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Back-to-School Clothes Shopping Tips
What, how much, when, and where
If you are like millions of other time-starved moms, the thought of back-to-school clothes shopping leaves you feeling stressed and wondering how you can get it all done within your budget. Take advantage of these mom-tested, time-saving tips this year and get your children ready for back-to-school in time—without busting your budget.
1. Start with a plan
Create a master back-to-school shopping list and back-to-school budget for each child. Discuss the list and ask your kids what items or brands they want most. Let them help make the budget trade-offs. For example, if they want an expensive pair of shoes, they’ll need to spend less on their backpack or clothes. Go online and look for those items so everyone knows exactly how much we’re talking about.
2. Shop the Closet
Yes, dig into your child’s closet before you even think about shopping. Remove everything from that closet and begin sorting. Set out a few outfits and see how much you can mix and match. Move tops and bottoms around until you have a variety of basics that would benefit from some new pieces. If you have younger children, this is the perfect time to check what is in good condition from big brother or sister to go to your little ones.
Sort through every piece of clothing, removing anything that doesn’t fit, and decide what can be donated and what needs to be discarded. Now you have an idea of what clothing your child already has. These items are the basics from which your shopping list will grow.
3. Shop online
There’s no chance you’ll EVER find me shopping with my three boys at a mall. If shopping at department stores is stressful for you and your family, as it is for me, consider skipping it altogether.
Shop your favorite brands or major online sites, like Amazon
4. It’s best one-on-one
Alternatively, schedule a back-to-school shopping date with each child, giving them your undivided attention. I actually did this last year with one of the boys – the only one looking forward to a trip to the mall and lunch at The Cheesecake Factory! It was a lot of fun for both of us. He was thrilled to come home with his new clothes and had a lot to brag about to his brothers!
5. Shop off-season
Clothes go on sale all the time, every season of the year. Watch for cold-weather gear, such as coats, sweaters, boots, gloves, scarves, and hats, as winter comes to an end. Purchasing ahead of time can save a lot of money. If your child is experiencing a growth spurt, be cautious about what you buy early, or consider purchasing a size bigger.
I always shop right after the season for the boys, and I get all the basics for a fraction of the price. The only item I shop for “as needed” is shoes, which I buy online via Zappos.com because their customer service, free shipping, and returns are simply excellent!
6. Snag sweet deals
As a parent, one of my biggest challenges is staying within the set budget for myself and the boys. From Xbox games to clothing, it’s hard for them to grasp how much one has to work to make that money. I choose to share with each boy the amount we can afford to spend, and if I go out to shop for a game, for example, I make sure I bring the cash with me so they don’t see me “just swiping” the card to pay for it.
Teach them to value your hard-earned money and how to stretch the budget as far as possible by making wise choices. To help you stay within budget, clip coupons and check flyers for sales, and make an envelope for each child. Do you have a tax-free holiday? Many states observe tax-free holidays around the start of the school year. Be sure to check if your state offers a tax-free holiday and take advantage of the opportunity to shop during that time.
Whatever your strategy, try to have fun! Back-to-school clothes shopping can be a fun way to spend some extra time with our kids.
