Back to School Shopping - Troy,TX

I have two boys who care nothing about fashion, so we don't buy new clothes at all unless they have outgrown something. They do usually need new shoes at the start of each school year. They both wear flip-flops all summer, and by the time school starts they have usually outgrown their tennis shoes from the year before.

I have to agree with Lenore though; I can't even think about school starting yet. There are way too many things I want to enjoy this summer still! :)

We only replace needed items. There is NO way I could afford to get them all new clothes.

Go through their wardrobes and pick out staple items that still fit and are in good condition - like jeans, socks, underwear, basic black/white tee shirts/tank tops, black flats and so on. Then buy some new items that will make the wardrobe more interesting like cute tops and sweaters. If their wardrobes don't have alot of basic staple items in them, maybe invest in that and have a smaller shopping trip next year.

We don't purchase anything new for school before the year starts. I wait for the sales in October and November. Then we know what they really need. I also shop for school supplies after school starts to get the 90% off sales. If they need anything specific, I get those few items, but normally, we have enough notebooks, pencils, pens, etc. to start the year.
I'm cheap.
LBC

Eeeeewwww, VERY depressing to even think about back to school shopping right now, sorry!!! UGH!!!! Ease into it and I agree with previous posts telling you to wait for good sales around the first official day of Fall. Can't even write anymore, we need to enjoy the summer NOW!!

I can't imagine buying a whole new wardrobe every year at the beginning of school. How do they know before school starts what's going to be "IN"??? NOT that either of my kids ever cared what was in!! We only bought the school supplies and whatever was absolutely necessary before school started. If they had outgrown their jeans or shirts during the summer, I did replace what was outgrown or holey, but only when necessary - that way it was spread out and not a big expenditure all at once. My kids have learned that they don't buy anything that's not on sale unless it's their money. I will NOT pay retail for just about anything!! I'd find a new tradition!!!

I don't mean to be mean, but why on earth would you spend money on stuff you and your family don't need?

I try to spend as little as possible on kids clothes and my poor middle child has not had "new" clothes in forever. He gets his brothers hand me downs. My youngest is a bit luckier- most of the hand me down don't last through the middle one! I buy only what they need- new uniform shirts for my oldest this year and pants for my oldest as well- he hit another growth spurt this summer!

I like your idea of getting a new outfit for the first day of school, though. That is always special.

If it is really important to them to have new clothes for school, have them do the usual clean out the closet of stuff they don't want and take it to the resale shop. Then use only the money from the resale shop to shop with. Remind them that the more they get rid of, the more money they will have to spend on new stuff. This will teach them to be frugal and not wasteful. Because buying stuff you don't need is wasteful in more ways than one.

My daughter likes to start out with a few new things and after school is in session a week or two and you see the new styles, etc... then she shops more.

My daughter is 16, wears Abercrombie and Hollister mostly. This year, I told her any shirts, shorts she pitches will go to the women's shelter and then I will replace those clothes.

There is a place called Plato's Closet which has used teen clothing but it is like all the other places (ex once upon a child) and you don't get much $ out of it.

I don't buy school supplies until I get all the info from the teachers the first week of school. It is crazy to buy everything on the list because when school starts, each teacher sends home a list of things.

We have a tradition of going to lunch and shopping for back to school as well..

Happy Shopping!

I only replace needed items (generally new sneakers and jeans) and a special outfit for the first day of school.

For my daughter in HIgh school she gets a new outfit, maybe a pair pf jeans and a shirt or two. But this year I just bought her some new shorts and shirts for a college class in DC so she won't be getting anything new for school.
The other two are homeschooled but when they were in school they got what they needed.
I go on tax free weekend, usually the first weekend in August. I even got my Skechers tax free last year. I hope they do it this year again.

We have three boys, ages 14, 8 and 7. Our rule is brand new wardrobe when they are starting a new school building. Otherwise, hand me down shirts from their older brothers and they always need new pants (they don't last long enough to hand down or I would). We get them a few new shirts but they wear a lot of what they already have. We utilize places that have layaway (Such as Burlington's coat factory), second hand shops like Plato's Closet and Once Upon a Child and a lot of shopping online throughout the school year (which I save for when they need it). Lastly, our oldest is becoming very fond of new, big name clothes so we give him some clothes for Christmas. It helps spread the cost over a longer period of time. Shoes, we buy only as needed.

My mom always took us school shopping towards the end of summer. I think that puts a lot of pressure on the family. Mom and Dad have to spend a lot of money in a short time. Kids are unhappy if they don't get as much as they want. Additionally, I think that kids shouldn't worry themselves with the cost of necessities and if they are shopping with you, they see prices. It is one tradition I have stayed far, far away from.

i would only replace needed items. it dose not sound like your struggling for money. if that is the case can you start a less self centered tradition (i know that sound really rude and i totally dont mean for it to at all). let your kids pick out a back pack and fill it up with school supplies for someone in need who dose not have the money to buy it. or even buy a teacher set of supplies for each kid. we both know there are kids who cannot afford new things. i have even seen a blogger who has a festival or big dinner celebration before school begins with goals for the family. like be kind, or learn so you can help others. http://nieniedialogues.com/ the august 2010 was to learn with joy. hope this is helpful for you . God bless your kids durring the school year.