Uniform Cost Per Wear
Cost per wear across a school year, which regularly reverses the buying decision between the cheap version and the expensive one.
Three £22 jumpers lasting a full school year work out at about 34p a wear, while three £9 versions replaced every term cost about 42p — which is why cost per wear regularly reverses the decision the price tag suggests.
Uniform Cost Per Wear
Frequently asked
Is expensive uniform cheaper in the long run?
Often, but only where the item is outlasted by the child rather than outgrown. For a fast-growing primary-age child, durability beyond one year buys nothing, and the calculation flips.
Why are branded items the problem?
Because they remove the choice entirely. Where a school requires a logo, families cannot substitute a supermarket equivalent at a fraction of the price, and several governments have introduced limits on the number of branded items schools may require for exactly this reason.
What is the cheapest way to do uniform?
Second-hand sales, which most schools run and most families under-use, and buying the compulsory branded items only in the sizes that will actually be worn out rather than outgrown.
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