The money-saving school uniform hacks EVERY parent needs on their radar

School uniforms can be costly, especially when it seems like we need to buy them ALL the time, but these hacks should help them last longer.

One mum shared a genius tip about using black electric wire tape to cover up the scuffs on the front of her fdaughter's school shoes. And the results were unbelievable. 

She spent just 89p on the tape and said it saved her buying a brand new pair for daughter Brooke, when there's still plenty of life left in them.

If you don't want to use the tape, scuff-resistant shoes are a must, especially for very young children.

Another mum shared a way to make school trousers last longer.

The tip, shared on the Family Lowdown Tips & Ideas page on Facebook, explained that school trousers from Marks and Spencer have an extendable hem. This can be let down, saving you buying a new pair of trousers when your child has their next growth spurt.

Why aren't all trousers made like this?

Before you go shopping for school uniform, check your kids' wardrobes and drawers to see what you already have. 

You don't need to buy a full new school uniform in one go. You might find some items still have a few months' wear in them, meaning you can spread the cost and buy items later in the year.

With the cost of living rising, parents across the country will be looking for cheaper places to source school uniforms.

Luckily, most supermarkets have options for as little as £1 for items such as polo shirts and jumpers.

And you can pick them up while grabbing some milk!

We've seen a lot of parents talk about school trousers with reinforced knees which are ideal for stopping holes forming from energetic children bouncing around the playground.

Next and Sainsburys both have these options at different price points but if you want to add these to knees or shoulders, you can buy some patches on Amazon for a DIY fix ... just like our mums and dads used to do!

As kids grow so fast, it means there are always secondhand school uniform bargains to be had. Parents try and recoup some of the costs of new uniforms once their little ones have outgrown them.

Search sites such as Facebook Marketplace and eBay and check charity shops for preloved bargains.

Some schools also offer secondhand and pre-used uniform sales – this can be a godsend for expensive branded uniform items, blazers with logos or uniforms featuring unusual colours.

When choosing a school uniform for your child, you want to make life as simple as possible.

For younger kids, look for pull-on skirts and trousers and elasticated cuffs on long sleeve shirts will help them dress themselves.

This will make mornings SO much easier for everyone.

If your child has sensory issues, many retailers now offer a range of uniforms in super-soft materials and with no scratchy labels. This means you won't need to buy new versions of everything until you find something your child can wear.

George at Asda's Easy On Easy Wear range, for example, has easy fastenings and skin-kind fabric for those who are sensitive to certain fabrics.

M&S also offers a Kids Easy Dressing range made with super-soft materials and without zips, buttons or labels to make dressing easier.