if their children are older than yours and went to the same school as your children, you can ask if they’re willing to sell the older uniforms.

You can also participate in a uniform swap if the school has one. Usually, mothers would donate their children’s old school uniforms to families working on a tight budget. You’ll never know, but you might end up spending nothing when you choose this option.

3. Check online buy-and-sell websites

There are a lot of websites where you can look for pre-owned school uniforms that are up for sale. You can check Craigslist and Oodle for postings of used school uniforms. However, there are two things to remember: timing and condition. Best time to check for postings is a few months before the school year starts. You also need to check the condition of the clothes by inspecting the pictures carefully.

In general, if you’re choosing pre-owned school uniforms to buy for the next school year, you need to check the condition of the items. If the clothes are still good as new, then that’s a good deal. However, if the items are worn out and stained, it might be better if you opt for a new one instead.

Buying new school uniforms

1. Look in department stores

If the school is not strict on uniform requirements, you can check department stores since they usually carry these items, especially a few months before the school year starts. This is most likely cheaper than getting school uniforms from the school itself.

To get more savings, you can purchase these if the store goes on sale. Also, clothes are usually much cheaper when it’s bought off-season. For example, school uniforms will be tagged with regular prices from June to July, but if you want to save some money, you can buy them during the January to February range since it’s off-season, wherein they are most likely cheaper during these times. You can also check for discounts or coupons that you can use.

2. Check online stores

You can also shop for school uniforms in online websites such as eBay and Amazon. The good thing about online sites is that they offer bulk purchases, and these usually come out cheaper. So for undershirts and plain school uniform tops, buying in online stores will be advantageous.

However, before proceeding to checkout, you have to browse the product reviews first if the items are in good quality, if the fabric is not too thin, etc.

When buying new school uniforms, it’s better if you choose a size that is slightly larger than the current size your child is in. It’s possible that they can use it until the following school year so you don’t have to buy again.

Putting your child to school is very expensive. As much as possible, you might want to cut expenses from miscellaneous items like school uniforms. There are ways to save money on school uniforms, whether you’re planning to purchase pre-owned or new ones. Always keep in mind the quality of these school uniforms regardless of whether they’re brand-new or used.