Over 3 in 4 Welsh parents are feeling the strain of back-to-school shopping

The back-to-school period can be a stressful time for parents and carers, and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis is only adding to this stress. Looking to understand the situation parents face this September, UK affordable footwear retailer, Wynsors, has carried out their annual survey of 1,000 parents to understand exactly how much the cost of school uniform is affecting their finances.

The results do not paint a positive picture for households across Wales:

• Over 3 in 4 parents (79%) in Wales agree that the cost of buying school uniform and supplies puts a strain on their household budget.
• Nearly 3/4 (71%) of parents in Wales feel that the financial pressure on parents has increased over the last 12 months.
• Almost 1 in 2 (44%) parents in Wales do not receive any financial support with the cost of new school uniform, but state they need it.

With 36% of Welsh parents are spending over £200 each year on school uniform, households across the country are having to make cutbacks elsewhere to afford it. Over half of parents (56%) are spending less on new things for themselves (such as clothing) so they can stretch their household budget to cover the cost of buying new school uniform, and 39% only shop at discount supermarkets and shops to do so.

The cost of school uniform has even made it onto the new government’s agenda with King Charles outlining a new bill to help level the playing field for families from different economic backgrounds. In a speech to the new government, King Charles announced legislation aimed at reducing rising costs for parents by limiting the number of branded uniform and PE kit items that schools can require. But does this go far enough? Over half of parents in Wales (54%) agree that abolishing school uniforms altogether would help to save money.

Adam Foster, Retail Director from Wynsors, comments: “As highlighted by the research we commissioned both this year and last, the back-to-school period is a stressful time for parents and things do not appear to be getting any easier on their wallets.

But as the UK’s most affordable family footwear retailer, we want to take the stress out of the shopping experience by making school uniform accessible to all. Our commitment to high quality products for low prices has helped parents over the last 50 years get their kids equipped and ready for school.”

The full study, including more information on parents’ attitudes to school uniform and tips for saving money on the back-to-school shop, can be found on-site here: https://www.wynsors.com/blog/true-cost-of-school-uniform/