It may still be July, but many parents will of course already be looking ahead to the new school year in September, figuring out all the general admin they'll need to get sorted before term starts once more.

As anyone with young children will undoubtedly know, school uniforms don't come cheap, especially when your kids are shooting up like beanstalks.

Fortunately, a handy app could help you save a few pennies when it comes to the pre-term shop, allowing thrifty-minded parents to pick up pre-loved uniforms for as little as 50p a pop.

Award-winning online school uniform marketplace Uniformerly allows parents, schools, and PTAs to recycle outgrown primary and secondary school uniforms that still have plenty of good wear in them.

App users can buy or sell items, depending on what they need, and they can even give away old uniforms free of charge for struggling families.

More than 4,900 UK schools are registered on Uniformerly, allowing parents to quickly find out whether or not there are any clothing items for sale specific to their child's school, whether that be a jumper, blazer, or even a pair of shoes.

Parents can choose to get the item delivered to their door or arrange to collect it at school, depending on what works best for them.

A number of happy customers online demonstrate the difference Uniformerly has made to the lives of so many parents and teachers, with some hailing the app as "amazing".

One delighted Facebook user wrote: "Brilliant work, such a lovely idea."

Another commented: "I'm going to have a look, I've got brand new school jumpers that my girls have never used."

A third wrote: "Fantastic idea."

This comes after research carried out by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in 2022 determined that it now costs parents an estimated £864.87 per year to send a child to primary school, which rises to £1,755.97 per year once they reach secondary school.

These figures factor in costs such as school uniforms, learning materials, school trips, packed lunches, and transport back and forth to school.

With the cost of living crisis continuing to take a toll on many families, cutting back on expenses such as uniforms could well make a real difference for those trying to keep to a tight weekly budget.

Do you have a money-saving story to share? Email us at julia.banim@reachplc.com