My oldest two daughters will be headed to kindergarten and preschool in just a few weeks and I’m gearing up to buy new clothes. It’s no small expenditure even for little ones, so here are my tips for making the most of your back-to-school dollars.
1) Choose Quality over Cost: I’ve bought new school clothes at Target and at Gymboree. Sure, the clothes at Gymboree were a little more expensive, but they lasted two to three times longer than those I bought at Target. The colors stayed brighter and the overall quality of the Gymboree shirts and skirts kept them looking new.
2) Keep an Eye Out for Coupons: The current issue of Parenting magazine has a 20% off at Gymboree coupon inside. You can also find a 15% off coupon for The Children’s Place at RetailMeNot.com. Be sure to sign up on your favorite store’s web sites to get coupons in your mail and email. I just got a 20% off coupon for The Children’s Place in my mailbox over the weekend.
3) Stick it to Stains: While I don’t love to do laundry, I take it on as my household chore. My husband is content to throw lights and darks together with no regard to pre-treating stains, so if I want to keep my kids’ clothes looking newer longer I handle the wash each week. I also use a laundry stain remover like Shout or Zout.
Through October 31 you can get a full rebate on any Zout purchase. There was also a $.55/1 coupon in the 8/10 SS insert. I was able to find Zout at Target.
Do you have any tips for saving money on back-to-school clothes?
1) Choose Quality over Cost: I’ve bought new school clothes at Target and at Gymboree. Sure, the clothes at Gymboree were a little more expensive, but they lasted two to three times longer than those I bought at Target. The colors stayed brighter and the overall quality of the Gymboree shirts and skirts kept them looking new.
2) Keep an Eye Out for Coupons: The current issue of Parenting magazine has a 20% off at Gymboree coupon inside. You can also find a 15% off coupon for The Children’s Place at RetailMeNot.com. Be sure to sign up on your favorite store’s web sites to get coupons in your mail and email. I just got a 20% off coupon for The Children’s Place in my mailbox over the weekend.
3) Stick it to Stains: While I don’t love to do laundry, I take it on as my household chore. My husband is content to throw lights and darks together with no regard to pre-treating stains, so if I want to keep my kids’ clothes looking newer longer I handle the wash each week. I also use a laundry stain remover like Shout or Zout.
Through October 31 you can get a full rebate on any Zout purchase. There was also a $.55/1 coupon in the 8/10 SS insert. I was able to find Zout at Target.
Do you have any tips for saving money on back-to-school clothes?
7 comments:
Thanks for the rebate info on Zout. I saw this item at publix yesterday.
The only other thing I do is buy the clearance for the upcoming year. I went through clothes for my oldest son and realized he needed nothing but shoes for school. I was so excited that I didn't have to spend any now because I had already taken care of the shopping!
I shop the clearance racks! We live in Texas, so the weather never gets really cold so my kids can wear a lot of the "summer" clothes for most of the year. We also will layer just in case the weather does turn cold for a day or two :)
I am surprised no one has mentioned Goodwill. They have new clothes given to them on a weekly basis from retailers and if you go on the day they are delivered you can get new clothes for CHEAP! Check out my blog www.pennywisepayload.blogspot.com to see what I got. I usually go there first and then do the clearance racks at stores if I can't find what I am looking for. There are a lot of Goodwills in Texas.
I am lucky enough to live by the gap outlet in Hebron, Ky. You really have to check things for damages, stains, etc. However I find some really great things there! On friday I got a pair of Old Navy jeans for $1.99! Now that is an unusual price( and they were perfect!) , they are usually $9.99 .. Still a bargain, and sometimes $4.99. You never know what you will find! I also got uniform shirts for .99 one day! They usually have them
4 for $10. I love it there!
Yard sales are also a great way to save money. Just yesterday I picked up and almost new outfit for my 4 year old DD for 50 cents! If you have the time, I highly suggest sales at churches, too. More things in one spot, so you don't have to go all over town.
I do all this stuff too but I think the whole traditional ritual of buying back to school clothes is over rated. It is all marketing, people! You can shop all year and then clean out the dressers and try on the newer stuff and make it fun without being sucked into the big marketing ploy of "back to school" sales.
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