Smile! See them off in style that’ll last
That pristine firstday look needn’t be a one-off. Shops are full of hardwearing, affordable items that’ll withstand the rigours of the playground and washing machine! Shop wisely now and save, with our top buying tips...
• Buy only what you absolutely have to from the shop recommended by the school – there are so many money-saving offers out there.
• Ask other parents what items get most use and invest in quality. For everything else, buy as cheaply as you can.
• Shop for adjustable waists, and trousers and skirts with large hems that can be letdown when they grow.
• Spend a little extra on easy-iron shirts and skirts with built-in creases and you’ll save yourself a headache when ironing. Increasingly, shops are investing in affordable, hi-tech fabrics to make life easier.
• Stain-repellent fabrics and reinforced trouser knees also help keep rebuying costs down, F&F @ Tesco lead the way here.
• If you can, choose dark colours to extend days between washes.
• Stock up on multipacks of polo shirts and socks whenever you see offers… kids are as forgetful as they are messy.
• Older children will appreciate fashion forward slim-cut skirts and trousers with slim-legs, let them choose and save yourself a painful return shopping trip.
• Look for shoes with whiff-beating linings (see F&F@Tesco & M&S) and save money on insoles later. Grim, but true.
• Put name labels and indelible markers on your list to reduce the chance of that winter coat going walkies!
• Now all that’s left is to clear space on your phone for those first day memories...