A Tight Wad's Guide to School Clothes Shopping

Garage Sale time is here. Garage saling can provide several outlets to different people. Some look for investments for resale, others look for pure enjoyment and hobby. I however, am too frugal to pass up the opportunity to find the items on my "to buy" list. It is the time of year I spend the most but it is also the time I find most of our biggest annual expenses.

To be sure that I don't overspend, or frivolously spend my time and gas money, I try to stick to a few techniques and rules.

Children grow, hence every year I start out with the goal of finding summer clothes and toys. I jot down the sizes of each child and keep them on hand. I go through their clothes to see what is needed for each and also jot that down. Sandals are a must buy every year. I also look for a pool if needed or any other good deals on near new summer toys that the kids may be wishing for.

On a bigger note, I look for school clothes and back packs. Last year I got 5 pairs of jeans and maybe 10 long sleeve shirts for my 7 year old boy. All were brand name and like new. That bag of school clothes cost me $5.00. This one gets me strange looks out of friends. I don't understand why. I hold out for the style my kids want. I hold out for new looking items. Most items you wouldn't know were used if I wouldn't keep telling people! I often find their dress shoes used too. I will usually end up buying under garments, socks and sneakers new. That's quite a deal considering the under garments and other new purchases I mentioned add up to about $100.00 for my two children. (that does include supplies). I also look for pencil cases and pencils and any other goodies I run across that are new looking and fall under school supplies.

I look for big toys and items my kids are wishing for. Sometimes I find things still in the box. I save it for birthdays or Christmas. In the past, I have found a Nintendo Game boy with a case and several games in the box. That was a great birthday present and unexpected since we normally don't buy such a big present. I have also found allot of board games and electric race tracks in boxes for our son. Radio control cars usually cost allot new too. This is another technique that gets me strange looks. I have raised my kids this way so they are thrilled if they get the thing they are wishing for. The little ones don't even know the difference.

Other great buys are Tupperware and Home Interiors. I love Tupperware. I will not buy it new though, it costs too much. Too much, when I can buy it at the used store or at a garage sale. I just picked up a ten piece set of fridge containers for $5.00. This is a lot of containers and would run more than $50.00 new. These are so new looking I would not be surprised if they were never used! I also buy our drinking glasses and dishes. My kids do dishes, so we go through allot of glasses. Even at the Dollar Store you can't pay a quarter a glass.

My best tip is not to just buy "junk and stuff". I buy what I need. What is on your list of things to buy? Can you find them at a garage sale? If you're like me, the answer likely is, yes.