Ok, so let's start with Dunnes first. We found you get a lot of bang for your buck here. For less than €50, you can get: all the basics.They also had pinafores for €12, twice the price of one skirt though. The drawbacks of shopping in Dunnes are certain stores stock a limited amount of colours however they do have a great range of colours on their online store. The shirts and polo shirts had a good variety of colours and they stock socks and tights in all colours.

While Littlewoods.ie is more expensive than Dunnes, they actually offer up a lot more options in colours and style so parents may be able to save some money here rather than buying school specific uniforms which can be very pricey! Only €2 over budget, we were able to squeeze in quite a lot. So, when compared to Dunnes, you can spend an extra €18 at Littlewoods.ie and get three extra Polo Shirts, one extra shirt and a wider variety of colours and styles. However, bear in mind that you won't be able to try out sizes if you shop at Littlewoods.ie so be sure to read the size guides and reviews for an accurate purchase.

On to Marks and Spencer now who come in at a very respectable price. They have a 20% sale on school uniforms right now both online and in store which we have worked into the final price so if you want to take advantage then now is the time! The prices without the discount came in at €72 for girls and €66 for boys, quite hefty when compared to Dunnes and Littlewoods.ie who are at full price. Marks and Spencer have a great range of style and colours to choose from, much like Littlewoods.ie. However, we found that much of their stock online is sold out in certain sizes although you may get lucky if you take advantage of their current sale!

There's quite a jump in price the higher the age in Dunnes You can save some money by opting for the Jersey trousers which are only €9, €3 cheaper than the easy iron trousers with adjustable hem and waists so it really is up to you which you prefer or which is allowed by your child's school. Again, some Dunnes Stores may not have their full range in certain stores so may have to resort to shopping online.

There isn't a huge jump for Littlewoods.ie here. They have plenty of multipacks which will save you a tonne of washing and replacing in the long run. With plenty of colours and styles, it might be worth the extra couple of euro when compared to Dunnes, it all depends on the school's uniform etiquette. If you are allowed to stitch or iron on crest then you are sure to find the right colour here.

The 20% off at Marks and Spencer is huge help for parents at this time of year who want to get their shopping done early. Be sure to take advantage of this deal before the end of June as it is not likely to last much longer than that. Without the discount, you're looking at a jump to €79.50 for girls and €71.50 for boys.

Dunnes stock pretty much the same items all the way from age 4 to 16 so there's not much else to add here. Again, if you want to cut costs you can go for the jersey style trousers at €4.50 cheaper.

Littlewoods.ie range is limited for older kids with a lot of ages 15-16 sold out or out of stock. Keep an eye on their site as they may restock during the Summer months.

Marks and Spencer have an extra €10 price hike for older teens. Again, the 20% discount is worth serious consideration as without it you would be looking at €91.50 for girls and €82 for boys!