Today’s post comes from new guest contributor Debra Johnson, owner of the site Live In Nanny.
If you’re looking to curb your back-to-school spending, consider these 10 ways to save money on school clothes. They don’t even require you to fight the crowds or leave the house.
Shop your closet and your family members too. Before beginning your back-to-school shopping, take inventory of what you’ve got on hand. Separate things out into what fits and what doesn’t. If your child has siblings, consider if there is anything they’ve outgrown that may work for their younger brothers or sisters. Don’t forget that older kids and teens may be able to pull from mom or dads closet as well.
Consider hand me downs. During the end of summer, everyone is weeding out their closet so they have room to store new school clothes. Don’t pass up opportunities to accept hand me downs. Many folks utilize Facebook and other social media sites to let friends know what they’re getting rid of so they get first dibs. Jump on the chance to grab items when you can.
Shop the online sales. The Internet gives parents the power to save. If you know you’re looking for a specific brand of jeans, search until you’ve found them at the best price. Many stores offer savings for both online and in store shoppers. Before checking out, be sure to search for a coupon code for the store you’re buying from.
Host a swap shop. Get all of your friends together for a good old fashioned swap meet. Have parents bring the clothing their children have outgrown and let them swap them out for someone else’s that may fit. Serve appetizers and wine as you all sort through the clothes guests bring.
Order through catalogs. While many stores have given up mail order catalogs, many others have not. Lands’ End, Company Kids and Garnet Hill are just a few kids clothing companies that still send catalogs for customers to browse. When the catalogs arrive, be sure to look for special values inside.