How to save money on school uniforms & other essentials

Families have been hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis and many are still feeling the impact of rising living costs, despite inflation rates coming down in recent months.

With this in mind, we’ve put together some money saving information and tips to help you lower your outgoings.

School uniforms

If you have school-age children, you know that school uniforms are a big expense, but there are a variety of ways that you may be able to reduce costs.

See if your school runs a uniform giveaway and swap shop.
Check parent Facebook and WhatsApp groups for second hand or unworn school uniforms.
Find out if your school has information on local uniform banks. The Fashion & Textile Children’s Trust has a school uniform bank directory for parents to source pre-loved school uniforms locally.
Try online uniform marketplace, www.uniformley.co.uk, where parents, and parent and teacher associations (PTAs) buy, sell, give away and recycle school uniforms.
Habinteg’s Tenant Support Fund is a pot of money that tenants in financial hardship can apply to for help with buying school uniforms and school shoes. Please speak to your Neighbourhood Team for more information.

Cheap or free food

Most towns and villages have a community fridge or food bank where you can access free or low-cost food items. Food bank charity Trussel Trust has an online listing where you can type in your postcode to find your local food bank.

MoneySavingExpert also has information that could support you to prepare a nutritious meal with a list of five cheap vegetable deals, including Sainsbury’s £2 fruit and a vegetable box.

You can save on food costs and reduce food waste by buying wonky fruit (strangely shaped unwanted fruit and vegetables). Wonky Veg Boxes offer fruit, vegetable, and bread and eggs at low prices. A basic bag of vegetables, for example is £3.60.

Batch cooking multiple meals is also an economical way to cook, as you save on energy costs by not cooking individual meals. The BBC Good Food website has a list of delicious batch cooking recipes.

Tax-free childcare

The Government offers a tax-free childcare scheme where you can get £500 every three months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare.

This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if you have a disabled child (up to £4,000 a year).

If you qualify for tax-free childcare, you’ll need to set up an online childcare account. For every £8 you pay into this account, the Government will pay in £2 for you to pay your childcare provider.

You can use it to pay for approved childcare, such as childminders, nurseries and nannies as well as after school clubs and play schemes.

Your childcare provider must be signed up to the scheme before you can benefit from the funds, so check with them first.