With the kids gearing up for back to school, and the parents even more excited, we know that it can be very expensive to outfit your child for the new school year. Aside from the very long list of supplies they need to bring to class, they need new clothing and shoes too! (We are amazed at what some students are asked to bring to class. We don’t blame the teachers, we are just saddened that there isn’t enough public funds to cover the cost of basic school supplies. But that is another topic all together!).
We’ve compiled some tips for helping you keep school wardrobe shopping under control.
Set a budget and write it down.
This is a simple idea, but somehow when you actually write down the amount you are wanting to spend our mind takes it a bit more seriously. It is smart to explain to your children the budget amount too. This is especially helpful if your child is a bit older and it involved in the shopping process. Brand names are expensive, but with some savvy shopping it is not impossible to score designer items for your child. I remember school shopping was a big day out for my Mom and I. It was special, and we’d accomplish so much that day. My Mom always let me know what she had to spend, and together we found the deals and the “must haves” to fit within the budget. I respected my parents enough not to challenge their limits and it always worked for our family.
Sign up for email newsletters and alerts from the stores you shop at.
JC Penney, Carters, Kohls, Old Navy, etc. They all have newsletters that go out and they often contain coupons and special offers that no one else will receive.
Take your coupons and use them during store sales.
Knowing when to stack a coupon with a store sale is second nature to couponers in the grocery and drug store. It’s the same at a clothing store.
If you like to shop online, make sure to shop through cash back websites like Ebates.
On sites like Ebates you earn cash back while you spend money online at all your favorite retailers. Always search Ebates first to see if the online store you intend to buy from is an Ebates participating store.
At the store, head all the way back to the clearance area first.
This is THE smartest rule to follow no matter when you shop. The expensive stuff is always near the front; the discounted clearance is always in the back. Make sure you scout the deal racks carefully and spend time digging through the items before you launch yourself into the rest of the store. We love clearance racks, and again thanks to my Mom, I always go straight to them when I arrive at a store.
Don’t forget about buying secondhand items.
Stores like Goodwill or local consignment boutiques are great places to save at least 50% on brand name items. Granted, some areas and stores are better than others – but it is worth the hunt. You can read more about our tips on thrift store shopping here. We love to thrift store shop! And here is a tip if your kids do not want to be seen shopping at a thrift store: go to another town! Make a day of it and take a little road trip to a town near you. We do this with our nieces and they love it because they get a huge thrill out of the bargains on the designer items they want and they don’t have to worry about being mortified if their friends see them. (This may sound extreme, but depending on your teenager you probably get what we mean.). Pick a more upscale area for a better chance of scoring the higher end labels/brands.
Use your gift cards up!
If you received gift cards for your birthday or the holidays or maybe you have earned them through the online survey and opinion sites like Inbox Dollars, Swag Bucks, SavingStar, use them while you school shop. It takes stress off the family budget!
We hope these tips help you as you shop for back to school clothing items. Our ideas are universal and can easily be adapted to everyday shopping.
Have fun, be thrifty and grab those bargains!
