Back to School the Frugal Way
Ways to cut expenses when shopping for "back to school"
If you only have a month or two to shop, it's late to be doing a lot of serious clothes hunting for 'back to school', but you can still get in on some good bargains. Living below your means should not be difficult and kids grow so fast that it's really pointlessly expensive to dress them in brand name clothes, unless you can find them for much less than the usual extreme prices.
Garage sales and second hand stores are easy ways to help live below your means but are very busy right now, and you'll find kid's clothes advertised as 'back to school' at all levels of quality and wear. Look for things that don't show wear, in nonfading materials, and when you find something that looks good, be sure to check zippers, buttons, and seams closely.
Pay attention to stains, too. Often a stain can be removed, even after it's been laundered several times, with the proper approach. Many great pieces of clothing can be salvaged with a little detective work.
If you buy as you find bargains all year long, you won't have to buy an entire year's clothing needs at one time, and this is one idea you can use any time. Take your time and wait for sales, or find what you need second hand. Kids don't need their whole school wardrobe the first week.
It's a good idea for your kids to have something special, brand-new for at least the first day. Don't make them feel uncomfortable; only you can tell what's acceptable with your family. Living below your means does not mean the kids need to be embarrassed or the neighbors all need to be able to tell. If in doubt, err on the generous side.
School supplies, like so many other things, can be cheaper when you buy in bulk. If something's too much for you, split it (and the cost) with a friend. We still have a half a gross of pencils bought five years ago for twelve dollars at a discount membership store.
If you homeschool and haven't quite got all your materials together, you can find a good variety of used books at CHEAP, (Christian Home Educator's Advertisers Pages), and at Homeschoolers Curriculum Swap.
Living below your means is not too difficult, if you are creative and willing to think outside the box a little. You can save money, live frugally and still enjoy life.
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