Conquering Back to School Spending

ajrsmom · #1 (**permalink**) 07-31-2008, 10:16 AM

With the price of everyday necessities burning a hole in your wallet, you will be relieved to know that there are many effective ways to cut the cost of those expensive school purchases. From sneakers to scissors, these 10 steps will help you stretch your school supply budget and still send your kids off to school in style:

Read Faye Prosser's article "10 Steps to Conquering Back to School Spending" and let us know what you think, plus add your own frugal ideas for saving on back to school shopping!

Amanda · #2 (**permalink**) 07-31-2008, 10:35 AM

I really like the idea of a clothing swap.

I definitely sell clothes on ebay in order to buy bigger sizes for the new school year. In fact I will be going through the kids' closets today.

ajrsmom · #3 (**permalink**) 07-31-2008, 01:04 PM

I haven't tried selling on Ebay yet...I haven't gotten over the fear of trying it. lol!

I just listed some boys jeans and a jean jacket on Craigs List today and the jacket here at FC.

A clothing swap would be fun!

ajrsmom · #4 (**permalink**) 08-04-2008, 09:51 AM

Come on ladies (and gentlemen)....

Please share your savings tips with us. I can use all of the help that I can get!

Can You Guess? · #5 (**permalink**) 08-04-2008, 01:05 PM

when it comes to buying clothes, I look to see what the kids has and what they match up with. This way I can figure if they need tops, bottoms or what the most. If they need tops then I look to see what bottoms don't have match up and try to find something to match up with it, or vice versa.

Jeans that are to short, hem cut rig rag around the bottom to make another pair of pants for her, or sew the rick rag down the side of the pants.

Some of the jeans can be cut off and then rick rack sew on

I have gone to resale shops, Goodwell, thrift shops, Garage Sales and I have found some very good buys on clothes that are fairly new or I could re decorate them to make something cute out of it.

Shoes I always make sure they have thier socks and then get the shoe a little bigger. It alright for the big toe to be futher back as long as it doesn't ride up and down on the heel of the foot.

Amanda · #6 (**permalink**) 08-04-2008, 01:07 PM

I haven't been through the school supply list they gave me at the end of last year yet, but when I was at WalMart today picking up some essentials I grabbed a few cheap things:

spiral notebooks were 5 cents each.
pencils, erasers and some pens were cheap too.

I still need to go through the list and DREAD trying to find the best deals

ajrsmom · #7 (**permalink**) 08-06-2008, 09:25 PM

Usually Office Max, Office Depot and Staples will run really good sales right before school. When they do, I've found much better prices than even at WalMart.

motherof2 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-10-2008, 06:51 PM

I like the idea about craigslist. I have never been there. I guess I will take a look at it.

jmz2005 · #9 (**permalink**) 08-11-2008, 02:16 AM

I guess I am lucky. My DD is going into 2nd grade and for k-2 we purchase school supply packs from the school and they have someone pick up all the supplies the kids need. For 2nd grade, I had to pay $20. That is for the whole year. Next year is when I am going to dread it. Alot of her clothes still fit her, so that also helps. All I needed to get was a backpack and gym shoes. I will have to remember these tips for then. Start stocking when on sale for next year. I did get some folders when they were on sale at walmart a couple weeks ago.