SCHOOL uniform is a costly necessity that every parent has to shell out for.
Research by NimbleFins Personal Finance suggests that the average family is spending £191 a year on uniforms, while one in three parents finds at least one item has gone missing by the end of term.
Keeping hold of your kids’ stuff means hanging on to your cash.
So follow these cheap labelling hacks to make sure you don’t lose out.
NAME TAGS: If you can face sewing in name tags, it can be worth it as they wear so well.
Get 25 per cent off at easy2name.com by using the code SCHOOL25.
Or try cashsnametapes.co.uk which has a budget range and will print 144 labels (on one tape, so you have to cut yourself) for £5.99.
TIE IT UP: Adding a brightly coloured ribbon to backpacks, pencil cases and book bags can be an effective and cheap method for keeping items together.
Pick up a roll of ribbon for just 69p at The Works and knot through their zippers.
STAMP IT OUT: Using a stamp can be a huge time-saver if you have a big family as you can label everything very quickly.
At stampit.co.uk, get a kids’ clothing label stamper for £14.99, down from £24.99, while the stamptastic ink pad lasts two years (six school terms) which is a good investment.
But you could also choose their favourite animal logo and stamp that into labels, too.
WRITE IT DOWN: Writing their name into every label can take a bit of time but it’s pretty simple. Just buy a good quality fabric market pen.
Get a two-pack of the Tulip Fine Tip Markers Black two-pack at Hobbycraft for £4.40. Or save yourself a bit of cash at Wilko, where the Uni-Ball Ink Marker is just £1.75.
TECH IT OUT: If you love to be organised, why not use a label embosser to add names to school items?
Pencil cases, maths equipment and calculators could all be tagged using a machine label maker. I found the Dymo Omega Label Maker Hand Embosser at Argos for £15, down from £20.
- Prices correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
Deal of the day
TREAT your cheeky monkeys to the Lil Monkey Climb & Slide at aldi.co.uk, reduced to £49.99 from £64.99.
SAVE: £15
Cheap treat
ADD Ben’s spicy rice to your chicken dinner. It’s now £2 for two packs at Co-op. Usually £1.80 each.
SAVE: £1.60 buying two
Win!
THERE are 20 Ryobi tool starter kits up for grabs for DIY enthusiasts.
The prize includes the R18PD3 percussion drill and the R18JS jigsaw. Entry is free, just head to the offers section of The Sun app before September 5.
Top swap
BRIGHTEN up rooms with an LED light strip.
Skip B&Q’s 3m version for £26 and head to Lidl to buy its 3m strip for £7.99.
SAVE: £18.01
Giselle’s little helper
FREE drink alert! Get the We Love Sport app.
It is offering a complimentary drink to users who download the app (or already have it), which can be redeemed at venues during named sporting occasions until September 10.
Conditions apply, offer applies to soft drinks only in Scotland.
Shop & save
THIS rainbow cloud inflatable ice and cupholder is £10.47 via groupon.co.uk – was £29.
SAVE: £18.53
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