KIDS are forcing up back-to-school costs by pressuring parents into buying them designer gear.
As well as trendy jackets and shoes, they are also demanding flash gadgets and stationery, according to retail analyst Mintel.
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Back-to-school spending rose from £855million in 2017 to £1.2billion last year – a leap of 36 per cent.
Average uniform costs per family have risen to £134, while computing equipment sets each family back £220.
Mintel’s Samantha Dover says: “There has always been an appetite for branded products when buying things such as trainers, bags and coats, which often aren’t part of the traditional uniform.
“This pressure is moving into categories such as computing equipment and stationery.”
Today, Mr Money looks at the best deals ahead of the new term.
UNIFORM
DISCOUNTERS Aldi and Lidl offer the cheapest full uniform on the market at £4.50.
The set includes two polo shirts for £1.75, a £1 sweatshirt and either a pair of trousers or a skirt for £1.75. Uniforms are no longer available online, but check in stores.
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Asda comes in next for best value. Trousers start at £3.50 and a five-pack of boys’ short-sleeve polo shirts is £6.
For girls, a two-pack of blouses is £3.50 and a cardigan two-pack is £4. There is a wide range of skirt styles to choose from including pleated, pencil, A-line and tulip.
Sainsbury’s has 25 per cent off TU clothes which includes school uniform. A two-pack of skirts with permanent pleats is £5.25, down from £7, and a jersey pinafore two-pack is £6, was £8. Girl’s woven trousers are now £4.50 for two from £6. The sale ends tomorrow.
Matalan is also doing some good bundles, including two gingham dresses for a tenner and a twinset of grey zip pinafores costing £10.
You can save even more money on school uniforms by getting £15 cashback when you spend £15 or more online at Matalan. Sign up to Quidco or TopCashback to get it.
SHOES
SMART school shoes at George by Asda start from £5 for black strap-up and bow trim ballerina shoes.
Its leather boys’ shoes with padded insoles, below, are £15.
M&S’s “riptape” styles – price £32 to £36 – look like trainers but are sensible enough for school. Sports Direct has Kangol girls’ shoes at £16.
Clarks’ website is discounting school shoes from £34 to £23.80 while ShoeZone has 20 per cent off selected school shoes online.
Deichmann is offering buy one pair, get another pair half price on all school shoes from toddler to teens.
EXTRAS
KIDS normally want new stationery to start the term with but the fancy branded items from High Street stationers can add up in price.
Try supermarkets and pound shops. You can get cheap erasers from as little as 80p at Asda, for example, while ring binders cost just £1.49 at B&M.
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School bags need only cost a few quid. The basic Airwalk Essentials backpack is just £3.99 at Sports Direct and comes in different colours, including black if that’s a school requirement.
For younger kids, a Paw Patrol bag is £9.95 from Amazon, while a book bag costs just £7.29 on the site.
B&M has kids’ lunchboxes for £3.99, including My Little Pony and Disney ones which come with bottle holders.
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GENERAL TIPS
BUY online and get cashback. Quidco is offering 12 per cent cashback on all purchases from The Works, ten per cent off from Waterstones and six per cent at Paperchase.
Codes.co.uk has a buy-one-get-50-per-cent-off deal on some school uniforms at Debenhams, or up to 60 per cent off school sale items at Kickers.
If you’re on a low income you may be able to get financial support from your school or council.
Buy a uniform a size larger than needed so your children get extra wear out of it.
For school-specific items that have to be bought from suppliers, look on Facebook for local swapping groups.
Don’t buy stationery unless it’s really needed – check what’s stashed away first.
