How to save money on school uniform

Shopping for school uniform doesn’t have to break the bank. From supermarket savings to uniform swaps, and even grants, there are a few ways to save money on back-to-school clothes.

The best place to buy affordable school uniform all year round is…

George at Asda, according to Money Magpie. You can often find multipacks there for polo shirts, trousers, sweatshirts, pinafores, skirts, PE kit, coats, and school shoes.

They also recommended Sainsbury’s, as the supermarket has kept their school uniform prices the same for the fourth year in a row.

But if you need to do a big school uniform shop for multiple children, Matalan has the best discounted prices.

Have uniform that’s too good to waste?

Uniform swaps are not just great for finding school uniform, but for getting rid of uniform that your little ones may have grown out of, but is too good to throw out.

Some local school uniform swaps include:

• Caerphilly Uniform Exchange
• A Better Fit – School uniform exchange in Cardiff

Vale of Glamorgan council maintains a list of schools that do uniform swaps that you can find here.

You can also apply for a School Essentials Grant

Families with children in reception to year 11 on lower incomes and who get certain benefits can apply for Welsh Government’s School Essentials Grant.

With the grant, you can either receive:

• £125 per child and extra funding for your school
• £200 for children entering year 7 and extra funding for your school.

This grant can help cover the cost of school uniform (including coats and shoes), and much more.

You can find out more information here.