Note: This is the third post in Northern Cheapskate’s Back to School Savings series. Please join me this week as I share more tips for saving money as you head back to school.

Confession:  My kids aren’t old enough for me to worry about buying new school clothes.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about school clothes shopping already! Especially since my husband the college instructor has been hinting about a new back to school wardrobe for him.

So here are my thoughts on how to save money on school clothes.

Do an inventory.  Figure out what clothes your kids have that still fit and look decent.  This will help you know where you need to fill in gaps.


Check out the local thrift stores.  You may be able to get some really great things.  We’ve seen some great retro t-shirts and sports shirts all in excellent shape that would be perfect for teens.

Watch those sales.  But NOT the back-to-school sales.  Instead, watch the clearance and end-of-season sales.  I also love looking at the outlet/sales sections of websites like Kohls, Lands End, LL Bean, and JCPenney.   You can also check out Target, Walmart, and Kmart.  If your child has some patience, wait until a few weeks into the school year to buy school clothes. Your kids will have a better sense of what the latest style is, and you’ll find that the back-to-school stuff has been discounted even more than before.


Teach your kids about quality, classic styles, and value.  Give them their own clothing allowance and show them how to stretch it and still look stylish.  There is no better lesson for back-to-school.