The MotherLoad: Back To School Shopping

Can you believe that summer, well August is half way over? Or how about the fact that it’s AUGUST, and the year is more than 66% over? Still not convinced time is moving faster than ever - school shopping, that behemoth of parental frustration practically starts the day after summer break and ends somewhere around graduation from high school is in full swing at every store from The Goodwill to Nordstrom.
Yes, I’ve hit up most of the stores in between. But this year I wanted to do something different to make it easier on my pocketbook and stress level and to ensure that my daughter got everything she needed and a few fashionable items that she would definitely wear.
To that end, I’d like to say thank you to JC Penny for having some pretty righteous threads (hey, I went to school in the 70’s and 80’s) and reasonably priced. My daughters favorite store is Justice. Well, was her favorite store. Now that JCP has stepped up their game with more fashion forward clothes, as well as uniforms that are even more affordably priced than the 300$ uniforms me and my sister had foisted upon us during our Reign of Terror catholic school years (I’m joking) paying 16$ for uniform basics is a blessing for those who have to buy uniforms.
I have to say, I hated Penny’s as a kid because everything always looked cheap. Now I ask, have you stepped inside a Forever XXI? Because, I’m surprised anything in there makes it out of a regular spin cycle.
Anyway, getting through this school shopping season is crazy, and I’ve found a few sure fire ways that help me get through it and I hope they help you.
STEP 1: Go through your kids closet.
This is the most time consuming part of getting ready for school shopping, but it’s worth it. Go through what fits, what doesn’t and get rid of what doesn’t – The Goodwill, Value Village, St. Vincent De Paul are all good donation locations in the Seattle/Tacoma area. Be sure to check your area for more options. If it still fits and they can get a few more wears out of them, save for play clothes so they don’t get their school clothes unnecessarily dirty or damaged before December.  Don’t assign this task to your kids to do alone,  let them help you so they can see the process and then they’ll know what they want and need and help you shop accordingly. Once everything is gone through, start on the next step.
Step Two: Make Your List & Set A Budget
Just as you would with grocery shopping, the same holds for school shopping. If you make a list, you’re less likely to overspend. I organized my list on my  cozi.com calendar which is linked to my iPhone so anyone in the family can see the list. School shopping in my family is a family affair, to make sure that clothes are age appropriate, modest, but still trendy. Underwear, socks, shirts, pants, skirts, dresses, tights…….you know the drill, are all right there at the click of my home key.  
Set a budget and stick with it. This will help you pick the store you’re going to do all of your shopping. My budget was $250.00 for everything: Pants, socks, shirts, dresses, shoes…..and we didn’t go over it. I didn’t tell her what it was either. She got to pick everything that she thought she would like, then try everything on. Then I told her that she had to decide which items out of all that fit really well would be the ones she could buy. This worked well because it gave her the ability to decide and me happy by keeping us on budget.
Step Three: One Stop Shopping IS Key
Pick a store, any store, and shop only at that store. This is why I recommend a store such as Penny’s because EVERYTHING is there. Need a backpack, they got it. Shoes, socks, underwear? Yup. Mom needs a new lip gloss to keep her sane – Sephora is now located in most Penny stores. Some will say, Target, Wal-Mart and I’ve shopped there as well, but you run the risk of them not having everything you need, nor the styles and sizes your kids like. I learned this the hard way two years ago. I went to three different Bull’s-eye Boutique’s (target) for footless tights. I could have just gone to Penny’s and gotten those and everything else she wanted. Save gas. Save time. Save your sanity. Shop at a bigger store, skip the inside the mall specialty shops which are often way overpriced for the same items. They are okay for quick stop, maybe one or two items. Just go there AFTER you’ve done the bulk of your shopping for staple items.
Step Four: Putting it all away
You can enlist the help of the mini-you for this as well. Put away all summer clothes if you’re in an area where summer ends on August 30^th. Otherwise, you can leave out a few items, such as shorts and a few dresses to get you through an Indian Summer. I put all jeans and pants on shelves above the drawers in my daughters closet. Under and socks on one side, camisoles and t-shirts are folded and in drawers, sweaters, dresses and skirts are hung. I’m far more anal-retentive about closet organization than my daughter, but if I help her with a system that works for her, it’s easier for her to keep it up – and off the floor.  
That’s it, four steps. And while they may seem like they take a long time, but in the long run, it saves you a whole lot more. I usually only do this twice a year – before the school year and before summer gets into full swing.
What do you do to help prepare for the school year? Is there a tip you would like to share? Please feel free to add your feedback below and share along with the other readers.
Thanks for all your support.
Robin
Curl Pantry Resident Diva and Founder