Back to School Shopping Tips

It's August and that can only mean one thing, Back To School. The Summer hit me like a freight train but it's sailing out of here like a cruise for retired folk. I'm not even mad. Bye, Summer.

Don't get me wrong I will miss Savannah while she's in school but I'm ready to get back into the swing of things. I'm ready for the routine that the school year brings.

Part of going back to school involves back to school shopping. Shopping for clothes is something that Savannah and I truly enjoy. Shocking, I know. Today I'm going to share with you how I keep my baby girl (and the boys too) cute on a budget.

So how can you outfit your kid for school without spending a trillion dollars? Follow these steps:

TAKE INVENTORY

Go into your child's room and take inventory. What do they have? What have they outgrown? Get rid of anything that is too small for them, even socks.

MAKE A LIST & BUDGET

Now that you can see what they have, what's missing? What do they need?  Write it down. After I took inventory of Savannah's closet I was able to make a list detailing exactly what she needs including a few things that I want her to have if the budget permits.

STICK TO YOUR LIST

I do allow myself to purchase one or two impromptu items but for the most part I stick to my list. The list has everything that she absolutely needs on it. Sticker shock and buyer's remorse comes from impromptu pick-ups. If I feel like she's not going to get more than five wears out of something during the season I put it back. Before you know it, your kid will outgrow that fur vest you thought she had to have and your money will be wasted.

LOOK FOR SALES

This one is a no brainer but shop the sales. Take advantage of tax-free weekend if your state offers that. My favorite places to get good deals on school clothes are H&M and Old Navy. Both stores have great prices. If Old Navy is running a sale you can get tons of stuff for very little. If you're military don't forget to use your military discount at Old Navy! H&M is a great store but I recommend shopping them online. You'll get great deals and you won't have to worry about searching for items in-store. Their stores tend to be a bit messy and not all that stroller friendly.

SHOP EARLY

Try to avoid the crowds. Outlet malls and malls in general tend to be zoos this time of year. Online shopping is great but I must admit that you do find great deals in the store. Be prepared for lines and crowds.

REVIEW YOUR HAUL

Once your home have your kid try on everything to make sure it fits. You can always do exchanges and refunds once school is back in session. This is also when I style Sav's outfits. I show her what goes with what. This allows her to "pick out her own clothes" in the morning before school.

I'll share a YouTube video of our H&M haul soon!

You're ready to shop! And you know what? These tips work for you too! This is the process I used when I did a wardrobe overhaul. I'm still rebuilding my wardrobe but it feels good to know exactly what I have and exactly what I need.

Have you gone back to school shopping yet? When does school start in your area?