Believe it or not, Back to School is here. Even if you don’t begin your new academic year for a few more weeks, it’s smart to start thinking about how to keep the kids in clothes that fit but don’t break the bank. This Back to School Clothes Shopping Guide is certain to help you save more money at an expensive time of the year!
Begin With An Inventory
Before you purchase anything, you should have a good handle on what you already have. This will help you have a better grasp on your child’s actual size and keep from duplicating wardrobe pieces. Spend an afternoon cleaning out the closets and drawers, eliminating items that no longer fit, recalling the specificities of the dress code, and outlining what you have that will be fine to begin the school year wearing. Donate or pass down items that you can no longer use. Write down what you truly need to buy. Aim to choose interchangeable pieces that can be worn in a number of combinations.
Look for Hand Me Downs
Kids grow fast! Sometimes they size out before clothes even wear out. If you know someone with a kiddo older than yours, don’t be afraid to accept hand-me-downs. In particular, things like soccer shin guards, cleats, jeans, jackets, coats, spirit gear, and uniform pieces (more on that in a minute) can last through several kids. Especially if the hand-me-downs come from an older sibling, your kids can quickly personalize them with iron on patches or jewel embellishments from the craft store. Stylize what you have (or are given) to fit the personalities of your kids. Use your social networks to see if other families have items they’re ready to part with.
Shop Summer Clearance
If your child has grown like a weed of the summer, you may still need a few things, though. But, let’s face it. Even though those jeans and hoodies are adorable, you won’t really be able to wear them until late into the fall. Especially if your child begins school in July or August, it’s likely they’ll be going to school for at least a month in 80 and even 90 degree weather. Instead of looking at the latest fashions, check out the items on the clearance section. Again, in a couple of months the prices on the back to school marketed clothing items will drop in price.
Check In With School for Uniforms
If your child wears a uniform to school, you may want to begin by calling the office. Some schools have programs where kids can benefit from others’ outgrown pieces. They also might know about special programs where students can receive uniforms at a discounted price or even for free. By the way, uniform tops and bottoms are often clearanced out in January.
Coupons. Always coupons.
Before you hit any store, you want to be sure that you have properly armed yourself with coupons and reward programs. For clothes in particular, I’d suggest you check out the posts The Best Ways to Save Money at Kohl’s, The Best Ways to Save Money at Walmart, The Best Ways to Save Money at Meijer, and The Best Ways to Save Money at Target. At a bare minimum I’d suggest you Google coupons and rewards programs before you enter the store (at home where you can print coupons would be even better). This will help you maximize the dollars you have budgeted, stretching them further. If you’re shopping in store, don’t forget to use Shopkick. If you’re shopping online, consider using Rakuten.
The overwhelm of Back to School makes it easy to overspend. Strategies like using cash only, having a targeted list, starting the year in what you have, and focusing on one back to school outfit help, too!
Looking for more back to school money saving ideas? Check out:
- The Back to School Supplies You Didn’t Know You Needed
- Your Back to School Money Saving Checklist
- Smart Back to School Meal Planning Hacks
- The Smartest Back to School Deals for Your Wallet
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out The Debt Free Devotional
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal, learn about a way to save, or maybe even something for free, I may end up making a small commission. All prices are subject to change.
