Back to School Shopping - What's Your Game Plan?

I buy for the seasons, so when they start school (right after Labor Day here), their summer clothes still fit them. Before fall, I will need to buy them new jeans, long sleeves, sweatshirts etc. And new shoes.

I buy school supplies as soon as they are set out, usually right after 4th of July. So by July 5th, supply shopping is done. $40.

I get whatever clothes I can from consignment stores (you just can't beat $3 barely used jeans and $2 Nike sports shirts) and go to department store sales to get anything we are missing, usually over a 1-2 week period ($50).

Its so hot here kids can get away with wearing shorts through October/November so shorts and tees are cheap cheap cheap when its time to shop for school.

My son could care less what he wears so clothes shopping isn't dramatic.

I simply get it as they need it. I don't really set a limit, but since we only get necessities, we don't worry about going over our budget. We'll be in shorts for a while here, so he needs a few pairs of those. He has many, but a lot of those are "worn out" and a he'll need a few shirts. His tennis shoes still fit and were bought in June (and since he's been living in sandals they have hardly been worn). My poor deprived child will even be using the same lunch box and back pack from last year. His are still in excellent shape.

School supplies are already done! Did those two weeks ago!
Clothing -- I only buy what they need, when they need it. After school starts, everything goes on sale, so I rarely buy much of anything before school starts -- I just make sure they have a nice outfit for the first day. And then we hit Once Upon a Child, which is a local resale shop -- I find a lot of really beautiful clothes with original tags still on (think Talbots, JCrew, etc.) for $10 or less. Usually $100 or less per child all fall.
I often find that they don't need new clothes at back to school time, and they don't wear sweaters and long pants until long after school starts -- by that time, everything goes on sale. Personally, if everything still fits, as you say, I don't bother.

For one: I'm glad I have boys. And they're young. Not as trendy or "whatever" as girls; we stick with classics. It's easy to find some classic, "normal" Levis at a consignment store as well as at the mall. But for 4 days starting today, Children's Place is having a sale ($10 on straight and some bootcut jeans, $13 on the khakis he needs for his school uniform), plus tax free weekend, so we will be there when the store opens to get the pants and get out before the store becomes full of people and a mess (I can't shop in a mess!).

I bought his uniform shirts and some uniform shorts already; I bought 1 a week starting the day they put them out 6 weeks ago. We will be moving later in the year (anywhere from 1 month to 6 months from now, we don't know) and he does have shirts that are non-uniform that he can wear already in his closet.

My "strategy" for buying clothes is to keep an eye out for quality clothes in good shape at a consignment store, and I buy new as needed...on sale whenever possible. Before going to the store, I'll look in his closet and keep in mind what he already has (so I don't accidentally buy 10 blue shirts because it's my favorite color, lol) and make sure he has enough for a couple weeks. Mix and match stuff is our friend: you can make different outfits by doing a couple different things to your same stuff. I don't have a set limit because I use wisdom and buy what they need, don't go on a crazy spending spree, but I do put aside a little bit of money every month for clothing, and when I find a good deal and it's getting "time" to start looking (a growth spurt or whatever) I'll replenish. Once the kids are in a non-uniform school, of course if the clothes still fit and look good (not faded or worn thin) they will still be for the next school year. But I'd get a few new things for them also. It just helps them feel better and more confident. Maybe new jeans with last year's shirt, or whatever.

This year is a little awkward because he'll be starting school where they wear uniforms, but after Christmas break, we may be moving and at a school that does NOT wear uniforms and I want him to have normal clothes as well. (Yes we'll still use those polos, but with antique wash jeans and another shirt layering it....or we can use the khakis, but with normal shirts...) Ack.

No new wardrobes & no new outfits this year. It will be hot until Halloween so my "baby" will wear "old" shorts & tees until Nov. Then in Oct/Nov I'll buy 5 pairs of pants and a few sweaters. The old coat from last year still fits so no new coat yet. The huge purchase will be shoes - few pairs of boots, new tennis shoes, rain boots. Why so much?, I buy two sizes in each style since the shoes are outgrown after 2-3 weeks. I'll try to keep the cost for these items under $100.

I had Gymbucks from my cousin so I got over $600 of clothing for my daughter for around $300 a few months ago (bought things big). So while she didn't get 'an entire wardrobe', it was pretty close! And I made sure to get things that matched for all seasons so she could wear them at the begininng, middle and end of the year (unless she grows a lot, which can definitely happen!). She got a new pair of tennis shoes and boots and the others are in good enough shape. I also want to mention that a lot of her old stuff is getting too small, was hand me downs, etc.....

