Back to school just got real! I don’t know how it surprises me every year but summer seems to fly by and before you know it the first day of school is here. With only a couple of weeks to go, we need to back to school ready with a couple of new outfits and school supplies.
Dustin is happy with whatever we pick out for him while Cheyenne is our little fashion diva, without a budget spending can quickly get out of control. I’m sharing a few tips I’ve learned over the years to help you stick to your back-to-school budget without breaking a sweat!
Tip #1 – Know what you have before you go shopping
We go through the kids' closets and take out clothes that don’t fit anymore and make a mental note of pieces we need to purchase.
Tip #2 – Set your budget
For our back-to-school budget, I don’t include supplies since that can fluctuate especially when the list includes specific items. I like to shop for clothes year-round to get the best prices but everyone likes a new outfit, especially for the first few days of school.
Tip #3 – When all else fails go for the basics
When adding to existing wardrobes think basics when it comes to colors and pieces you’re adding. For example, a pair of jeans can be worn with almost anything while technicolored pants probably can’t. Making smart choices is important to stick to your budget, we want quality at a great value with clothes that are also stylish.
The new kid's lines at Giant Tiger were developed with the day-to-day in mind, from school to practices and weekend fun they've got you covered.
Tip #4 – One Stop Shopping
Find a store that carries clothes for both kids that way you can get the shopping done in one stop and everyone is happy. This year we chose Giant Tiger because they keep the whole family in mind when it comes to assortment and price.
For the older kids, they’ve developed the Bella & Birdie as well as the Survival Gear line that can be tied together by color stories and trends. When you have an active boy and fashionista in the family you can’t beat their “Happiness Guarantee”, if your kids have outgrown, outlasted, or simply changed their mind, return the time, at any time with a receipt, for a full refund! That makes for one happy Mom.
Tip #5 – Have fun
Keeping focused on your budget is important while shopping but don’t let that crush the fun times. The kids are excited to see their friends again and meet their new teachers so have fun, relax and be in the moment. When you get home do a little fashion shoot with the kids so they can start planning their outfits for the first day of school!
We had a blast picking out new clothes and staying within our budget, it is always a good day when your budget stretches further than you think.
Disclosure: I am participating in the Giant Tiger campaign managed by SJ Consulting. I received compensation in exchange for my participation in this campaign. The opinions on this blog are my own.