Back to school shopping.

[Picklesnapper]

I'm sending three GIRLS to school this year. :speechless:

Tell me your back to school shopping secrets.

I'm not too worried about Addyson, she's starting kindergarten and she actually has nice clothes that are from her sisters, mostly from Katelynn. I'll get her a couple new things just to make her feel good.

Amielya is finally starting to care about her appearance more. Which does not bother me at all. She's going into 5th grade. So between that and the fact that the child grows like a weed, she NEEDS the most as far as clothing. She wears size 12-14 in kids and 0-1 in juniors.

Katelynn has always cared about having cute clothes, so that's nothing new. She has 'some' stuff that still fits well and looks decent enough for school, but she will need a few more things. She's not like Amielya, she doesn't out grow everything. In fact, Addyson is almost the same size as she is. Addy is 5, Katelynn is 8 :lol:

I know about tax free weekend and all. And I love me some good will and thrift store finds. Are there other things that you all do to cut back to school costs?

[Jenga]

If you have a resale shop, can you go and sell their outgrown stuff and get credit for new things? I do that at our OUAC store. They also have sales on stuff, right now it is a dollar for select items. Sping and summer, but some jeans and long pants and t-shirts that would work for school. :)

[Rosegin]

I find Joey and Charlie tons of nice stuff at our children's resale shop. They don't have squat for my boys but the girls stuff is always abundant. lol

[Brandi]

Do you have a K-Mart? Ours still does layaway.

[otis]

In the next week we will be going thru every dresser and purging clothes that don't fit and makkng a list of needs for each kid. Then we have shopping day. Plan of attack is usually start at DI (like goodwill) then Once upon a Child (consignment). If we still have not found decent qualtiy with a good fit, I hit Target and Kmart, and lastly the mall. I am a little panicky about it because I just dropped $300 yesterday at Fred Meyer just on the supplies (everything i got was on sale and on that stupid list....argh...) We have 8 going to school this year- but the oldest 2 have jobs this summer and prefer to get their own clothes.

[Mom to 3]

I budget for it all year with an automatic withdrawal set up to go to a different account that I use for back to school clothes. It is $10 a week, so that gives me about $175 per kid. Now that they are getting bigger and I have 3 in school it isn't going as far, but it is a start and I don't cringe about spending so much at once!

Now, I know it is too late to do that for this school year, but maybe for next?

[Lucid-sunshine]

Any consignment sales coming up in your area? Consignment mommies has a. Pretty good list

I usually buy ahead so I can get cheap deals on Gymboree or gap.

What size are the younger 2 I am sure I have over bought in size 5 and 6

[Picklesnapper]

I budget for it all year with an automatic withdrawal set up to go to a different account that I use for back to school clothes. It is $10 a week, so that gives me about $175 per kid. Now that they are getting bigger and I have 3 in school it isn't going as far, but it is a start and I don't cringe about spending so much at once!

Now, I know it is too late to do that for this school year, but maybe for next?
We have been doing that this year for Christmas. I'll have to make note to do it for next school year!

Any consignment sales coming up in your area? Consignment mommies has a. Pretty good list

I usually buy ahead so I can get cheap deals on Gymboree or gap.



What size are the younger 2 I am sure I have over bought in size 5 and 6



Addyson can wear a 6 in some brands.

[Cootie Queen]

Reading this makes me so grateful that we have uniforms.

I know this doesn't help you much, but I do what a PP said and just buy throughout the year when I find things on sale. I have a HK zip-up hoodie in my closet right now for Kait for Christmas that we bought back in April. lol

[Katherine]

I buy ahead.

Something my friends do is plan a mommy party, with lots of fun drinks, etc, and bring all the outgrown kid stuff they have. They toss it all in a pile and take whatever they want. The rest goes to good will.

Another thing is a local consignment shop has a fill a bag sale in early august, they pull out a ton of boxes and bins of stuff that didn't sell and yiu buy a paper shopping bag for $10 and anything you can fit, you can have. I have found awesome stuff at this sale....along with a ton of junk, lol. Its August fourth this year, I always get there early, thers a huge line.

Also do check out consignment sales, I sell at our local one and there are a lot of great deals to be had. You could consign what your kids have outgrown to earn a bit, too. At ours I can regularly find good, name brand outfits for under $10, and we are in a pretty high col area.