LAST year we spent a dizzying £1.7billion on back-to-school buys.
But today I show how you can quickly cut costs with online swaps and other easy-option moves.
Facebook could save funds: The site has loads of groups for parents, many of whom love flogging outgrown or unloved clothing on Facebook Marketplace.
If you can’t find what you are looking for in the listings, it is worth doing a shoutout on one of the groups.
There is bound to be a mother or father with a child in an older year who will be keen to offload their old uniforms.
Worth a second thought: If you are seriously strapped for cash — or your little ones keep shooting up sizes — ask their school if there is anywhere you can buy second-hand uniform at knockdown prices.
Some schooles even sell off stuff from the lost-property collection. Many items will have plenty of wear left in them. Give them a quick wash and you are good to go.
Help yourself and others: Many charity shops will have built up a rail of uniform items throughout the year and will now have it out on sale. My local shop has a uniform rail at just 50p an item.
Also, do check out Oxfam’s online store. It currently has Marks & Spencer trousers starting from as little as £2.99
Take it for granted: Applications for the school uniform grant are still open in some places. If your application is successful, you could get up to £150 to help cover the cost of the kids’ uniforms.
Children who are eligible for free school meals will often be eligible for uniform help too but this depends on your local council’s offerings.
Find out if the grant is available in your area and if you are eligible at gov.uk/help-school-clothing-costs.
- PRICES are correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers are subject to availability.
Deal of the day
GET 20 per cent off barbecues at wilko.com in time for the Bank Holiday. I like this Charles Bentley gas-burner BBQ for £240, down from £300.
SAVE: £60
Cheap treat
TREAT yourself to a zesty, orange- flavoured Toblerone, now on offer for £4 at Tesco, down from £4.50.
SAVE: 50p
Top swap
THIS large oak salad bowl, above, is £45 at John Lewis. Save on your salad with this similar one, below, just £10 at dunelm.com.
SAVE: £35
My Sun Savers fiver
FRANCIS QUITHER from Bellshill, North Lanarks, says: “I used my Sun Savers fivers to buy us a floor-cleaning robot.”
- Send your Savers fiver stories to sunsavers.co.uk/fivers and get 28 codes, worth £5, if yours is used here. Please include your name and town.
Shop & save
THE 800w Breville microwave is on sale at therange.com. Now £49.99, down from £79.99.
SAVE: £30
