With uniforms costing up to $1000, excluding shoes and socks, many parents feel the financial pinch at this time of year.
But Mosgiel mother of four Tracy McGee says a bit of resourcefulness and cunning has allowed her to kit out her four children with school uniforms for just $450 this year - significantly less than the more than $3100 it could have cost.
She has 15-year-old twins - a son and daughter starting their senior years at Taieri College - a 12-year-old daughter who is starting year 9 at Taieri College and a 5-year-old daughter who is about to start at East Taieri Primary School.
Miss McGee said she bought a new uniform for her 5-year-old for $150, which included a T-shirt, culottes, a sun-hat and a polar fleece.
She was fortunate her 12-year-old could wear the ''hand-me-down uniform'' of her 15-year-old daughter, which she estimated had saved her about $1000.
She had also saved about $2000 on the twins' uniforms by buying second-hand, at a cost of about $300.
''I'm quite lucky, because I'm a professional sewer, so I've managed to pick up some things that I know I can fix.
''It's definitely saved us some money.
''The blazers alone can cost $250. A senior uniform can easily cost $1000.''
While she said budgeting was important, there were several tricks or tips for saving money on school uniforms.
She has been keeping an eye out for bargains on websites.
Friends and family were also a good source of information about second-hand items.
Schools also have access to second-hand uniforms and there were several second-hand clothing stores, such as the Salvation Army, she said.
''Even Christmas presents from grandparents can work. In the beginning, our twins got their school shoes as a Christmas present.
''You have to use a little bit of common sense and a bit of cunning.''
She said in this day and age, there was no shame in using these connections and resources.
''It's more acceptable now than it used to be.''
Despite the cost of uniforms, Miss McGee said she loved the idea of them because they were cheaper in the long run.
''They look very smart and professional, and there is no peer pressure about the latest clothes the kids can be wearing ... you don't have to buy new clothes every month to keep up with trends.
''School uniforms are a cost you know you are going to have to endure.
''A lot of families have to make sacrifices to pay the bills, but I've managed to get by without doing that this year.
''It can be done.''
