With the pinch of the holiday season still being felt, and a new school year looming, many parents are turning to second-hand stores for uniforms.
Salvation Army Mosgiel Family Store uniform shop co-ordinator Jackie Young said long queues, even out the doors, were common at this time of year.
People could save about $350 on a basic junior Taieri College uniform and about $450 on a senior uniform if they bought from the shop, she said.
Over the last five years she had noticed an increase in people looking for such savings.
"It's always been popular but it's incredibly busy now. There are more and more people who are on-selling rather than donating, too, which is a sign of the times, and there are more people buying second-hand who, five years ago, would not have even thought about it," she said.
Uniforms in the shop were either sold on behalf of parents for a small commission, or were donated and given to families in need.
"The stock I now have in here is just phenomenal, compared to what it started with. We have every size, shape and style of everything. People should not be embarrassed or ashamed of wearing second-hand uniforms," she said.
Some parents bought from the shop then on-sold the uniform when their child finished school.
Maree Reveley, of Mosgiel, bought both her children's uniforms second-hand because she could not afford to buy them new.
"It's only one art lesson difference between new and second-hand," she said.
Sandra Stuart, also of Mosgiel, said she was about to buy a new uniform for her daughter when she realised it was "so much cheaper" to buy second-hand.
She expected a basic set-up to cost her $400 new, compared with the $100 she would spend at the Salvation Army store.
"It's a lot easier, because it's expensive, this time of year especially," she said.
YMCA School Uniform Shop volunteer Pam Medlam said people could buy a full uniform for about $150, second-hand, compared with up to $700 it could cost to buy one new.
The shop also sold uniforms on behalf of people and took a small commission.
"We are here to help the people buying as well as the people selling. It's pretty hard these days. As the economy is, people might buy one or two things new and they'll come back here and buy throughout the year," she said.
Many high schools also had second-hand uniforms for sale on site, often as a fundraiser for PTAs.
Price guide
New uniform:
• Blazer - $180-$380
• Kilt - $120-$300
• Trousers - $77-$100
• Vest - $75-$100
• Jersey - $80-$100
• Blouse - $36-$65
• Shirt - $30-$40
Second-hand*:
• Blazer - $100-$150
• Kilt - $30-$50
• Trousers - $20-$30
• Vest - $30-$35
• Blouse - $10-$12* (depending on quality)
