You cant walk into a store or flip through an ad without noticing the shift.
Gone (or at least relegated to the clearance racks) are the shorts and T-shirts.
Jeans, pants and sweatshirts have filled the space.
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As a mom of two middle-schoolers (yikes!
), here are seven ways I save on getting their wardrobes ready for the new school year.
No Interest Til Almost 2027?
I check their khaki pants and shorts and their polo shirts.
After taking inventory, figure out what the kids still need.
Do they have enough pairs of pants to get them from one laundry day to the next?
If not, how many more do they need?
You may be surprised at how much they already have.
Set a Budget
Determine how much you might spend on back-to-school clothing.
Some people already include clothes in their monthly budgets, so thats a good place to start.
Did you know?
That way, youll prevent sticker shock or credit card regret later on.
(If you have a fashion-savvy teenager, you may not be so lucky.)
Use that ambivalence to your advantage and visit local consignment shops andthrift storesto see what they have in stock.
For example, on my localVarageSalesite, I can easily search for the clothing sizes I need.
As with consignment shops, these options can be hit or miss, but theyre still worth checking out.
It doesnt hurt to try!
Shop Sales Strategically
We all want to be smart shoppers, but are we?
Do you prefer to shop online like I do?
When shopping online, bang out in as manypromo codesas you’re able to.
Use online codes as well as codes from coupons in the mail.
Consider also that some stores typically get you more savings than others.
Sure, there may be some duds in there, but there may also be some treasures, too.
I always tell people that what I cant use, Ill pass on to a local charity.
Theyll likely give you a deal since itll cut down on some of her running around.
Getting your children dressed to head back to school doesnt need to break the bank.
Planning ahead and thinking outside of your typical big-box retailer can help you stay on budget.
Freelance writer MaryBeth Matzek is a mom and is always on the lookout for a good deal.
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
Ask one of these companies to help…
