5 EASY ways to save on back to school clothes shopping

The first day of school is filled with the excitement of kids seeing their friends, but it often leaves their parents feeling depleted financially. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way! There are so many ways to save on back to school clothes shopping, so here are my top 5 tips:

1.) Spend the most amount of your budget on staple pieces.

When I use the term “staple pieces”, I’m referring those pieces of clothing that are worn often, will work with multiple outfits, and have a tendency to wear out.

For example – if you have boys, it may be wise to spend a little more money and get quality pants with reinforced knees. That way they don’t rip holes in the knees by month 2. It will cost you a bit more money, but in the long run it will save you money.

Another staple product is shoes. Instead of getting the flashy shoes that your kids might be automatically drawn to, get high quality sneakers that will work with multiple outfits. Stay away from white sneakers that will end up looking dirty within weeks.

2.) Shop online through cash back sites like Swagbucks or Ebates to get extra money back.

If you are shopping at stores that have store pickup, shop online for those items to get cash back, and then pickup in the store for free. Not only are you getting a great deal on the item, but you will also earn rewards to earn on future purchases!

3.) Search for coupon codes online to save even more money.

Before you shop online, look for additional coupon codes by signing up for the website’s email list. Often times, they send you a thank you coupon code where you can save an extra percentage off of your price.

You can also search websites like Coupon Cabin or Retail Me Not for additional codes.

4.) Look for online clothing swap groups.

My kids’ school has an online Facebook group where parents swap clothing when their kids grow out of it. My kids wear uniforms to school, and they are often still in decent condition by the end of the year. I posted my daughters polo shirts for free in that group, and then got free clothing from someone else in the group for her.

If your school doesn’t have one, this would be a great time to start one yourself.

5.) Check out online thrift stores

There are a lot of great online thrift stores like Swap.com, ThredUp.com, and Schoola.com. All 3 online stores offer deeply discounted clothing. You can even refer friends and get cash to help with your spending.

BONUS TIP:

Even though the focus of this article is to save on back to school shopping, it might make sense to budget for one splurge item. Kids can receive a lot of pressure to wear the latest and best clothing and accessories. Being on a budget doesn’t always mean that you have to tell your kids “no” all the time, so plan for one splurge item. Encourage kids to think carefully about their splurge item and help them get the best price possible. This is a great teaching moment for your child, as you can show them how to get the best price as possible.

As a parent, you have control over how much money you spend on your child. It is hard to not let your kids dictate what they get to buy when shopping for them. But if you teach your kids bargain-hunting skills, they will hopefully never want to pay full price again!

Going back to school doesn’t have to break the bank, and by following these steps you can send your kids back to school in style and on a budget.

This post was written as part of the Allstate Influencer Program and sponsored by Allstate. All opinions are mine. As the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, Allstate is dedicated not only to protecting what matters most–but to help protect your firsts and the moments in between. Share your firsts with #HeresToFirsts