Save on Back To School Clothes

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Save on Back To School Clothes

It is nearly time to go back to school and chances are your children have grown since last winter. That means the dreaded annual back to school shopping trip. Before going out and spending too much, use some of these tips to save money.

Check out re-sale and consignment shops as well as Ebay. It is possible to find some incredible deals on brand name clothing. One little girl in my daughter's class has the most amazing wardrobe. I asked her Mom where she shopped and discovered that most of her clothes come from re-sale shops or Ebay.

Try not to buy everything at once. It is tempting to stock up at the beginning of the school year during the sales. The problem is kids change their minds or go through growth spurts when you are least expecting them. More than once I have bought for an entire season just to see one of my daughters grow right though that size in a month. Instead, buy several outfits during the Labor Day/Back to School sales. Then take stock of what they need and buy more during the Thanksgiving/Christmas sales. This way your won't overbuy and you can be sure your child has clothes that will fit.

Do take advantage of sales though to stock up on basics. Children usually don't dramatically outgrow items like underwear or socks. You can use sales to buy ahead on these items. It also helps insure that you will have socks on hand when the dryer monster has eaten a few.

Always look for coupons. Major retailers tend to run coupons often. Check their websites as well as other couponing sites for the latest deal. If you can combine them with a sale, even better. This will save you a bundle!

Take your child with you to choose the clothes and try them on. My 5 year old is already very particular. She will stubbornly refuse to wear clothes that she does not like. She also has opinions about the texture, cut and softness of the clothes. By taking her with me, I ensure that I am not wasting money on clothes that she won't wear.

Comparison shop online. Sometimes the deals are better, even with shipping costs. Definitely do this with shoes. There are several sites that offer free shipping along with free return shipping.