My eldest starts school next year so this week I went to a parent orientation night at the school. One of the items on the agenda was uniforms, and they had a small display there. There are two options - you can buy the school uniform from the school or buy standard uniforms from department stores and just buy the logo from the school to sew onto the clothes. Another option would also be that you could make the clothes yourself in the approved colours and put the school logo on.
If I wanted to be really frugal I could have gone with the option of buying cheap imported clothes from a department store or made them myself. However, this was one time when I went "Hang the expense!" and bought the clothes from the school.
There are many times, when we are trying to save money and avoid waste, that we chose to go for the more expensive option. My husband and I decided to buy the school uniform and school bag (a backpack designed by the school to suit the needs of their students - they even gave a demonstration of what items go where in the bag) for the following reasons.
1. Time factor. Yes, I would love to make the clothes myself, but I don't envisage having the time to make the items I can make between now and the end of January when school starts, what with Christmas in between and having a younger child at home. I may get to make one pair of shorts to have as a spare pair in his bag, but to make three pairs of cargo shorts with zippers in that time might be a big ask.
2. Capability factor. I can make the shorts and bucket hat myself, but the particular style of the polo shirts would be beyond what I am capable of making, so the only option would be to buy the shirts anyway. I certainly don't have what it takes to make the fantastic school backpack that they have on offer, either.
3. Value for money. I was impressed with the permanent pleat cargo shorts, although imported, looked good quality. The polo shirts are made in Australia. The bucket hat also imported. The bag is very good quality (I don't know where it was made). I bought the bag, one hat, three shirts and two pairs of shorts, and it cost $154.00 which I thought was pretty good. The individual items were priced not much more expensive than the department stores, so I wouldn't have gained much by shopping elsewhere by the time I would have had to buy the school logos and sew them on. I'm hoping that when my second child starts school, these items will still be good enough for her to wear to make it even better value for money. Unfortunately I don't know anyone with older children at the school to have been able to have uniforms handed down to us like some of the other parents waiting at the uniform shop had.
4. One stop shop. I got all his uniform needs in one place, without then having to head off to a department store and then back to the school to buy logos. Time is money, as they say.
5. Blending in with everyone else. Standing outside the uniform shop waiting for it to open (it's on the school site) I noticed all the students wearing the regulation school uniform shirt. At least by buying the uniforms there, my child(ren) will be wearing the same as everyone else. Shorts are not such a big deal, as they don't stand out as much as a shirt, so even if I do get time to make a pair in the right colour it won't be noticeable.
My son has always been excited about starting school next year, however after our trip to the uniform shop, he skipped the rest of the way to Kindergarten!
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