Mum avoids paying £50 for school shoes in September as she makes early start buying uniform & nabs same pair for £18.80
A MUM has shared how she managed to save herself a tonne of cash by getting an early start on the uniform buying ahead of the new school year.
It can cost parents a fortune stocking up on uniform, shirts, bags, stationery and shoes for kids starting back at school in September.
But Sophie revealed she decided to get a head start, and has consequently saved money.
"Trying to be savvy and get a head start on buying school uniform ready for September for my son," she wrote in a post on the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group on Facebook.
"I loved the school shoes he had this year, they have lasted the whole year!"
The shoes in question are the Hush Puppies Levi ones, for which she paid £45 last year.
Read more School stories
When she went on the hunt for the same shoes this time around, she found they are going for £50 on Debenhams.
But with another search, she came across the shoes on the Sainsbury's website for £18.80.
"So naturally I bought 2 pairs!" she added.
Sophie also shared screenshots of the other uniform bits she'd picked up from Sainsbury's - including a two-pack of white polo shirts for £4.80 and two pairs of grey trousers for £5.60.
"Virtually done uniform shopping already!"
Other mums and dads quickly flooded the comments section, with one writing: "I always start now with the uniform shopping!"
As others warned Sophie that she might end up spending even more if her son has a growth spurt before September.
"Oh my, I did this and he grew two sizes before starting school," one admitted.
"Maybe best holding off on the shoes!"
"I try to be this savvy and buy the next size up and then she'll have a growth spurt," another said.
"Over the Christmas break, she went up two shoe sizes. Two!"
To which Sophie replied: "Hoping that doesn’t happen for me.
EXTRA HELP WITH SCHOOL UNIFORM COSTS
IF you can't get targeted help from your council, you might have some other options available to you.
In some areas, you can talk directly to your school, which might be able to offer you clothing.
Or, you might be able to get cheap garments from low-budget shops or charity stores.
Some charities offer help to families in need too.
But bear in mind charities often have a limited amount of money to give and usually have specific criteria which must be met in order to get a grant.
Charity Turn2Us has a free grants search tool on its website which you can use to find out what help is available to you.
Meanwhile, you can always try approaching your nearest Citizens' Advice branch.
If you don't know where your nearest Citizens' Advice branch is, you can find out by visiting www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/nearby/.
If you're not eligible for a school uniform grant you might be able to get help through the Household Support Fund.
"My son's a very slow grower and has been in size 8’s almost a year now so hoping the 9 will be okay come September."
"I never buy new school uniform each year," someone else wrote.
"My kids grow through the year still and ruin so many tops and trousers.
"I just replace when needed - except the jumper and shoes."
"Fair play to those who can do this, but I couldn’t mine all have a growth spurt during the summer holidays," another agreed.
"What I’d buy now probably won’t fit and I certainly couldn’t 'guess' their foot size for September.
Read More on The Sun
"They’d end up either being too big or too small. Lol!"
"My son is tiny and has been in size 8 shoes almost a year now with no sign of needing a bigger size just yet so I’ve bought the next size up too just in case," Sophie responded.