I can’t believe that it’s already July. Next month, two of my three little men will be heading back to school and there will be a ton of shopping to do. This year, my husband and I are playing smart and starting with our shopping early.
The individual class lists aren’t available in the stores yet, but we know there are certain things we’re going to need. Clothes, folders, lunchboxes, backpacks and many more items are already available and, if you’re a bargain hunter like me, you can get a huge head-start on back-to-school shopping without having to fight your way through mobs of stressed out parents.
Popular stores are already putting this year’s school supplies on the shelves and, while the prices aren’t rock-bottom yet, sales are popping up in fliers and online already. We’re on the lookout for items that we know we’ll absolutely need, from sneakers to crayons, and have already hit some fantastic deals.
Also, out-of-season racks of clothing and clearance aisles are full of last years’ styles, and we’ve found folders, notebooks, jackets, coats and art supplies at amazing prices. My kids are still young, and they’re not completely bewitched by what’s “in” yet, so they don’t care if orange was totally 2010 or not. Until they’re old enough to say, “That’s not cool, mom,” I’m going to take advantage of the savings.
The last trick up my sleeve is hitting some good old garage sales. I’ve been able to dress my kids beyond my means, or at least it looks that way, by keeping my eyes out for great garage and yard sales. It’s amazing how many higher-priced items like coats, dress coats and formal clothes (for school functions, like plays and picture days) I’ve found with the hang-tags still dangling from their sleeves. I also look for backup book bags and lunchboxes, because kids will be kids and things get lost.
Getting a jump on school shopping now will save a ton of grief a month from now. Plus, it’s gentler on our debit cards to buy little by little now, rather than having to sell our minivan to buy everything and pay school fees all at once.
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