Families to Spend Less on Back-to-School Shopping This Year
Is Tax-Free Weekend Shopping at Thrift Stores on Their Minds?
Thrift Stores May Participate In Sales Tax-Free Weekend
Tight household budgets might not find a lot of room for expensive jeans, shirts and shoes needed by children who have outgrown last year's clothing. Parents seeking to save the most money on back-to-school clothes may wish to shop at gently used shops such as Once Upon a Child, Plato's Closet (for teens) and the local Goodwill.
A quick phone call to some local gently used clothing shops yielded mostly ecstatic yeses when I asked whether or not gently used clothing was eligible for my state's tax-free weekend event. Because gently used clothing is included, savvy shoppers can first shop the racks at a local thrift store before moving on to brick and mortar retail establishments to buy clothing they could not find in thrift stores.
TIP: To avoid any tax surprises at the register, call ahead to verify that the thrift store that you plan to shop at is participating. I called a Once Upon A Child in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and was told that they were not participating (that they could opt out and chose to do so), whereas the one in Manassas was participating with regard to clothing and shoe sales.
Don't Forget to Bring Your Outgrown Clothing
Bear in mind that Plato's Closet and Once Upon A Child accept gently used clothing for resale, so taking in your child's outgrown clothing and toys can mean significant savings once you factor in the amount you are offered for them and apply that to your new purchase. Couple that with tax-free savings by shopping during the tax-free weekend in your state, and that could be just the bargain that fits snugly into your budget.
Clothing Swaps Also Help Save Money
Associated Content's Tamara L. Waters offers good advice about organizing a clothing swap to stretch your budget. Now is the perfect time to gather your friends and pack up your child's outgrown clothing to swap with friends.
When my daughter's school friend stayed overnight recently, I sized her up and realized that my daughter's outgrown jeans would fit her friend. Sending my child's friend home with 10 pair of outgrown jeans means her mother won't have to spend valuable money on those items when she does her own back-to-school shopping.
Sources:
RBC Consumer Index Outlook press release, August 5, 2010
Telephone conversations with local Plato's Closet, Goodwill and Once Upon a Child stores
Organize a Clothing Swap to Stretch Your Dollars, by Tamara L. Waters
Published by Carly Hart
One of AC's Top 1000 Content Producers, Carly Hart's interests include news, politics, parenting, frugal living and consumer related issues. A Featured Contributor in the Shopping and Fashion category, she... View profile
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- Organize a clothing swap if your Back-to-School budget is too tight to afford new clothes.
13 Comments
Post a CommentI remember when I was a child in the 70s the elementary school running out of paper and pencils by the end of the year. In junior high and high school we had to supply for ourselves. I remember my parents always buying extra to donate to a local group that distributed supplies to families in need.
What, no $300 tennis shoes?
I am a recently retired teacher and still have school supplies around the house. I admit I still buy them when they're dirt cheap, too. This year, I'm rounding them up and taking them to teacher friends to give out when they need them. It's a great way to declutter, too, although I'll buy more when I run into those 90% off sales.
I'm so sorry you are having trouble. I can recommend that you talk to your child's school - there are lots of school supply drives, so maybe some supplies will work there way back to your child's school. Also contact local churches - they may help you and if you truly cannot afford clothes, try talking to Goodwill or Salvation Army. Another thought is to have a frank discussion with your child's teacher. Many parents send in extras and they may be able to jumble things around or not miss too much if one parent doesn't send in everything at the beginning of the year.
Dressing fab doesnt have to cost a fortune.Check out my blog,ReFashionista where I refashion $1.00 and 50 cent thrift store finds from atrocious to awesome.:
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To answer samefay's question....goodwill has lower prices (around 3.50 for a pair of jeans)than Plato's closet and any other consignment store that pays the consignor upfront when they trade in clothes. However, you will find more expensive name brands and better condition clothing in the consignment stores since the standards of what they will accept are higher than a goodwill or other charity based thrift store where people donate their items for free.
School supplies are expensive I like this idea.
And I think we'll have even less to spend next year.
Thanks! The economy here in Arizona was bad before, but noe because of the boycotts due to the new imigration law, it's even worse. The little guy always suffers in a bad economy!
All excellent ideas. I'm all for saving a buck!