Clothes On A Budget

You are in a quandry. The new school year is starting and you're worried about your kids clothes for school. The kids have grown several inches, their pants are all worn out, their jacket sleeves reach just below their elbows, and their shoes have holes in them. So, you have to go school shopping, but you want to stick to a budget – you’ve got other kids to buy for also. And, if you have several kids, what can you do? Well, here's a system that works for many families. It could be that you have never heard of this before, but hey--if it works, why not? This is a good why to buy clothes on a budget.

First, have a fashion show before you go shopping. Pull out all the clothes and try them on. Keep a list of what each child has, and specific things they need, such as a shirt to go with their red plaid skirt. Once you have taken inventory, you have a good idea of what you will need to buy.

Before the shopping excursion, go get lunch. Make it a family event. The kids may not say so, but when the family is involved with this, it will make the children feel important and that you really care what they're doing. This is a tradition with many families. I knew of one family, mother and daughter, and they were so close, and one of the things they did was go school shopping together. Now, you can even make this more special. When you first start out, just chill at your favorite restaurant, and when you all are filled up on energy and are all happy, tackle the clothes shopping.

What do you do when you hit the stores? Well, look to see what sales are being offered and focus on the clothes that are needed that fall in line with the sales. If one store has a great sale on jeans, you might go there first. Once you get the essentials, the girls can begin looking for other fashions that they want but don’t need. Even though you are buying clothes on a budget, it's good to take liberties sometimes.

You could end it by finding some great shoes that will last throughout the year and be comfortable on their feet. This is an area where many families splurge a little more and get a good quality shoe. They provide better cushion and support that a growing child needs. When you finally get home, the kids will feel more ready for school. And, once again, they will know that all the family really cares for them. And, I tell you what, that makes a big difference in how the child learns and acts in the classroom.

If you want your kids to learn about budgeting and money, click teaching children about money. Remember, this stuff is not taught in schools.