Top of the Class
The Irish Mail on Sunday’s financial columnist Bill Tyson shares his top money-saving tips on getting the most from your school uniform
We’ve had a fabulous summer. But now it’s time to think about the autumn – and getting our children ready for school.
Pupils won’t be too happy about being classroom-bound after all the sunshine. And parents won’t be over the moon either about looming backto-school bills.
The total cost of getting your child ready for school – including books, uniforms and other expenses – tots up to princely €999 at primary level and €1,379 for secondary students, according to the new 2018 survey by the Irish League of Credit Unions.
The overall tally has fallen slightly compared to last year, but it’s still a pretty onerous burden.
Books are the priciest back-toschool item for secondary students, costing parents €200 this year. But school uniforms are not far behind with a €179 price tag, according to the credit union survey.
Proponents say school uniforms save money and hassle. You have to buy clothes for your kids anyway and uniforms can be surprisingly cheap. Uniforms also help avoid fights with style-conscious teenagers about what clothes to buy – and what they have to wear every morning.
Nor will parents feel pressurised by into splashing out stylish clothes so teenagers can compete with each other in the fashion stakes.
They are also said to foster a sense of equality, belonging and team spirit at school.
Critics, on the other hand, (with teenagers among the most vocal!) say uniforms promote conformity and stifle self-expression. And if the local school requires that certain suppliers are used, and these are expensive, the cost may be higher than with generic uniforms, which can be bought from a variety of stores.
The issue is a hot topic, with Education Minister Richard Bruton issuing a circular to schools last year urging them to keep costs down.
But what else can we do to ease those back-to-school financial blues?
Here are ten top tips 1 Buy generic items where possible
Minister Bruton stopped short of requiring all schools to allow generic uniforms. Diplomatically, he said every school should be allowed to make its own choice. But if you feel generic uniforms should be allowed to ease the financial burden on parents, you can have your say by talking to the school representatives or parent bodies.
The minister’s circular does require schools to do ‘everything possible’ to keep costs down, including using generic items such as sewon crests.
Even if your school has a nongeneric policy for some parts of the uniform, there are always elements which can be bought elsewhere. So shop around for the best prices where you can.
2 Go for quality as well as price
There are great bargains on generic uniforms out there but also be aware of quality. Is the material of sufficient thickness and durability to get through the school year?
3 Special features
Another thing to watch out for are special features that improve wearability such as stain resistant fabric. That way your little darling – otherwise known as ‘muck-magnet’ – can be cleaned up in no time.
4 Expand your options
Your kids are growing all the time. So expandable waistbands and hems that can be let down may come in very handy towards the end of the school year. You don’t want to have to splash out on two sets of uniforms in one year if your little girl or boy suddenly blossoms into a lanky teenager.
5 Buy in bulk
As with everything else, you can get a better deal if you buy in bulk. There are usually good deals to snap up around this time of year on multi-pack uniforms that you won’t find later in the year. This will save you time and hassle later on in the year.
6 Don’t skimp on shoes
Shoes are expensive and are in the front line in the war of attrition that is the life of a child. They can take a lot of punishment, especially from some boys, who seem to have an irresistible urge not only to kick footballs, but every other small object they see as well. Good-quality shoes, especially those with anti-scuff coatings, are a worthwhile investment.
7 Labelling
Parents may remember the 1990s pop song, Where’s Me
Jumper?, by Cork band The Sultans of Ping. It struck a chord because losing stuff is a classic teenage headache. But the distraught sultan might have got his jumper back more easily if he’d stuck a label on it. You might have a battle on your hands labelling the attire of a self-conscious teen, but the threat of doing so might make them more careful about minding their duds.
Put your mobile number on the label rather than the child’s.
8 Go a size bigger
It’s easy to forget just how much teenagers can shoot up. If you don’t want to buy more than one set of uniforms every year, follow the ‘one size up’ rule to allow ample room for sprouting.
9 Get a grant
If you’re finding it hard to meet back-to-school bills and expenses, you may qualify for State help. This year €50m is being made available to hard-pressed parents through the Back to School Clothing and Footwear scheme. This provides €125 for children aged four to 11 and €250 for those aged 12 and over.
To qualify, you must be getting certain social welfare payments or taking part in training, employment or adult education. Your total household income must also be below a certain limit.
You can get an application form at your local Intreo Centre, by texting FORM BSCFA followed by your name and address to 51909, by emailing bscfa@welfare.ie, or by downloading a form at www.welfare. ie/backtoschool.
The closing date for the scheme is September 30.
10 Hand-me-downs can be handy
It’s hard enough sometimes to get teenagers to cheerfully wear any sort of uniform, let alone a second-hand one. But hand-me-downs are always an option for hard-pressed parents.
Blazers, in particular, are a priceythough-hardy item of apparel that may not be worn that much and are worth sourcing from parents of older pupils.