August 19th, 2009
In Part 1, we talked about creating a powerful strategy (the Plan of Attack) for beating the Back to School blues…in this post, we’ll explore how to save money by hitting the Back to School sales.
PART 2: Shop the Sales.
Back to school sales are ideal ways to get what you need at a reasonable price — but only if you stick to your plan. Walking into a huge sale without a plan is a lot like grocery shopping when you’re hungry — you’re likely to buy things that look good right now, but then you get home and realize you don’t have any real meals you can pull together.
The same is true for clothing — without a bit of wardrobe planning, you’ll end up with a bunch of pieces that you might like individually, but you can’t pull together enough great oufits with them. Once you’ve got your plan, hit the sales and stick to your budget. Start by purchasing the necessities on the list BEFORE you address any impulse buys.
Another essential tip is to start early — and DO NOT SETTLE. It doesn’t matter if the item is $2, or an amazing color, or the perfect fit. If your child doesn’t like it, he/she won’t wear it, so it’s not a good find. Keep looking and hold out for a perfect match. Starting early (when the sales start, ideally) allows you the best possible selection and keeps you from settling because you are rushed or running out of time.
Sticking to your budget also allows you the space for some must-have (unplanned) items that your kids are sure to ask for. And because every parent loves the ability to leverage, this offers another great opportunity to do just that. The back to school shopping experience may also provide a great opportunity to talk to your kids about money, value, budgets, and proper planning. You can get your kids ready for school and pass on a little of your parental wisdom at the same time. (Have you noticed that kids tend to listen a bit more when they know you’re buying them something?)
Planning and shopping with your child is a great way to connect as a family, have fun, and ensure that your child will actually be happy with their back to school wardrobe. And isn’t a little planning now worth all that in the long run?
Join us in the next installment for part 3 of Back to School: Beat the Blues
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