Also - I did all this shopping without her (minus the shoes, which my parents bought for her - it's their tradition - to buy the kids each a new pair of school shoes at the beginning of the year), online. It was easy peasy!

I used my % off coupon from Kohl's on the clearance items from this season for next year's summer outfits (I spent $150, got $20 in K cash, and saved $430). Can't go wrong with new shirts for $2.50.

I already have some items for fall/winter that I bought at the end of last year for this year.

My oldest is almost 5 and starts K in 2 weeks. So, I'm lucky so far with buying ahead. I also have a younger daughter who will eventually wear these clothes, too.

I bought the school supplies, a new pair of tennis shoes, and a couple of outfits for her for this school year. Then, I'm waiting on more clearance!

Mine will wear shorts to begin thru Oct.
Just picked up a few pairs of new ahorts and s few t shirts for him last night.
If I but pants now they won't fit by nov.

Oh-- new tennies might happen today.

Is that a "game plan"? Lol

I know I am getting up at four tomorrow so I can run by Wal Mart on my way to work and nail their school supply lists. :( Why do middle schoolers even have school supply lists?

I digress...

I am hoping to nab some summer clearance since most of their summer wardrobe is at their dad's house then some jeans and stuff to transition to winter. Yeah, I am an optimist, I am still clinging to a transition to winter, didn't happen last year but ya know, it has in the past. :p

I never put a for kid limit but a trip limit. Sometimes I find really cute things for one on sale but all rubbish for the other so I go with making sure they have the same number of outfits so I am doing laundry at the same time.

Oh, the Wal Mart thing tomorrow, this is our tax free weekend.

My daughter will be wearing a uniform to school, but there are a number of pieces that create some variety within the uniform guidelines. I was able to get some items as part of the end-of-year used uniform sale, and some I bought new. She ended up with 1 jumper/dress, 2 skirts (1 gray, 1 plaid), 1 pair of khaki pants, 2 short-sleeved blouses, 2 long-sleeved blouses, 3 short-sleeved polo shirts, 1 cardigan sweater, 2 pairs of tights, and 2 pairs of shoes. I figure as the year goes on, if it becomes apparent she needs more of something, we'll get it then.

If she were going to public school, I would just assess what still fits from last year, and then go from there. If she needed some new stuff, I would just try to get 2 or 3 pairs of jeans, and 2 to 3 of everything else that could mixed and matched into different outfits. I don't really have a money limit, but I don't go crazy either - if she needs it, we get it, within reason. I have to take into account changes in weather and seasons too. It's probably a good thing she'll be in a uniform because it's too easy for me to go nuts at someplace like Gymboree!

I used to get them all new clothes, but since we are in AZ, we basically wear the same things all year. So I only have to buy them one or two pairs of jeans for our cold days.

Our kids go back to school on Wed. I asked the kids if they want new school clothes and they both said they just want a couple new things, they don't really care. I did buy both of them new shoes already, that's a given since my son wears them out so quickly and my daughter will have PE every day.

I have not gotten school supplies at all. My sons last day at the Boys club is Friday and then they will be at their dads this weekend. I figure they will both be home all day Mon and Tues so we can shop then. I also don't buy every single thing on their supply list. I get them the basics for the first day, then I email the teacher and tell them I will get the rest after the stores put everything on clearance at 75% off. Then I load up on everything when its only .15 and keep the classes supplied all year. I just let the teachers know to let me know when they are running low on something and I usually have it.

And no, I don't put a limit on the dollar amount I spend. I generally shop sales anyway and just buy each of them what they need. =)

I don't do a spending limit really, more of an assess what htey have that is salvagable from past years then go from there! I have learned my lesson from past years that if you wait too long, then you don't get what you need/want. So this years I went and hit up Penny's (checke donline first ot see who had the best prices), and spend $250 for my 2 girls. What I usually do is get them stuff to get started, like the backpacks, shoes, and some end of summer fall stuff, then I will go back and get some warmer things when the new stuff is out and on sale. That way I am not feeling it all up front, plus they don't have everything out right now! Try to figure out exactly what you needs and if you can split it up a little! Just make sure you get backpacks now, cuz man they go fast!

