Back to school shopping is one of my favourite things to do. The school supply stuff is fun but the clothing is even better!
I tend to shop for back to school from May on. I usually find lots of great deals online and start building up my kids back to school wardrobes this way.
In Canada, Back to School shopping is the second busiest shopping time of the year (after Christmas).
Here are some tips I have for successful Back to School shopping.
1. Get the school supply list from your child’s school and stick to it. Most lists are provided in the year end report card or available online. Some stores have lists posted in the school supply aisles.
There’s no NEED to buy the fancy sparkly pencil case if it’s not on the list. In fact, most teachers don’t like seeing special/expensive items sent to school in case they get damaged or lost.
2. Shop the clearance racks! Many summer clearance items are suitable for back to school. Sweaters and long pants aren’t usually needed until October.
3. Use an app like Flipp to see what store has the best deal for supplies. Many stores price match so bring your iPhone to show the flyers to a cashier. This could save you a lot of running around and could help you do shopping all in one place!
4. Shop early! Many supplies sell out and clothing racks can get picked over pretty quickly.
5. Last but not least – sort through your child’s clothing before going shopping. You may be surprised to see that many of last year’s pieces still fit your child. You may need less than you thought! Reduce, reuse, recycle is the key!
Where do you do most of your back to school shopping?
I totally agree with your last point – that one’s a biggie. I stockpile larger sized clothes from friends, garage sales, etc. and stash them away. Now I have so many clothes in size 4 and 5 (and 6) that I won’t have to buy anything for years…yet I forgot and still picked up new items. If a hoarder like me, maybe get a system!
Sounds like you’ve got a good system going on. It’s so nice to have stuff stocked up and ready for when kids grow. I pass along lots of my kids clothes when we’re done with them. Reusing clothes is the way to go!