Back-To-School Clothes

By far the biggest investment in getting your kids ready to go back to school has to be, hands down, their clothing.  You can literally go into debt getting them outfitted, especially if you have a large family. 

Here are a few tips to help ease the pain a bit: 

Take An Inventory – go through what your child/children already have.  Determine what is salvageable.  Mend items that are torn or missing snaps and buttons.  Decide what gets handed down to younger siblings or other relatives.  Purge what remains and donate. 

Make A List – decide the bare minimum you need to get started.  For example:  does your child really need 5 pair of jeans (one for each school day of the week) or are three pair adequate and you do laundry on Wednesday?  I think we tend to buy too much in the first place. 

Determine a Budget – once you know how much you can comfortably afford to spend stick to it.  Track your spending in a notebook or on an Excel spreadsheet so you know where you are at all times. 

Spread It Out – you don’t have to get it all at once.  I like to spread the process out over time.  Buy their underwear and socks now.  Plan for jeans next month.  New tops in September. 

Buy In The Off Season – with proper planning and some good projection of sizing you can take advantage of clearance sales and pick up clothing at the end of the season to save for the future.  I buy my girls shoes at the end of the school year instead of the beginning because they go on clearance.  I measure their feet at the store and then purchase the next size up.  Buy coats after Christmas.  Short sleeved shirts in the fall; long sleeved shirts and sweaters in the spring. 

Hit Thrift Stores And Yard Sales – a lot of nice clothing ends up there and you will pay a fraction of its original price.  Dresses, tops, pajamas and robes are always a great value and can be found in excellent condition.  Jeans, especially for boys, can be tougher but not impossible. 

Outlet Malls – if you have access to one check them out.  Not only can you get good buys but their clearance sales are often times better than most.  Even at an outlet mall remember, if it is more money than you want to or can afford to spend, walk away. 

Go Online – don’t have time to hit the yard sales?  Plenty of people sell clothing online at eBay and on Craigslist.  You can find individual outfits or large lots of clothing in variable sizes to meet your children’s needs.  There are also a ton of online children’s clothing shops and they usually have a clearance section on their site.  Many will offer free shipping with reasonable purchase minimums.  I’ve used both Gymboree.com and ChildrensPlace.com.  The Children’s Place has school uniforms too. 

Replenish At The Holidays – I try to get my girls each an outfit for their birthday and one for Christmas to supplement their wardrobes.  Socks and underwear make great stocking and Easter basket stuffers.  Let family members know if your child has a specific need they might be able to fill.  My Mom loves to make pajamas for the grandchildren and my aunt knits beautiful sweaters. 

Cash In Credit Card Points – if you have a card that earns reward points use them to purchase gift cards to certain stores you shop at. 

Watch For Sales – stores are constantly trying to stay competitive.  Check the ads and look for bargains, watch for coupons and don’t be afraid to ask for a discount or price matching.  A really nice clerk will help you take advantage of any specials the store is offering.  JC Penney is notorious for ringing up separate transactions to maximize discounts and increase savings. 

Remember To Think Outside The Box – craft stores sell T-shirts, sweatshirts and canvas shoes for a song because they expect you will purchase all the bling to embellish them at their store for a higher price.  I bought five really nice T-shirts for $10 and got the girls summer flip flops for $1.50 a pair.  I didn’t buy the bling.  Often the $ Store will get a shipment of name brand socks.  Drug and grocery stores will clear out novelty hats and T-shirts after an event or the end of a certain sports season. 

Do The Math – figure the price per item, especially when it comes to socks and underwear that come in multiples.  Divide the number of items per package by the overall price to figure the price per item.  Look for bonus packs for greatest savings.  Quite often you can find packages with one or two extra pairs added in.  I always look for those and then do the math to make sure it truly is a better buy. 

I hope some of these tips help make your next back-to-school shopping easier and more affordable.  Happy shopping! 

You might also like revisiting School Lunches and Last Day Of School.