Every year we say we aren’t going to repeat the year before, but somehow we manage to get caught up in the sales and spend hundreds on a new wardrobe for each child in the home. Back to school clothes shopping doesn’t have to drain the kid’s college funds or put the family on a ramen diet for the next few months though. Actually, by the time the school year begins you should be able to get every child in your home a few pieces that will keep them looking trendy throughout the upcoming school year. If you can follow a few simple tips then this school year will bring your child some confidence and you a little piece of mind that doesn’t involve spending a grand on new clothing for the children.
1. Hand-Me Downs
Some kids might cringe at the idea of wearing hand me downs to school, but there are ways to make your child feel uncomfortable in clothes their family members have worn previously. Generally when you’re looking through the hand me down clothes you might want to choose items like jeans and jackets to pass down. Typically t-shirts can be outdated which will make your kid’s feel even more uncomfortable wearing the clothes. A good pair of jeans are typically one of the most expensive items on your back to school shopping list. The great thing about jeans is they don’t change too drastically in fashion, so you can easily have a younger child wear the pants without their classmates realizing they were worn before. Jackets typically don’t change a whole lot in fashion either, so when the weather gets a bit cool then pull out a jacket from storage, rather than going out and buying brand new items. Sometimes kids will want to go through the hand me downs themselves and find items that an older sibling had worn that they have been waiting to have for themselves. Either way, if you can find a few signature pieces these clothes can cut down your back to school bill by hundreds of dollars.
2. Wardrobe Check
For some reason many of us labor in the idea that the kids have absolutely nothing to wear at the beginning of each school year. This clearly isn’t the case, so don’t feel bad about taking inventory before you go shopping. The week prior to your big shopping day you might have each of your children go through the clothing in their closets and try everything on. If the items still look good and fit well they place them back in the closet. Everything else can be donated, sold in a garage sale or packed away for the next child to use later. You might be surprised as to how many clothes your child actually has in the closet once this task is completed. After the kids have done their part, with your supervision, it is time for you take inventory as to who has what clothes. If the kids all have a decent amount of jeans and shorts then simply buy them each one or two new items to freshen up their style.
3. Shop All Year
Instead of worrying about buying school clothes in one lump sum at the beginning of the year you might want to consider shopping throughout the year. Kids change a lot during one school year so the chances are they will outgrow a lot of the items you purchase before they get a lot of wear out them. So, when the new school year rolls around make sure the have a couple pairs of pants, shirts and a pair of shoes to wear and then call it quits. When your child heads back to school the need for clothes will be more apparent. Instead of buying items that your child refuses to wear because of friends, you can get items that the children will wear a lot. Shopping year round prevents your from having to have a huge budget to spend on clothing. If you wait and pick items up when you have the spare cash then the kids will have a full wardrobe and you’ll be able to keep your household’s budget in line.
4. Go Basic
A lot of shoppers tend to go a bit crazy when it comes to school sales. The best thing you can do is keep the basics in mind while you’re shopping. Kids need pants, shirts and shoes when school starts out and not a whole lot more. Many shoppers want to go crazy over socks, underwear, sweaters, jackets and even accessories instead of concentrating on items the kids really need. So, when you can go school shopping make sure you have a list that states who needs what. If you have a child who is lacking in t-shirts then you have to ensure you leave with a least three or four shirts, depending on how often you intend to do laundry during the week. Usually two pairs of good quality jeans per child will last for several months, so don’t forget this key item. You also have to make sure your child has a pair of gym shoes that fit comfortably as all kids will have to take place in an exercise program. Of course, you shouldn’t spend a lot of money on these items, especially for younger children, because kids outgrow shoes incredibly fast.
