Every April, millions of Indian families face the same scramble: the school session is starting, the child has outgrown their uniform, the bag strap broke, and the stationery is all used up. Panic shopping in May is expensive. Planning in March-April is cheap. Here's your complete checklist.
Step 1: Audit What You Have (30 Minutes)
Before buying anything, go through last year's items:
- Try on all uniform pieces — what still fits? What's too small?
- Check condition of school bag — does it need replacing?
- Check shoes — still fit? Still in decent condition?
- Go through stationery — what can be reused?
- Check textbooks — which ones carry forward to next year?
Most families find 30–40% of items can be carried forward. This audit alone tells you exactly what to buy — and saves you from buying duplicates.
Step 2: Uniforms Checklist
Buy New (if these are worn out or wrong size):
- ☐ 2-3 shirts/blouses (check for collar wear and staining)
- ☐ 2 trousers/skirts
- ☐ PT/Sports kit
- ☐ Socks (6 pairs — these wear out fastest)
- ☐ Belt (if damaged)
Buy Second-Hand on OldSchoolStore:
- ☐ Blazer/jacket (expensive new, worn infrequently)
- ☐ Extra/backup sets of uniform
- ☐ House colour t-shirt
- ☐ Any items your school changed sizes for
Sell Before You Buy:
- ☐ List all outgrown uniforms on OldSchoolStore (free, takes 5 minutes)
- ☐ Use money received to offset your purchases
Step 3: Books and Stationery Checklist
- ☐ Get the new year's book list from school (usually available in March)
- ☐ Identify which NCERT textbooks are reused from last year
- ☐ Buy used textbooks from seniors in your school's parent group
- ☐ Buy new workbooks and practice books (these need to be written in)
- ☐ Buy stationery in bulk from wholesale market (saves 40-50%)
- ☐ Carry forward pencils, rulers, erasers, crayons that still work
Step 4: School Bag Checklist
- ☐ Check all zippers work
- ☐ Check shoulder straps — frayed straps cause back problems
- ☐ Check water bottle pocket
- ☐ If replacing: buy quality (₹800–₹1,500 for a bag that lasts 3 years vs ₹300 that lasts 6 months)
Step 5: Shoes Checklist
- ☐ Try on last year's shoes with school socks
- ☐ Check for sole wear, especially at toe area
- ☐ If buying new: measure foot properly (children's feet change every 3-6 months)
- ☐ Buy shoes with 1 cm of growing room at the toe
- ☐ Brands: Bata (₹600–₹900), Liberty (₹700–₹1,100), Relaxo (₹500–₹800)
Step 6: Technology and Extras
- ☐ Water bottle — replace if the seal is damaged
- ☐ Tiffin box — check lid seals
- ☐ Geometry box / scientific calculator (check if required for new class)
- ☐ Colour pencils / art supplies (if art is part of curriculum)
Savings Summary
| Item | All New | Smart Shopping | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uniforms (full set) | ₹7,000 | ₹2,000 | ₹5,000 |
| Textbooks | ₹2,500 | ₹700 | ₹1,800 |
| Stationery | ₹1,500 | ₹600 | ₹900 |
| School bag | ₹1,200 | ₹0 (reuse) | ₹1,200 |
| Shoes | ₹1,000 | ₹800 | ₹200 |
| Total | ₹13,200 | ₹4,100 | ₹9,100 |
Start Here
The single highest-impact action: list your old uniforms on OldSchoolStore today (free, 5 minutes), then search for what your child needs in the next size up. You'll likely find exactly what you need from a parent in your own school, at 30–40% of the new price.
Browse Uniforms in Your City
Find second-hand school uniforms near you — free listings from parents across India: