School Shopping

[Rosebush3]

I was just sitting here minding my own business, feeling relaxed and easy on a day off with lots of sunshine when it hit me. School Shopping. The children here start school the day after Labor Day here so I still have some time left before I need to have them ready for the bus, but I don't want to be stuck last minute scrambling to get them what they need.

How do you do your school shopping? Is it an all-at-once panic or do you pick up things here and there throughout the year.
How much do you generally spend on the clothes per child? Do you just buy one or two new outfits or have they outgrown everything they own during the summer and you need a full wardrobe?
Do your schools send home an exhaustive list of must-have supplies for the school year? I got one last year when my son went into seventh grade and it was two pages long. There seemed to be no way to get out of that inexpensively.

For me, I wish I would get clothes ahead of time instead of last minute rushing. When DS started Kindergarten, she'd already had her school clothes a year ahead of time, I had most of DS's things early too. Last year was very last minute. Last year she was just bought three outfits (2 pr jeans, 1 skirt, 3 tops, 1 pkgs socks, 1 pkg panties(she truly had outgrown all her others and they were leaving red marks on her skin), and one pair of shoes. She could still fit into a few outfits from the previous year so she was good to go with that. I ordered from the Children's Place and had gotten some good deals for her, and she reused her backpack from Kindergarten and all I bought her was a folder (required) and some pretty pencils.
DS cost a bit more, having needed several more shirts.. for the most part these will all be good for next year. It was his supplies that really cost.

This year I would like to get them each two or three outfits to start school with, and a few more possibly for Christmas, since they'll surely have grown by then.

For those who homeschool, do you get new clothes for your kids at the start of the school year or just take care of things on a year-round basis?

[G'MaDebbie]

All the places I shop are starting to put school supplies on sale...Walgreens has filler paper for .39 and folders 8/$1.00. I buy a little at a time so it's not a huge expense all at once. Of course at this time I have only 1 to buy for so it's much easier than years back when all my kids were home.

[Luv2BeFrugal]

Well, no kiddo's here...but Dh and I are both in college (I just started back, he's been back in for about 3 years). We know how many classes we'll be taking before next year's school supply sale comes along. We count out how many classes and get adequate paper, lead for mechanical pencils, index cards, binders (if needed...usually they last a long time)... Anyhoo, we get all that sort of stuff.

I was home schooled through high school. My mom always got supplies at the regular sale time. For the most part she'd give me clothes money at the beginning of the school year so it was the same as my friends...but would get clothes throughout the year, too. (She wasn't exactly frugal ).

[Starlight9803]

When DD was in public school, I picked up clothes, shoes, etc as I found them on sale/clearance throughout the year. The school supplies I always waited until the good sales came out (they are coming out now around here). I never spent more than $100 total for clothing, shoes, and supplies, but I had the luxury of my dd's birthday being right at labor day, and she always gots tons of new clothes for presents - saved me lots of money LOL. Now that she is homeschooled, the clothes are not such an issue (though she still has too many IMO), and school supplies I base on what the super sales are on. I have much more flexability in what I buy.

[Parksfamily5]

I have started clothes shopping for my dd who will be in 1st grade already. I have bought through gymbo sales, ebay and other online deals. Usually picking her up only a couple items at a time. ( only what I consider good deals). I will have to take my dd who will be in 7th grade shopping to pick hers out. She is one who needs to try something on first.
As for school supplies... I think I have enough until my youngest graduates. ha ha. I have a school supply fetish! I stock up everytime they are on sale. I have a shelving unit in the basement that looks like a mini office max. ( actually, this has come in handy when I find kids in my daughters class that don't have some of these items. I stock up at such a good price it is easy to have plenty to donate.)

[hugxlaughxsmilexlove]

DD1 starts pre-school right after Labor Day too.. I don't *think* they need too many things for school - gotta have a backpack, nothing expensive for a four year old though!

The kid is growing like a weed and since we have ALL girls - I'll probably get as much as I can to last through Fall/Winter before she starts needing a bigger size again and then just put them in my labeled totes for the next two girls.

Her birthday is also at the end of October, more clothes (hopefully, we have WAY too many toys as it is)!

