How to save hundreds on school uniform costs

Kitting out your child for school can cost hundreds of dollars, but thrifty parents have found a way to reduce the bill by up to half. Here’s how.

Sarah Testa with her son Logan, 5, who is excited to start school at Werribee Primary this year. Picture: Ian Currie

Thrifty parents can slash back to school costs for uniforms by up to half the price by shopping around at major retailers.

The costs for junior uniforms at both government schools and some of the state’s elite institutions are leaving parents footing bills worth hundreds of dollars.

Big retailers are offering families bargains, with the cost of a standard pair of shorts for a primary school pupil going for as little as $6.

A pair of shorts at Scotch College for students in prep to year 6 will set you back $25.95.

At Melbourne Grammar, parents will need to fork out $25, while at public school Werribee Primary School they are priced at $23.50.

Summer dresses can be snapped up for $15 at Target, in comparison to the $52.95 price tag for a similar item at Balwyn Primary School.

Mum Sarah Testa said she would be holding on to her five-year-old son Logan’s uniforms to help reduce costs when her next child starts school.

She said the cost of buying uniforms for Werribee Primary School, including a bag and shoes, would take the bill to $550 for her first child to start school.

“I work in a school but even I was surprised, for most of us it’s our first child so it was a bit of a shock,” Ms Testa said.

Sarah Testa said she was shocked at how much it cost to kit out her son Logan in his prep uniform. Picture: Ian Currie

“We bought two to four pieces of the clothing items, but it was more than what we were expecting.”

Kmart is selling T-bar school shoes and lace ups starting from $8, hats for $6, shirts for $5, shorts from $3.50, and bags for $6.

Salvation Army financial counsellor Kristen Hartnett said January was a “challenging” time for families, with back to school costs placing them under additional stress.

“Start shopping at home, go through everything you have got and make a list of what you need,” she said.

“Don’t forget about extra-curricular costs, sport fees, school photos and see if there’s any rebate entitlements.”

Ms Hartnett urged families struggling to afford supplies to also get in touch with local school community Facebook groups to try source them.