Its that time again. The dreaded back to school torture. I have a tween and its becoming more and more painful doing Back to School shopping. Years ago, I just bought the clothes and i didn’t really even need her to be there. She was pretty much cool with what I selected. However, now with her own sense of style and what other people think always in the fore front of her pre-teenage years, this task is becoming more difficult.
The first thing to do before you even hit the mall is to do a quick inventory to see what can be salvaged for the new school year. Begin to purchase things now so it won’t hurt so much later. I usually start to pick up a few things here and there so closer to school I won’t be overwhelmed paying alot all at once.
Buy on sale. This is the time when stores are trying to get rid of the summer apparel. I found some ridiculous marked down priced things at JCPenney. Jeans for 2.97. How can you beat that?!? When school starts in the Fall, its still rather warm. So, now is the time to get the good deals on summer clearance clothes. You don’t have to get the entire Fall emsemble right now. So you can maybe hold off on getting a few Fall pieces in October, depending on where you live.
Spend money on a good book bag. Every year, I find myself getting a new bag. Either because it breaks throughout the year or the bag is last year’s model. Ha, not this year. This year is about making a dollar holla. Meaning stretching a buck til it screams. So maybe spending $20-30 on a book bag and make it last 3-5 years.
Don’t buy everything matchy matchy. Make sure alot of what you buy is interchangeable. For example, don’t buy alot of odd colored clothes. Its too limiting. Purple pants can’t be matched with too much. Also, if your child doesn’t like something, please please and please do not get it. With this in mind, if they don’t’ like it you won’t see it on them that often. A kid will come up with any excuse not to wear something ugly that there parent picked out.
Don’t buy designer everything. If you can, go for it. However, if you can’t then don’t kill yourself indulging your child with a shirt with a horse on it. Nothing is wrong with buying a item or two but not more than that. Tell your kid the more designer items you buy, the less outfits you will be able to purchase. Nevertheless, if your child must have something designer or they will just die from shame., make sure you go to a designer bargain store, like a TJ Maxx or Burlington.
Allowing your child to express his/her own sense of style can give your child a boost to their self confidence. However that boost doesn’t have to burst your wallet. Just start early and don’t let Back to School shopping overwhelm you and your kid. You too can be a Baller on a Budget.