[treeluva]

I had saved $12.00 a month for 7 months to plan for school supplies...

The back to school clothes shopping... argh. We won't be doing much of that this year, but mainly that is because the kids saw both sets of grandparents this summer and their dad for summer vacation and everyone thinks they need to buy them clothes... and then more clothes. My kids are set until winter time sneaks up on us. Some things from last winter will still fit... and I have saved all my oldest daughters winter clothes from years past so the younger one will always have something to wear, but the older one will probably need a few things. And even though the younger one wont NEED any new things, I will feel guilty about her not have ANY new things. I am trying to prepare for this guilt now.

But this year when the oldest one starts to need some new things, I am going to check out the thrift shops instead of the mall. I do not usually take them clothes shopping with me anyway, so she honestly has no idea where her clothes come from, so I won't have to deal with the "second hand clothes" syndrome from the children.

(The reason I don't take them shopping is quite simple... they drive me nuts in a store. I don't like crowded places as it is, which is why I usually just buy whatever is up front and cash out. I am going to have to try to get over that phobia as much as possible. But, every time I go shopping I get an intense headache... and with the kids it gets even worse.)

[Mom23boys]

We usually shop when we see a sale. I do not spend any certain amount on each child. I only get each one what they actually need to get through the school year. For example, they both need new tennis shoes this year and we will get those for them probably in August or if I see a good deal before then. Our Goody's is closing it's doors and has a 50% - 70% off sale, so I was able to pick up 2 pair of jeans for each of the boys last week. DS#2 has plenty of shorts, but DS#3 has outgrown all of his. So, I bought him 3 more pair during the sale. DS#2 told me today that he does not need any shirts this year. He said he still has plenty of good ones. DS#3 will probably get a couple.

As for school supplies, I stock up on it when it is on sale. I have way too much notebook paper on hand. I will not buy any this year or probably the next year. I keep a lot of supplies on hand. I should only have to buy map pencils, markers, and a few binders if need be. I have plenty of folders, pens, pencils, spirals, dividers, and packages of notebook paper.

I also so not buy a new backpack every year. DS#2 already said he would be using the same one from last year. DS#3 will get a new one since he ripped last year. If they are good, I usually toss them in the wash and make them look new again. I hate buying a new backpack every year because they are so expensive.

[geckoace]

DS will be going to a montessori school in the fall so i dont think we really have school supplies to buy. but we do need uniforms, khaki bottoms and the special order shirts, i have been collecting good condition khakis from goodwills on half price day (.75 woo hoo) in his current size and any size larger. and i was setting aside my tip money for the tops but both sets of grandparents gave me $100 toward school expenses so that will buy some shirts and gym uniform

[MomToTwoBoys]

This year, both kids are going to school. DS #2 will be starting kindergarten and DS #1 is going into fifth grade. Neither of them have a supplies list because their supplies are paid for through a special fee (it's like 15 dollars for the whole year) and we also pay another fee for activities. The huge fee that I'm always scrambling about is the 165 dollar bus fee per child, which thankfully we only have to dish out for one child.

My goal this year is this:

New socks for both
Three outfits a piece
New sneakers for each child
New boots for DS #1
New fall jacket for DS #2

I'm going to say that maybe we'll need a new winter jacket for DS #1 but that all depends on how well his current one fits him at the end of August. They're both given clothes at Christmas and I do laundry once a week on Wednesday/Thursday, plus DS #2 has some clothes that he still hasn't grown into that he was given last year. If I can get all their clothes on clearance, I shouldn't have to spend too much on them. I'm going to hit up the mall at the end of July for youngest DS since he starts school in mid-August, then hit up the mall at the end of August since DS #1 starts in early September.

[Ivonna]

We just received our school supply and fee lists in the mail and we only have three more paychecks until school starts August 19th. I've decided to pay for my 4th graders school fees ($45) with tomorrow's paycheck and school supplies for both. I like to buy these early because I hate it when everything is already picked through. We had a lot of surplus supplies from last year so we won't have as much to buy. The kids wanted to reuse the items that were still nice like folders, backpacks (my dd's is in the dryer now), Trapper Keeper, etc. We also have plenty of paper, spiral notebooks, pens, pencils.

