It's that time of year where back-to-school shopping takes all of our thoughts and money. How do you view this - a fun time or a big expensive headache?
Here are 10 tips that will help you to keep your children up to date with today's fashion and yet within your budget.
Buy Simple, Basic Clothes
Basic clothes can be dressed up or down with accessories. Two or three different shades of blue jeans can be made to look like a dozen different pants by adding belts or sashes and by wearing different tops and sweaters.
Avoid Logos
Logos draw attention to those who are checking out what's being worn. Two pairs of pants with logos, for example, shows that you own only two pairs of pants. Two pairs of plain pants dressed up or down with different tops and shoes or sneakers can give the impression that you have a large wardrobe.
Avoid Fads
Fads come and go and when you're on a budget, you need to use these icons as accessories to the basic clothing and not as the basic clothing. When the fads disappear and you don't have the money to replace everything, your child could be ridiculed because they are wearing outdated clothes.
As well, logos tend to categorize children into groups according to their chosen logo. Your child should be free to choose his or her friends for their friendship and not because of what they are wearing.
Purchase basic clothes and add small items of faddish accessories. They come in a large variety of choices and are much cheaper to replace.
Buy Quality
Purchasing one pair of quality sneakers will prove to be a wise investment because they are better fitted for the feet and they will last longer. Buying cheap often means replacing them after a short time, and many times they are in noticeably bad shape before mom knows about it.
Label Everything
This is necessary to protect and keep what belongs to your child. Sometimes things are taken by others who mistakenly think they are their own, or they are taken by those who just want what your child has.
Labelling all your child's supplies and clothing allows them to more easily identify and retain what belongs to them.
Avoid Showy School Supplies
Sometimes other children want that faddish expensive article that your child has and it's not uncommon to have things go missing permanently for that reason.
Children do not like having their things taken, so prevent the possibility of it by giving your child things that aren't showy of fad or cost. Leave the showy expensive things at home where they can keep them safe.
Buy Multi-Purpose Clothing
You can purchase jackets, for example, that are reversible with a design or picture on one side and a plain colour on the other. This is a great way to dress up or down their outfit and to have two jackets rather than just one.
Stick to the Norm
Purchase school supplies that are basic and accepted by the majority of the students according to what is generally affordable. If your child dresses in very expensive outfits that are above what the average student can afford to wear, you may be setting your child up to be ridiculed or ostracized or even robbed.
Find out what the norm is for their age and try to dress them according to that norm.
Leave Technology at Home
Many children will try to be convincing and tell you that everyone has cell phones or music devices. This is not true even though many students do have access to these.
They are expensive and not necessary for students who are at school to learn academics. Some students may require cell phones but don't be fooled into making it part of the back-to-school expense.
Don't Lend Out
Teach your child not to let everyone use their supplies or their clothing. Where sharing is a very respectable virtue, you need to teach your child to be selective on who they share with and to make sure they get their things back.
Some children share with anyone and everyone and they lose track of where their things are. This can be very expensive when it's you who has to replace them. And even more costly when it happens repeatedly.
Back-to-school shopping can be fun and productive when you are resourceful and wise.
