DIY dye to lost property: Instagram Mum releases six ways to avoid buying new school uniform amidst the cost of living crisis

Kids returning back to school can raise a sigh of relief for many parents who have been orchestrating childcare and spending more than usual during the summer months. But it’s no secret that going back to school can be expensive.

It’s hard to turn your head in any leading supermarket without being bombarded with “back-to-school” adverts and products. Parents often feel the pressure to splash on a new pencil case, lunch box, or most typically school uniform, when in reality opting to make do with what you have can save you a considerable amount and is much more sustainable.

To help parents save some extra cash on school uniforms amidst the cost of living crisis, Little-Loans.com has partnered with Instagram Mum, Emma Stretton, to share her top saving hacks.

Emma (@emma.wears.it.all) is a mum-of-two and savvy-saver living in Manchester. Here are Emma’s six tried and tested tips on how she avoids buying a new school uniform for her two little boys.

1. Don’t panic!

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed but the back-to-school deals always start way too soon. Lots of high street stores do 20% off uniforms well before I can be bothered to think about it. It puts pressure on parents to buy something they might not even need.”

“To avoid panic buying, at the end of the summer holidays do a quick audit of what you have left and write down any gaps. I usually wait until the end of summer because that way I know if the kids have grown and do actually need some new stuff or if there is still some wear in what we have. You don’t have to buy a new uniform; it’s not a rule!”

2. Make whites, white

“It’s inevitable that school t-shirts will end up with marker pen on them or have gone a bit grey. You can try to remove any stubborn marks with nail varnish remover or even WD40 (it also gets paint out of carpet) and then give them a good soak in some Vanish and leave them to dry in the sun. Also, it’s going to get cold soon and T-shirts are hidden under jumpers anyway, they don’t need to be pristine.”

3. Lost property

“On the last day of every school year, our school has a big lost property clear out where parents can look for anything their kids have lost, or just grab a few extras. There’s absolutely no shame in it and lots of parents, myself included, take away a couple of unclaimed jumpers. Anything left goes into a sale at the Christmas Fair and the money goes to the PTA. So if you can wait a few months, you can get a bargain. Definitely find out if your school does the same or why not suggest it if they don’t?” 

4. Bottoms up

“With two boys, my biggest problem is battered knees. With a bit of Wonderweb you can easily turn trousers into shorts which should do for the first few weeks back at least. You could also use a needle and thread if you have the skills. I always forget about boys’ trousers being adjustable, so remember that you can move that little button to make them bigger if they’ve grown a bit.”

5. DIY dye

“If school jumpers are looking a bit tired, you can easily dye them back to their original colour with some Dylon. Shove them all in the washing machine with a Dylon capsule and they come out looking as good as new. There might still be the odd pen stain but, honestly, no one is judging you because your kids have a tiny mark on their sweatshirt so cut yourself some slack and do some DIY.”

6. Size up

“If you absolutely have to buy a new uniform, always size up. Our parents did it to us and it’s a rite of passage, plus kids look cute in oversized stuff. They are only going to grow, not shrink, so buying a bigger size is a good investment and then using some of the ideas above, they should hopefully last you a couple of years.”

Commenting on the tips, Little-Loans.com‘s Personal Finance Expert, Dan Whittaker, said:

“As summer draws to a close, parents may find themselves low on funds after childcare, summer activities and perhaps even a family holiday. With the ongoing cost of living crisis added into the mix, paying for a new school uniform for the kids is likely the last thing many parents need.”

“Emma’s tips are testament to the fact that there’s no harm in making do with what you’ve got. You don’t have to be a DIY expert or invest in high-end products to give your child’s uniform a new lease of life!”

“We know that parents already have enough to worry about with kids going back to school, and school uniform payments shouldn’t have to be one of them.”

These influencer savings tips have been created in partnership with Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) authorised and regulated credit broker Little-Loans.com