School Shopping Tips?

[decemberlov]

It's that time of year again! What are your best tips? Where do you seem to buy the best sales?
Do you do most of your shopping all at once or just buy a few outfits for the beginning of school and pick up things here and there as you go?

My oldest is 13 and has grown out of most of her clothes so she definitely needs some nice jeans. She did however hand down most everything to my 10 year old - which most of it fits now and she can wear. I never pack away the summer tank tops and always try and get both the girls one or to cute cardigans to wear over them.

I was also thinking of doing a mini "fashion show" before we go, having each girl try on what they do have, mixing and matching what can go together and taking pics of each outfit on my phone to reference back to when we go out so we can find things that go with what we already have.

This time of year always stresses my out especially with one having a birthday in August, school shopping for September, and my other daughters birthday in October. Luckily my oldest is pretty good about not wanting the very "best" and most expensive things. She knows that there's a budget and if she looks for things on sale say at Ross she can usually get 2 pairs of pants and maybe a shirt for the same price as 1 pair of jeans at another more expensive store.

So tell me...what works best for you?

[Rosemary]

What I do:
* buy all school/art supplies for the coming year (home use, too) now while the stores have them on big sales.
* buy clothes throughout the year as I find items for DD's next size on clearance, and put them in the bin in her closet. This goes for shoes, too. Last week I took down the bin and pulled out the new clothes she'll need this season, noted what she has for the winter, and got out a new pair of sneakers that she is ready for. So our total "back-to-school" shopping consisted of about $14 of school supplies.

[decemberlov]

What I do:
* buy all school/art supplies for the coming year (home use, too) now while the stores have them on big sales.
* buy clothes throughout the year as I find items for DD's next size on clearance, and put them in the bin in her closet. This goes for shoes, too. Last week I took down the bin and pulled out the new clothes she'll need this season, noted what she has for the winter, and got out a new pair of sneakers that she is ready for. So our total "back-to-school" shopping consisted of about $14 of school supplies.

I always get nervous about buying the next size up...I don't know why..I'll find a great sale, grab it off the rack, argue with myself about will it really get worn, what if it doesn't fit right later on, etc, etc, etc. and put item back and walk away. Maybe I should try this and give myself a under $5 rule ...if its under $5 take the chance. If it doesn't fit later on donate it and if it does...score!

[fidgiegirl]

I read about a mom doing the photo thing for her teenage son, but they printed out pics to hang in his room. I guess he might have been fashion-averse or something. :) I think having the pics along with you is a great idea.

[Kathy WI]

My son is a fashionista but shopping with him is such a chore; he can spend forever in one store. Especially if he can't find anything he really likes, he feels like he MUST pick something. So this year I scoped out all the stores around here in advance, some by just looking at their websites, and found some things I know he'll like at TJ Maxx, so I'll take him there. It also helps to check the stores in advance to make sure their stuff is priced reasonably; I wouldn't want him to find stuff he really loves and wants at a real expensive store.