10 Savvy Back-To-School Shopping Survival Tips
It's
almost time to pack up the swim suits and bust out the khakis, mom and
dad. While it might seem like a good idea to just pull out your laptop
and take care of your kid's back-to-school shopping needs online, kids grow. Also, sizes can vary so you really have to bring along the whole crew when you head out to the stores.
Don't panic! You can make a fun day out of the experience without blowing your budget, or your top. Follow these 10 back-to-school shopping survival tips and your child will be dressed sharply and you'll be back home enjoying those last days of summer in a flash.
1. Timing is Everything
Head out first thing in the morning, right after breakfast. A tired, hungry kid is not the best shopping companion. Then, you can promise lunch out if all goes well.
2. Study School Policy
Even if your child's school doesn't require a uniform, it could have some surprising rules. Don't be caught off guard with a bag full of brand advertising t-shirts if logos are forbidden in the hallowed halls.
3. Carry Cash
It's tempting to get "just one more" super cute t-shirt even though you know it's out of budget. If you only allow yourself to carry cash on shopping day, you'll have no choice. Additionally, it's a visual cue to your kids that there are limited funds.
4. Negotiate Wisely . . . With Your Kids
To avoid the head butting that can come along with shopping with kids, negotiate before you walk into the store. If your rule is that you get final approval on every purchase, make that clear. But consider bending the rule for good behavior, or allowing one kid's choice for every four adult ones.
5. Don't Drag It Out
Your child's attention span for clothes shopping will not be as extended as it might be for texting or Xbox playing. If you meander around the mall, you could spend all day on this venture. Instead, have a plan before you go and stick to it.
6. Bring Provisions
You don't want to spend time trying to find a drive-through for a bottle of water. Pack water bottles, granola bars, and any other quick energy boost kind of snacks that will keep everyone going until lunch time.
7. Outsource
You know who might love shopping for school clothes with your kid? Grandma. Fully research that option if for nothing else, as a supplement to your day.
8. Know the Sales
Pick up your Sunday paper, and go online to your favorite store websites. You would hate to spend more on the same pair of jeans if only a trip down the street could have saved you serious cash.
9. Don't Spend It All
Reserve some of your back-to-school budget for a few weeks into the school year. Between after school activities, and the latest trends that your kid may not have picked up on, there will be a need to add to the closet after the first bell rings.
10. When to go Online
Okay, so you can do some shopping online. Once you've established the proper shoe size and jacket size, buy things like rain gear and winter coats online for a better deal, and more options. Buy a size up, and you'll be set for inclement weather days throughout the year.
What are your back-to-school shopping tips?
My tip is to wait until after school starts, everything will be on clearance then.
Wait until your kids actually outgrow their old clothes before spending money on new ones.
When we were kids, my Mom once bought my brother a bunch of clothes in August and then he had a growth spurt in October and grew 2 sizes. If she would have just waited (his clothes from the spring before had still fit him at the start of the year), she would have save a lot of money.
Don't be a victim of our 'spend spend spend' culture and think that new clothes should define the back to school season.
This is how I do it as well. My boys start the school year with the clothing that I purchased in the Spring since it still fits them and it is plenty warm enough to do that. Then in late Sept/early Oct we go through their winter stuff and see what needs to be replaced and go from there.
Quoting wissotamum:Wait until your kids actually outgrow their old clothes before spending money on new ones.
When we were kids, my Mom once bought my brother a bunch of clothes in August and then he had a growth spurt in October and grew 2 sizes. If she would have just waited (his clothes from the spring before had still fit him at the start of the year), she would have save a lot of money.
Don't be a victim of our 'spend spend spend' culture and think that new clothes should define the back to school season.
a quality back pack REALLY pays off in the end. Took some explaining to my husband.lol we were going through 2 $10 backpacks. Spend $50 and it lasts YEARS!
Quoting catngabsmom:
My girls like to wait a few weeks! They want to scope out other peoples clothes, shoes, accessories,etc before we shop. Bonus this year is they are finally the same size, so they get double the wardrobe!!! Also since they are "Tweens" they want the fun school supplies, so I only buy the basics (crayons, markers, colored pencils, pens, etc) when all of the sales hit, then once I get the teacher assignment and class specific list, I get the fun notebooks, folders, etc. also, I invested in really good back packs years ago, spent $150 each in kindy, they are 4th and 5th grade this year, and the back packs are still like new! My biggest salvation though is my girls grow slow, so their clothes generally carry over from season to season and I am typically able to just replace a piece or two at a time without having to buy entire new wardrobes in the next size!
I leave the kids at home and take my tape measure. Before I go to the store, I measure the clothes that they have that fit and then measure the clothes I want at the store to get the best match. I was even able to replace my daughter's favorite pair of worn out jeans that way. The pair that she had was no longer available, so a measured the waste, the inseam, and the rise length, and found a pair with similar measurements. They fit just perfectly.
Quoting catngabsmom:
My girls like to wait a few weeks! They want to scope out other peoples clothes, shoes, accessories,etc before we shop. Bonus this year is they are finally the same size, so they get double the wardrobe!!! Also since they are "Tweens" they want the fun school supplies, so I only buy the basics (crayons, markers, colored pencils, pens, etc) when all of the sales hit, then once I get the teacher assignment and class specific list, I get the fun notebooks, folders, etc. also, I invested in really good back packs years ago, spent $150 each in kindy, they are 4th and 5th grade this year, and the back packs are still like new! My biggest salvation though is my girls grow slow, so their clothes generally carry over from season to season and I am typically able to just replace a piece or two at a time without having to buy entire new wardrobes in the next size!
My dd has never done that, scoped out others clothes, she tends to be more of a trend setter than a follower.
Quoting minimo77:
Quoting catngabsmom:
My girls like to wait a few weeks! They want to scope out other peoples clothes, shoes, accessories,etc before we shop. Bonus this year is they are finally the same size, so they get double the wardrobe!!! Also since they are "Tweens" they want the fun school supplies, so I only buy the basics (crayons, markers, colored pencils, pens, etc) when all of the sales hit, then once I get the teacher assignment and class specific list, I get the fun notebooks, folders, etc. also, I invested in really good back packs years ago, spent $150 each in kindy, they are 4th and 5th grade this year, and the back packs are still like new! My biggest salvation though is my girls grow slow, so their clothes generally carry over from season to season and I am typically able to just replace a piece or two at a time without having to buy entire new wardrobes in the next size!
My dd has never done that, scoped out others clothes, she tends to be more of a trend setter than a follower.
What is with the sassy mouth?
- Cafe MichelleP
on Jul. 30, 2012 at 9:30 AM