Back To School Clothes You Can Get FREE or Buy For Cheap

After the last lap has been swam, and your family has combed the beach for the final time of the season, then, you know that it’s time to go “back to school”. Along with the regular supplies that families will need for children returning to school, there is one of the most costly endeavors of your parental lives….buying back to school clothing. From designer jeans and sneakers to the hippest shirts and tights, the cost of it all seems practically unbearable and could easily put a huge dent in your family’s budget. Providing a great wardrobe for your children to wear back to school does not have to be a financial burden or nightmare. Try these three great money saving strategies for beating the back to school clothing crunch:

Let them swap! Any frugal fashionista knows that fashion forward teens tend to flock together. So, when it comes to teenagers, especially during an economy crisis, give them a cool alternative to going to the mall. Host a clothes swap where tons of kids can bring their stuff in exchange for other people’s cool clothes. Set it up like a real store, neatly organized with racks and shopping bags. Be sure to have lots of drinks and cheap snacks, which other parents can donate to the event. While you want everyone to make sure the clothes are in good condition, you may offer a little space where clothes that need mending or something could go. Someone will definitely be willing to take those and fix at their leisure. Everyone will enjoy themselves and they will save. That will make them just as happy!

Get the most out of consignment shops. One of the best ways to earn a few extra dollars is to sell your child’s old or outgrown clothing to a consignment shop. These are stores that will pay you for your clothing and resell them. Some stores will pay you 50% or more of their selling price; so, if a shirt will sell for $3 in their store, they will pay you $1.50. The great thing about consignment shops is that they are not only a great place to earn money on clothing that your children can no longer wear, but you can also shop them for a significant savings versus regular retail costs. Also many consignment shops offer even further discounts, that include season deals or $1 racks. Because consignment shops usually have a very high expectation for the clothing that they buy, with most requiring that the clothes are a name brand or no more than 3 years old, your children can still dress cool with it putting too much strain on your wallet.

Buy off season. Don’t wait until it’s back to school time to buy your children’s clothing. Take advantage of all of the off season specials and deals. Most retail stores change their inventory as they transition to the next season. So, as the weather starts to change, you can expect to catch amazing deals. Buy sweaters at the end of the winter months or in the spring when they are usually marked down by 70-85%. Purchase winter outerwear, pajamas, and slippers, in the summer, when the discounts can be as high as 90%! Clothing for the warmer months should be purchased at the end of fall and during the winter months. It’s not uncommon to find brand new shorts for $1or less at some of the major retail malls.

Malls don’t always offer the best ways for saving, cost-cutting, or opportunities to buy for cheap. During this economy crisis, you may need to try other places and ways for buying those back to school clothes that your kids will need. Creativity and a little planning could take your dollars a long way!

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