THE NEW academic year is an expensive time for many cash-strapped households.
With books, clothes, footwear and bags to snap up – just to name a few – it can be quite frustrating to see your little one come home with scuffed shoes and ripped trousers.
Luckily, an expert has come to rescue just in time, sharing simple tips and tricks that will prolong the life of your child’s school uniform, The Mirror reported.
Whether the kids have been enjoying themselves in the playground or have suddenly grown more than you had expected, Lacey Roebuck, Commercial Manager at Sports Direct, knows the importance of getting value for money – and kitting the little ones out is no exception.
According to the store’s research, Lacey revealed, the top five items replaced the most frequently are shirts and polos (33%); trousers or shorts (29%); socks or tights (25%); school shoes (25%); and dresses and skirts (15%).
Meanwhile, the top five items repaired the most are: trousers or shorts (27%); shirts or polos (17%); jumpers or cardigans (15%); school shoes (12%); and blazers or smart jackets (12%).
Fusible interfacing is a trick used in sewing and is a purse-friendly way of reinforcing high-wear areas in uniform.
The best part, it’s easy to install too and will set you back a mere £2.50 per roll.
“The best way to use it is to start by laying out all items of clothing you want to reinforce before the term starts, such as trousers, jumpers, cardigans, and shirts,” Lacey explained.
“Measure and cut square pieces of the iron-on material, and attach them to the inside of any knees, elbows, or hems.
”This will help to prevent tears and extend the garment’s life.”
Next time you’re plucking your brows don’t put the tweezers back in your make-up bag – turns out, this beauty essential works wonders for footwear too.
According to the pro, a pair of ”tweezers will be your best friend when it comes to school shoes or trainers”.
“A lot of these items will have touch strap fasteners and as a result of its sticky nature, they can quickly become home to hair, dust, and thread, impacting their ability to stay put.”
Lacey also noted that spending just 10 minutes every few weeks picking the dirt out will extend the life of the shoes considerably – and you can even do this with lunch bags with the same material.
IF you are struggling to afford the cost of school uniform or PE kit, you may be able to apply for a grant from your local council - but the criteria vary from council to council.
This is usually in the form of a one-off payment paid directly into your bank account. Some councils will reimburse payments made to approved retailers.
You can ask your local council what help is available and when you need to apply.
If you can’t get targeted help from your council, there are other options to get cheap uniform.
Speak to your school to see if they can offer you some clothing.
Some charities offer help to families in need too. Charity Turn2Us has a free grants search tool on its website which you can use to find out what help is available to you.
Charity shops can also be a good place to find cheap school uniform.
Meanwhile, fabric protector will “save the day” if the little one is prone to staining the garments, Lacey explained.
The key, she added, ”is to start using this before they return to the classroom and remain consistent”.
The guru instructed to spray each item prior to the first wear and then continue the process after every few washes.
”It will help stains from setting in and will make any spillages easier to clean when they get home.”
Another simple, yet effective trick is buying uniforms that are a size above the usual one – and installing metal poppers will allow you adjust the hem as the kid grows.
This nifty hack ”works best on items such as trousers or shorts and dresses or skirts where the length can easily be altered”.
You can order metal poppers from Temu for as little as £2 for a 100-pack – working out just 2p per popper.