I periodically go through my son's clothing and get rid of what ever is worn out or out grown.
Then I shop for clothes he needs that he doesn't have.
He's constantly shooting up in size, so he can out grow his clothes any time of the year.
In a major growth year, he can need a whole wardrobe replacement 3 times.
It's nice if I can shop on a sale, but they don't always coincide with his growth spurts.
He's going to need new concert wear for band this year, but I won't buy it till a month before the concert because he WILL grow between now and then.

We don't use CC's so it's not in the budget to spend 600 bucks in one trip unless I saved for it. I usually buy slowly and watch for sales. I don't do back to school outfits because it's still warm when school starts and I don't want to spend money on more shorts and short sleeve shirts that will only be used for 2 more months when they have tons already.

I don't really have a price limit and I don't really pay attention to what the actual amount spent per year on clothes is.

I dont do back to school shopping. I get what he needs when he needs it. I made the mistake of buying his whole wardrobe his first year of school and he outgrew his clothes by end of October. He wears shorts all September and have one or two pair of basketball pants for cooler days. Then come October I buy clothes for cooler weather and he usually wears them thru February or March. However I will buy ahead if there is a great sale shortly before I need it. like Old Navy had their jeans for $10 now. And like a previous poster he uses last years back pack, well actually his back pack from kindergarten so it's on it's fifth year, got a good one at BJs and it was no more expensive than the cheap character ones that rip before the year is out. And his 2 yr old lunchbox from Costco.

I look at my son's existing wardrobe pretty critically before deciding to make any purchases. We sort out the more worn playclothes, the 'too smalls' (time to pass'em along!) and then look at what we do have in comparison with what we need. I tend to only buy what is needed/grown out of; we keep the playclothes around so he will be able to change into them after school (to help keep school clothes nicer, longer.)

My idea of what he needs (we do laundry every other day+, as needed):
Four long sleeved shirts+one nicer one for school events
Four short sleeved tees + one nicer one
Four pairs of pants + one nice pair dark jeans or cords
Six pair of underwear
Seven pair of socks (three will smartwool for winter)
2 sweaters
2 hoodies
Warm Jacket
Rain coat/rain pants/rain boots
Sneakers

As I said, I only buy what's needed, and we hit clearance sales, resale shops, etc all the time (whenever convenient-- not just at back-to-school time) and buy good quality clothes regardless of his current size. In June we picked up several things for this coming school year. The too-bigs get put in bins, other things are held back until school starts. I don't think we'll need much for this year.

Hi, Mom:
Had you ever thought about going shopping
at the thrift store for children's clothes?

That's alot of money to pay for school clothes.
Just wondering.
D.

i buy throughout the year but usually let them get new first school day outfits.

My daughter is in uniforms, so it makes it much easier. Several of the public schools around here do uniforms.

If she didn't have a uniform, I would go through all of her clothes, separate play clothes from nicer clothes and see what was needed. If all of her clothes still fit, I would buy one or two nice outfits and go from there.

Over the years, I have bought clothes for both of my children ahead of time. When I see clearance racks/sales/etc I buy the next size up and put it in a storage tote labeled with the size.

The flip side, both of my children hit a growth spurt about October, so any clothes that I buy for September wont fit by Christmas. I would still buy the one or two outfits for the beginning of school, but they always get clothes from family members for Christmas and their birthdays as well.

Rachel:

Nope. We buy a new outfit for the first day and that's it.

They have been wearing shorts all summer so we will try on pants to see what fits and what doesn't. If they need new pants - we buy as needed - they are growing too fast to spend $500 on clothes that they might be in for 2 or 3 months.

I LOVE Kohl's!!!! My boys love the Tony Hawk shorts they sell. However, I will admit I go to the Salvation Army, Clothes Closet and Goodwill to purchase their clothes much of the time....I can get GAP jeans for $3 to $5 instead of $40...sometimes they still have their tag on them!!!

I would save that money for the cruise, girlfriend!! Buy them one new outfit for the first day and bank the rest!!!

I buy throughout the year - clearance/sales/consignment sales and get the next size up. If you are concerned they are going to skip a size then Kohl's is the place to go as you can return new items any time - 10 years from now they will take it back! Love Kohls for that. If most of their clothes still fit, I would get them 2-3 outfits and an item or two that they will "just die" without - a specific pair of shoes, a hat, etc. Rotate out anything too worn/stained/too small obviously. That said, I'm also the "mean M." who gives her kids school clothes as part of their birthday gifts (mid-August and early-September birthdays). LOL!