5. Shop Clearance
If you feel your early bird sense tingling then there is a pretty good reason. Generally before the big back to school sales many stores will begin to move last years fashion trends right into the clearance bin. If your alright with picking styles from last year then this is the time to swoop in and get your kids what they need for the new season. Most of the school clothes don’t vary too much from year to year so your kids won’t look out of place when they show up to school on the first day. If you’re lucky then you might also find items for the rest of the summer months in the clearance bin. Sometimes you might even find items a size or two larger than your kid’s current size which will make them look awesome next summer while ensuring you don’t have to summer shopping at the end of the school year.
6. Yard Sales
Finding the cash to purchase clothes for the upcoming year can be tough, especially after spending money on family vacations and entertaining the kids all summer. So, if you’re having a tough time finding the money then look no further then last year’s school clothes. Every kid’s closet has clothes in it that aren’t going to be worn again due to a change in trends or the clothes simply not fitting. Snag up these clothes and put them outdoors for a good old fashioned yard sale. If you really want the kids to learn responsibility then have them go through their own closet and choose the clothes they would like to sell. Then take the money they earn from the sale and let them pick the clothing items they’d like to wear in the upcoming year. This will allow them to pick their clothes while also realizing how much money goes into their wardrobe each year.
7. Customization
If your child’s clothes still fit, but aren’t as cool as they were a few months ago then you might want to look into customizing them! Every kid loves to have items that are completely unique to them, so don’t stress about adding a little TLC to your child’s look. Pants are some of the easiest items to customize when it comes to children. You might want to college any patches, buttons, jewels and paints you have around the home. Pants can be transformed by adding any of them items with your child, so they can fall in love with the clothes you once bought them. Many kids might also like character print outs, so grab some iron on sheets and iron on your child’s favorite superheroes, cartoons, or phrases. If pants have become too short then cut them off into shorts and hem up the bottoms so they still look good. Older shirts that have stains and tears can be cut up to create headbands, bracelets and clothing ties that will give your little girl a cute look without the price of accessories.
8. Secondhand Stores
If you’re in a pinch for money or just don’t see a point in spending a lot on certain items then you might want to look around at second hand stores. There’s a lot of great quality items that can be found in thrift stores as well as yard sales, do don’t be afraid to buy certain items for your children here. For instance, most thrift stores have a pretty good selection of jeans that are still in great shape. This is great for those ages in which kids seem to constantly be growing. You might also have an easy time finding vintage t-shirts for teen who want to stand out and don’t like items that are trendy. Of course, these shops are also perfect for finding the perfect jacket for the winter season.
9. Shoes
Shoes tends to be one item we want to spend a lot of money on, but when it comes to kids you want to think cheap when it comes to this purchase. Sure, expensive shoes look nice and they hold up well, but kids grow out of shoes faster than anything else so you don’t want to spend a lot on something they will be wearing a month or two. The best thing you can do is find a Buy One Get One Free sale so you can stock up the entire household on shoes while only paying half of the price. Most kids will only need one or two pairs of shoes, so make sure you pick items that are versatile and will work as gym shoes as well as play and leisure shoes. If your school requires a certain type of dress shoes then make sure to hold onto old pairs so your younger children can wear them in the upcoming school years.
10. Adjustments
You don’t have to box up your kids summer clothes and replace them with new ones. Instead shop with adjustments in mind. For instance, all of those spring and summer t-shirts can be transformed into awesome layer if you buy a neutral colored turtleneck, button up top or cardigan. This layered look is always fashionable and will keep your child warm as the weather begins to cool down. You can also take all of those cute sun dresses and pair them with a cardigan and pair of leggings for a finished look that will leave both parent and child feeling great about the fashion choices. When shopping look for key pieces that will tie items together so you won’t have to worry about buying all new clothes when you send the little one’s back to school.
School shopping doesn’t have to be the scary money spending event the stores make it out to be. Instead, enter the sales room with the knowledge of what you need and search for the best prices for your budget. With these tips you will be able to get in and out of stores before anyone can talk you into buying extra items that you know you don’t need. Your kids will even be the talk of their school’s fashion world thanks to your awesome shopping skills.
Author: Chelsey McQuitty
