The Back To School Uniform Race

I'm usually one of those uber organised, super annoying people that complains (loudly) at the premature arrival in store of next years school uniform. I can't think past June and I certainly don't have the ability to guess how much they'll have grown by the time September arrives. Still I dutifully purchase everything I need to kit out all three for the next school term, moaning as I go.

This year I messed up. My mind was wrapped up with work and then we went away and when we got home I had stuff to do and well - I never got round to the big uniform shop and now the shelves are bare!

I'm sorted for trousers, skirts and shirts but my search for jumpers is making me weep.

Seriously.... what is with the lack of bottle green?

I know its a tragic colour, I had to endure it through primary school myself but even in a town where it's uniform for two out of six schools there isn't a single jumper to be found.

I went online. It went like this.

Matalan

They have one style of green cardigan at £5.50 but not in the right size. FAIL

Asda

Offering free delivery on school uniform orders over £20. They have one unisex green jumper at £4 but 9 to 10 years is the biggest size available. FAIL

They also have a green scallop neck cardigan at £3 but not in either of the sizes I need. FAIL

Desperate to buy something I head over to the culottes and shorts page. The girls lived in them last year, with tights (green of course) in the winter and socks in the summer. What was I thinking? Of course they don't have any in either of the sizes I need. FAIL

Sainsburys

Big Fat FAIL

I can print off a handy checklist of everything I need to buy before going back to school but you can't buy online. FAIL

So, thanks to Sainsburys detailed shopping list above, I'm really staring to realise how crap I actually am. 

I head over to Tesco, surely they will save the day?

They have a green cardigan, £4 and in a 9-10 years... oh the relief. 

In the basket it goes, but I need more. One woolen item between three is never going to work but when I go back to the page there aren't any left in that size - or the size above - or the size below..... So now I'm really feeling the pressure as I engage in a virtual shopping fight for the final green jumper. 

The boys department has one boys jumper in green  but 9-10 is the biggest size. FAIL

I check out the delivery information and it's £3.95 for a 2 to 5 day delivery which would bump the price of my one cardigan to £7.95 so I ditch my basket.

NEXT

I score! They have a green cardigan and it's available in all sizes but at £7 it's more than double the price of the one in Asda. I add four to my basket. 

They have green tights... in every size but they are £9.50 for a pack of three. I add three packs to my basket.

They have boys jumpers too, all sizes are in stock but they are £11 each. I buy two.

NEXT came through but my basket came to a whopping £78.50! 

There is a lesson here people.... BE PREPARED! 

Tomorrow

Part 2..... Pens, books and the fun stuff you don't really need