Q & A-How Do I Buy School Clothes on a Budget

Here are some tips to help you save money even if you have a clothes-crazy teenager on your hands or five kids to outfit for school next week!

1. Prepare your list.

• Take an inventory of what each child has that will last through at least the first semester or that can be shifted around to siblings.
• Think about what articles of clothing will be needed for the school year ahead including what items and how many of each. Take into consideration how busy your schedule is and how often you can do laundry in a given week. Your children will let you know what they want, but focus on what they need for now.
• Make a LIST for each child.

2. Set a budget.

• If you have more than one child, remember you may not be splitting the budgeted amount equally among them. It will probably require more cash to outfit one child than another.
• Tell your older kids what the budget is so they won’t be surprised when you have to say no or when they have to put something back. This may even get them more involved in making the right decisions.

3. Ask your kids for their wish list, if they have an opinion.

• This might be a great time to share the budget and what you feel they need to fit in the budget.
• We don’t even need to pretend this process will go smoothly every year. Kids’ expectations are always a bit different than reality. The key is to work with them to figure out how to make the two lists mesh within the budget you’ve set.
• If they want items that just don’t fit in the budget, suggest to them that they earn extra money to buy them.

4. Look for sales. (Right, a no-brainer, but there are some tricks!)

• First, pay attention to your state’s “tax holiday” and find out what cities or municipalities are participating. See a complete list here.
• Second, check giftcards.com and Gift Card Bin for discounted gift cards to stores you plan to shop at. You can save money right off the top this way. CardAvenue is an auction site for gift cards. Last year we found a $175 gift card to American Eagle for just $125; that’s 30% off!
• Third, check store websites and sign-up for e-mail clubs to get in-store coupons, online codes and online coupons. Don’t fall prey to every e-mail alert announcing a sale. Instead, wait for a coupon for a discount on your entire purchase!
• Fourth, check your favorite blogs for local and national deals on Back to School items.
• Try on clothes at the store, write down what you like and see if you can find the style and size online with a coupon code for free or discounted shipping. If you do any shopping online, shop through Ebates or Shop At Home to earn cash back on your purchase. These sites also offer several coupon codes that you can use to save even more.

5. Shop outside the box.

 

• Visit local consignment stores like Children’s Orchard and Once Upon a Child for the basics. Plain colored t-shirts, button ups or pants can be paired with a cute accessory or embellished.
• Consignment stores in general offer the best savings opportunity. Taylor Bond, CEO of Children’s Orchard recently commented:
  

  “At a traditional retail store, customers would expect to pay $50 or more for a Gymboree dress; the same dress would cost around $7 at Children’s Orchard. Similarly, GAPKIDS, Abercrombie, Tommy Hilfiger Kids separates that cost upwards of $70 at most stores would likely be closer to $12-$15 at Children’s Orchard.
  

   

• Visit a local independent consignment shop that specializes in designer clothing. When your children feel they must have designer labels, this is the place to go. The items are typically in top-notch condition and cost half what they did new.
• Consignment stores are a great place to make extra money, too! Sell last year’s clothes that you can’t use any longer and let your kids use that money toward the things they want that aren’t in the current budget.
  

  “In addition to selling high-end items at low-end prices, Children’s Orchard buys clothes and other items, paying cash for gently-used brand name toys and other products for children – a favorite feature for parents seeking to earn money and live more environmentally conscious lives.” Taylor Bond CEO, Children’s Orchard

• Shopping for used clothes may be easier with younger kids and especially with girls, but you may find that if you buy an item at a consignment store and take it home to your kids, they will like it before they realize it’s not new. Then you can tell them where you purchased it!
• Consider shopping for school clothes at consignment sales that are held twice a year. Learn more about how to shop and sell at a consignment sale here or here and check out a national directory here.

Follow me on Pinterest, Facebook and subscribe to my FREE newsletter! This post may contain affiliate links.