I don’t miss having to do back to school shopping that much with my kids. I do in some ways, but now that they are both in college, the only thing we really need to shop for is new glasses for the family.
Back to school clothes shopping can be expensive unless you find the right deals. Here are a few tips for saving money on the things on your list. When you are a student and, as an elder brother or sister who is reading this article and would love to provide assistance to your minor, you can ask essay writing services to help you to economize your own budget and do not waste it on the additional paper.
One of the many things no one ever tells you about parenthood is how expensive it is to send your kids to school.
Even if they go to a public school, they still need supplies and, of course, new clothes. In fact, on average, parents spend nearly $700 a year getting their kids ready to go back to school.
Does the idea of back to school clothes shopping make you want to hyperventilate? Don’t panic! It’s totally possible to get your kids fun and fashionable clothes for the new year without breaking the bank.
Listed below are some effective strategies that will help you make the shopping process much more affordable.
Start by Shopping at Home
Before you venture out to the mall with your kids in tow, have them go through their closets. This gives you an opportunity to take stock of what they already have and figure out which gaps you need to fill.
Maybe your daughter’s jeans from last year still fit perfectly and don’t look worn out. If this is the case, she might not need any new pairs. She might be lacking in the shirt or sweater department, though.
Going through her clothes before you shop will save you from coming home with six new pairs of jeans and no sweaters.
Plan a Clothing Swap
If you go through your kids’ closets and find that they have clothes that are still in good condition but don’t fit, consider arranging a clothing swap with your friends and their children.
This gives everyone an opportunity to pick out some new clothes without having to spend a bunch of money. It’s also a chance for you to spend some time with your friends during the busy back to school season.
Sell Their Old Clothes
If there’s anything left from the clothing swap (or if you don’t have anyone around with whom you can do a clothing swap), another good option is to sell clothes to consignment stores.
There are brick-and-mortar consignment stores, but there are also lots of online stores that allow you to list your clothes and ship them out yourself. This can be a lot easier than hauling everything to a store only to have the bulk of it rejected.
Buy Used
In addition to selling at consignment stores, you can also take advantage of them for your kids’ own shopping. Lots of consignment stores have high-quality, designer clothing for sale at great prices.
If your child wants to get their hands on some name brand items, consignment stores are a good option to consider. When you shop at consignment stores, you’re also preventing clothing from ending up in landfills, so it’s great for the planet as well.
Check Out Discount Retailers
You can also save quite a bit of money by shopping at discount retailers. Stores like Ross, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls all offer great deals on brand name clothing, shoes, and accessories. You can also find lots of unique items at these stores that will set your children apart from their classmates.
Shop on Tuesdays and Fridays
Did you know that you’re more likely to find deals on certain days of the week? Tuesdays and Fridays tend to be the best days to shop when you’re looking to save money.
Markdowns usually start to show up on Tuesday because foot traffic in stores is lower. This gives staff more time to go around and add new tags.
Fridays are also popular days for sales because they help to attract weekend shoppers. Consider hitting the store on these days to get the best deals and have your pick of the on-sale items.
Download Coupon Apps
Most clothing stores these days have an app that will provide you with additional coupons and savings options.
These apps will also often alert you when a big sale or promotion is coming up so you have an opportunity to take advantage of it before everyone else does.
Download the apps for your children’s favorite stores and be on the hunt for coupons and deals as back to school season gets closer.
Get Cash Back
Check with your credit card provider to see if they offer points or cashback when you shop at your child’s favorite clothing stores.
This can be a good way for you to get some of the money you spend back or be able to put it toward another purchase.
Just make sure you understand the parameters of your card’s cashback offering so you can take full advantage of it.
Take Advantage of Loyalty Programs
If your child’s favorite store has a loyalty program, it might be a good idea to sign up for it. Most of these programs are free to join, so you don’t have anything to lose.
These kinds of programs can give you access to more coupons and offers that aren’t available to regular shoppers. You might get access to exclusive deals and sales, too.
Set and Stick to a Budget
Back to school shopping is a great opportunity to teach your kids about budgeting, too. Sit down with them and give them a dollar amount that they have to stick to.
This will help them prioritize what kinds of clothing they want to purchase. For example, if they want a Bomboogie coat, they can have it, but that might not leave them very much extra for their other clothing needs.
Save on Back to School Clothes Shopping Today
The idea of back to school clothes shopping is daunting to a lot of parents, especially when you have multiple children who need new school clothes.
If you’ve been stressing over how you’re going to pay for new clothes for your kids, hopefully, these tips have shown you that it can be done (without sacrificing style or clothing quality).
Keep these tips in mind as you embark on your back to school shopping adventures.
Don’t forget to check out the giveaways section of the site, too. Here, you’ll find tons of opportunities to win back to school items and save even more money.