Then our last paycheck of July will pay for my 7th graders school fees ($70). I'm hoping to squeeze out enough money for hot lunch (my ds likes to eat it about twice a week) and milk tickets. I know that my ds still has a $19 credit on his lunch account.

Our first paycheck in August will be our last one before school starts. With that paycheck I will buy new shoes for my dd. My ds has a brand new pair sitting in the top of his closet that I got for a really good price this spring. I will also buy new underwear and socks for both kids. They seem to have their growth spurts in summer. For my ds, I was able to get a ton of clothes on clearance last February and I put them up for school this year. I also had to go buy new pants for him this spring because he grew so much. They still look like new so as long as he doesn't grow again, we won't be buying him any clothes. My dd has lots of shirts that still look like new that I bought for the summer and I think her pants will fit her for the fall. I will probably have to buy her about three new pair but I will wait until closer to the colder months so that she doesn't outgrow them before she needs them.

We are trying to go on the frugal side this year. In past years, I always bought them both some new clothes, shoes, backpacks, etc. This year, they know that money is tight and we just can't do it.

Ivonna

[mommynurse]

My girls start school after Labor Day, but it will still be warm enough to wear summer clothes (at least short sleeves) for a couple of months. I always buy them a new outfit for the 1st day of school. They're going into 8th and 10th grades, so they're pickier now. Because the weather will be warm, we'll be able to get away with cheap, clearance clothes from someplace at the mall like American Eagle. I have tons of school supplies left from last year, so I won't have to buy as much (even though I love buying school supplies!). DD#1 does Marching Band and is taking a class that will cost us $300. These things will be painful.

[freebs]

i get all the school supplies when walmart has them cheap! The last few years i have bought all there clothes at thrift stores or consignment stores. This year i found a store that sells everything for .25¢ so I'm gonna go there!

[WV_mom_of2]

My son is 12 and going into the 7th grade and my dd is 16 going into the 11th grade. We school shop on a mostly "need" basis.

This year dd doesn't need any new clothes. She used birthday money and bought herself two new pairs of cheap jeans on a shopping trip with my mom. She also got TONS of cute shirts at yard sales when she was with my mom and a couple of new ones with her own money. Last year she needed new jeans and we hit JC Penney and found her favorite brand on clearance for 4.99! She ended up with 4 new pairs of jeans for practically nothing! I also let her get a jean jacket on clearance and she got socks and undies. If they need them, we buy. She will need notebooks, pens, pencils, etc. Just the basics.

Ds however needs new jeans. He grows like a weed! He is tall and very skinny and hard to fit. He has to have Wrangler jeans in a 16 slim. I can only find them at Tractor Supply and they are 20.00 a pair. He wears them until they fall apart LOL. He will be getting probably 4 pairs. We made due from Feb. until now with two pairs but it's a pain to keep them washed up and ready for school. So I'm hoping for four pairs. He has plenty of t-shirts thanks to great sales! I got him three new ones for 2.50 each and 3 for 1.25 each. He also gets hand me downs from my nephew so that helps. He will need socks and underwear for sure. He did get a list of supplies from school and he needs a binder which he already has, pens and pencils, a box of tissues, a roll of paper towels, and colored pencils. Not bad!

I buy a little at a time. Walmart already has their stuff out and at great prices. Crayons for .17 a box, colored pencils .88 a box, etc. I usually hit the notebooks for .10 each at Walmart or Kmart. One week I will buy a ton of notebooks, the next week or so I will pick up crayons, the next week or so glue sticks, then pens and pencils, etc. I watch for sales too and try to get them as rock bottom cheap as possible.

[lisettelovebug]

For ds10, we shop clearance sales throughout the year. So he has like 7-8 pairs of size 12 pants which he is just about in right now (length is good but he will have to wear a belt) and quite a few sgirts, May have to buy him a couple sweatshirts or sweaters though. He will probably need a new pair of shoes which hopefully we can get on clearance. He's already got glasses because we got them b1g1 last year.