Video:How to Spend Less on School Clothes

Transcript:How to Spend Less on School Clothes

Hi! I'm Kathy Moore for About.com. Buying school clothes for your children can be very expensive. This program will offer some neat ideas to help you spend less on school clothes.

I always get excited when the back to school sales start each summer. It is fun to shop for new clothes but shopping without a plan too often leads to a spending hangover.

Take a Closet Inventory

The first thing you need to do is to take inventory of what clothes your children really need. To make the process fun, I organize a fashion show for my kids. I have them try on all their current clothes so I can determine what still fits and make a list of what needs to be replaced.

Create a School Clothing Budget

Once I know just what I need to buy I make a rough budget. It may seem silly but having a spending limit in mind before you go to the stores will help keep a lid on spending.

Buy Clothes to Grow Into

When looking for kids clothes I try to buy items that will allow my kids a little room to grow such as pants with elastic waists and loose fitting clothes.

Buy Clothes in Cycles

Almost everyone likes to have a new outfit on for the first day of school but kids do not need a new outfit for every day of the week. Consider postponing some of your school clothes purchases until later in the year.

Consider Secondhand Clothes

Do not forget to check area garage sales or consignment stores. Since kids usually grow out of their clothes before they wear them out, gently used clothing can be a real bargain. Online auction sites can also be good sources for second hand clothes especially school uniforms.

Know the School Clothing Dress Code

Wherever you do your shopping, keep in mind that many schools have clothing policies that prohibit certain types of clothes. Be sure you familiarize yourself with the policy at your child's school so you do not waste any money on school clothes they will not be allowed to wear.

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