Video:How to Take Kids Back-to-School Shopping

Transcript:How to Take Kids Back-to-School Shopping

Hi, I'm Katherine Lee for About.com and this is Sarah from GetButtonedUp.com, and today she is here to talk to us about back to school shopping with your kids: how to survive it and how to do it.

Make a List When You Take Kids Back-to-School Shopping

Yes, so shopping with kids -- ideally we can do without it, that's better, but if you're going to have your kids with you when you go back to school shopping, the key to surviving it sanely is organization. You've got to have a few things buttoned up before you walk out the door and hit those stores. So number one: make a list. Do not go shopping without a list because you'll spend more, you'll take more time, and it's just a recipe for meltdowns and tantrums. We have a free printable on GetButtonedUp.com -- it's a back to school shopping list you can get it at GetButtonedUp.com/tools. 

Shop at Home For Back-to-School Shopping

So it's got the categories that you have to do the key shopping for kids in, and when you make your list for each child -- start shopping at home.  If you have things like backpacks that are in great shape or lunchboxes that are in really decent shape, why go buy a brand-new one, and if your child that used the previous year doesn't want to use it, hand-me-downs are always a great option. So, shop from home first.

Make Micro Trips When Taking Kids Back to School Shopping

Great tip -- what else? The second is once you have your list, organize your shopping into micro trips, if you can.  So, use a note pad and organize your trip into maybe one chunk where you're getting shoes, one chunk where you're getting clothes.  Or by stores, so if you're hitting the discount store or the pharmacy to pick up your things.

Pack Ahead When Taking Kids Back to School Shopping

If you can't do that and have to do it all in one day, organize yourself before you head out the door by packing snacks and figuring out ahead of time… okay, when am I going to give my kids the break that they need – go run around get their energy out -- so that they can come back and be normal civil human beings when they're shopping. And anything else?

Bring Coupons When Taking Kids Back to School Shopping

Finally, make sure you have coupons with you.  So coupons, we're all getting them in the mail these days. If you walk out the door with them, you can get some great deals but you can also be spending way more than you need to.  So, grab the coupons, put it together with your list before you walk out the door, and then you'll really be ready to go shopping.

Great idea.  Thank you so much for these great tips.  For more, go to About.com.