Save Money on Back to School Shopping

It's about that time again. The time when you peel your kids begrudgingly away from the friends and the video games they've spent their entire summer with a gear up with a list in one hand and a credit card in the other to do their school shopping. As a parent of three I know that school shopping can be almost ridiculously expensive, which is why I've devoted myself over the years to finding ways to cut costs (besides convincing my daughter she does not, in fact, need to spend $300 on a dress...).

First and foremost, do your school clothes shopping a season before. If your kids are past the age of outgrowing everything they own six months after you bought it this is a lot easier, since there's less guesswork involved, but you're usually pretty safe buying things a size or two large. That way you can hit the winter clearance sales, and all you need to do over the summer is pick up an outfit or two for them to start school in style.

There's not much you can do about the fact that your kids are going to need new shoes, but there are places you can go to get them much, much cheaper. Look for outlet stores like Shoe Factory instead of shopping at chain branches like Payless, and scout through the clearance section. Keep an eye out for who's having a sale, and if you get the chance ask a sales clerk if they still have anything left over from last season-when my son was younger I picked up a great pair of Lightning McQueen sneakers for less than $3 because they were outdated.

Finally, let's talk school supplies. I have 3 words for you: Early, Target, and WalMart. Don't wait until two weeks before school to do your kids' school shopping. WalMart and Target put all their school supplies on sale about 6 weeks before school starts, and you can find some great savings. I usually have my kids' school shopping done by the end of July, which saves money and stress as the first day rolls around.

See what you have that you can re-use from last year. New jackets, lunch boxes and backpacks are nice every year, but they're not a necessity. Spending a little extra for a backpack that will last them three or four years is a much better investment than dropping $20 a year on a character one that will be lucky to last until Christmas. I like Jansport myself-you spend $50-100 the first time, but they'll last forever.

The bottom line is that school shopping doesn't have to cost you a fortune. Try out some of these money saving tips and you'll be amazed to see just how far your budget can go!

**Feel free to comment below with your own money saving tips!**