As back to school uniform cost hits £145 a child we dig out the best deals for jumpers, bags and lunchboxes
SCHOOL doors open again for millions of pupils in just a week – and that means shopping for new uniforms and classroom essentials.
But more than four in ten parents struggle to kit out their kids, with the average cost per child a wallet-busting £145 a year.
A survey by cleaning firm Dr Beckmann found 44 per cent of mums and dads dread the eye-watering bill, which works out at £1,740 over 12 years of education.
Almost half of all parents (45 per cent) will buy second-hand threads.
To help cash-strapped families, The Sun has searched out the best deals on school must-haves, including jumpers, plimsolls, tech, lunchboxes, bags and more, which will help YOU save hard-earned cash.
Consumer expert Laura McGuire said: “The clock is ticking, but there’s still some amazing deals to be had.
“From £2 cardies to £1.50 polo shirts, if you shop around and are savvy then you can save pounds on essential school kit.”
Here is our guide to some of the last-minute deals on your back to school essentials . . .
Black school bags
WINNER: Primark essential black backpack – £8
Tu at Argos black Puma bag – £12 (down from £16)
Matalan BagBase black kids’ fashion bag – £14.25 (75p off)
Next black quilted backpack – £22
Cardigans
WINNER: Primark girls’ navy cardigan – £2 each (if bought with two for £4 deal)
TU at Argos navy scalloped cardigan – £4 each (if bought with two for £8 deal)
George at Asda navy knitted girls’ cardigan – £4 each (if bought with two for £8 deal)
Matalan girls’ navy cardigan – £4.50 each (if bought with two for £9 deal)
Gingham dresses
WINNER: Morrisons Nutmeg gingham dress – £5 each (if you buy two for £10)
Primark classic gingham dress – £5.50
Tu at Argos red gingham classic dress – £6 each (if you buy two for £12)
M&S gingham pleated dress – £9
White polo shirts
WINNER: Tu at Argos – £1.50 each (when you buy 2 for £3)
Matalan £2 each (when you buy 2 for £4)
George at Asda – £2 each (if you buy 2 for £4)
M&S unisex slim stain resistant polo shirt – £3 each (if you buy 2 for £6)
Water bottles
WINNER: Matalan black football drinks bottle – £4
TU at Argos Spider-man stainless steel water bottle – £6.38 (was £8.50)
Next Multi Colour Rainbow Water Bottle – £7
George at Asda Polar Gear Goal Flip Cap bottle – £7
Lunchboxes
WINNER: Morrisons Nutmeg lunch box – £3.50 (reduced 50p)
Matalan blue lunch box – £5
George at Asda Bluey lunch box – £6 (down from £8)
Primark Pokemon lunch bag – £7
Tablets
WINNER: John Lewis Amazon Fire HD Tablet 2022 8in 32GB £59.99 (was £99.99)
Currys ACER ACTAB1024 10.1” Tablet, 32 GB, Gun Grey – £99
Argos Lenovo M10 3rd Gen 10.1in 32GB Wi-Fi Tablet – £99.99
TU at Argos TCL NXTPAPER 128GB Tablet – £149.99 (was £179.99)
Plimsolls
WINNER: Tu at Argos black – £3.50
Matalan black – £4.50
Next Black – £8
Clarks Hopper Run black – £10
Pencil cases
WINNER: Poundland gold pencil case – £1.50
TU at Argos Home Soundwaves pencil case – £5.25 (25 per cent off)
Matalan black barrel Batman pencil case – £6.65 (35p off)
Next pink sorbet pencil case – £7
Trousers
WINNER: Primark grey school uniform trousers – £3.25 (if bought in 2 for £6.50 deal)
George at Asda grey elastic boys’ trousers – £3.50 (if you buy 2 for £7)
M&S boys’ regular trousers – £5.50 (if bought in 2 for £11 deal)
Matalan grey boys’ trousers – £5.50 (if bought in 2 for £11 deal)
Dresses
WINNER: Primark grey pinafore – £4.50 (if bought in 2 for £9 deal)
George at Asda grey drop pinafore – £5 (if bought in 2 for £10 deal)
Tu at Sainsbury’s grey pinafore – £6
Matalan grey zip dress – £6.50 (if bought in 2 for £13 deal)
Calculators
WINNER: Ryman Casio LC pocket 160LV calculator – £3
The Works Scientific Calculator – £4
Tesco Casio Mx-12 Desk Calculator black – £6 (£4.50 with Clubcard)
Currys Desktop Canon AS-1200 calculator – £7.38