7 Thrifty Tips for Back-to-School Shopping

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TIPS FOR A THRIFTY (AND SANE!) BACK-TO-SCHOOL SEASON.

1. IS IT A DEAL?
As any thrifty shopper knows, deals and sales are key to planning a successful big shopping trip. BUT you have to weigh the pros and cons. To get the most bang for your buck, we obviously advocate thrifting, and thrifting on sale days just multiplies your savings.

When it comes to school supplies like pens & pencils, figure out what locations have the best deals overall and be willing to pay a bit more for a couple items. It’s not worth your extra time and the gas you’ll spend to drive to 4 different stores to save on erasers.

If your schedule is tight, but you really want those deals at different places, collaborate with a friend. Make your lists together from the ads and each shop at 2 different stores, then settle up and trade items later.

2. CODE CHECK.
We love school clothes shopping at Thrift Town. Whether your child’s school requires more uniform type attire like polos and khaki’s or a more laid back look, you can find what you’re looking for at a Thrift Town for WAY less than you’d be paying new. But before you buy any new clothes for little ones or teens, make sure you have a copy of their school’s current dress code regulations. Nothing’s more frustrating (for you and your kids) than buying something you all love and finding out they can’t wear it to school.

Similar to the dress code, before you buy non-yellow #2 pencils, white out or that new educational technology tool that isn’t on your child’s list, find out if there are items that are prohibited. Many schools now actually prohibit the special #2 pencils, whiteout, and other items that can cause problems in the classroom.

3. SOLO SHOP.
Unless it’s completely out of the question, if you have little ones, we suggest making it work to shop for school supplies & clothes SOLO. Offer to swap kid-watching with another parent who may also need to shop sans kids.

As much as little ones are fun, and want to pick out their own stuff, odds are, with them in tow you’ll end up buying more (cause they need to have the purple and pink one) and it will take twice as long. Most kids will want the shiniest and brightest items that also have the highest price tags. “See not, want not” definitely applies here. We’d mention tantrums, but your kids don’t do that, right? Not to mention the cost & time to stop & get lunch for everyone… trust me. Go solo.

Before heading out alone for clothes shopping, have your kids try on clothes they already have and get 1 of each basic that fits them well. Make a list of the sizes, but also bring those pieces along for size comparisons. Just check in at the service desk when you get to the store & have them sign off on what you’re bringing into the store. If you’re thrifting, the good news is, you’re spending less on clothes, but if you buy the wrong size, you can’t return it, so the fit-able clothes come in handy.

4. MIX & MATCH.
If you have teenagers, being on-trend is important, but buying a whole new wardrobe of trendiness at a department store is SO spendy. Plan on Thrift Town being stop #1 for at least the basics, maybe more. Make lists ahead of time and thanks to our oh-so-organized stores, colored/patterned tanks, tees, cardigans, hoodies and more are easy to locate & cross off the list. That way, when you get to the stores selling the must-have trendy items at cringe-worthy prices, one or two pieces will do to round out an already re-supplied wardrobe. Everybody wins.

5. TREND CYCLE.
Every so often, we do a post here on current trends, because it seems that no matter what the trend is, it will eventually come back around (so far with the exception of disco pants, which we hope will stay that way). A couple weeks ago, in my job as a personal stylist, I was out with a client aspiring to have a very trendy wardrobe. It was a pretty hilarious flashback for me that we were searching high and low for high waisted jean shorts. But they’re totally IN right now! (Did you see our post on shorts?) And guess what - Thrift Town is where we found them! For under $5. The cutesy boutiques had them stocked for $40+, some new, some consignment/vintage.

If it’s important to you or your back-to-school teen to be on trend, it’s to your benefit to check out the magazines and then look for the trends secondhand, first. With trend cycles not only circling back around, but also being as fleeting as they can be, chances are, you can find some great pieces while thrifting (maybe even better quality), that aren’t a big investment down the drain when it’s not still trendy 3 weeks from now.

6. SUMMER. SCHOOL.
As much as there’s a push for buying a lot of clothes for kids to start off the new school year, remember - it’s still going to feel like summer out for quite awhile. Go ahead and get them a couple new (secondhand) outfits, but don’t go hog-wild splurging on clothes only to need fall weather clothes part-way into the year. It’s nearing the end of a season, and chances are, your kids won’t fit these (summertime) school clothes by next summer.

The nice thing about Thrifting for school clothes is that for the amount you are spending, you’re getting way more. So go ahead, have the best dressed kid now, and when fall weather hits, for way less than other parents are paying.

7. ROCK THE VINTAGE.
So, you’ve got the basics (as per #4) and a couple trendy items (ala #5), but what will really make a statement is having a piece or two that everyone else doesn’t have. A great statement piece like a vintage hand-made leather book bag, or an era-specific jacket in a bold color gives variety and personal flair to a well-rounded wardrobe. Keep your eyes peeled for that vintage piece that pops.

. . . . .

If you’re reading this, it’s no secret to you that shopping at Thrift Town is good for your wallet, the community and the environment. So when you’re out shopping, make sure Thrift Town is on your list FIRST. That way, you don’t spend a lot on that character backpack or those navy blue polo shirts only to find the same items for half as much at Thrift Town.

{ Check out our other posts that might help for all your shopping needs… }

• Affordable Uniforms
• Thrift Looks for Little Ones