How much do you buy to go back to school? What store do you like to shop at for shoes? Just don't know how much to get for school. DD wants everything

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Ugh...it's soo hard....and I usually go overboard....but we do a few new outfits, definately sneakers, and another pair of "new shoes". She got an Llbean backpack & lunch pack last year so that will be totally fine for this year. It was sooo worth the $$. It hardly looks used and she carried it ALL year....everyday.

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I try to reuse anything that I can. How many rulers do you really need to buy. My ds will use the same backpack this year, but I think it is time for a new lunch box. He has used his for about 4 years now. I have been stocking up on clearance clothes for the kids. I never pay full price for anything. Target gets most of my money. I found really good deals about a week ago and got my ds 3 pair of jeans for $2.48 a piece, t-shirts, and not sure what else I got. JC Penney usually has good sales before school. Don't buy too many new outfits, you never know when that growth spurt is going to happen. It never fails, I buy jeans and by the time it is cool enough to wear them, they are too short.

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~Jodi~

We only buy ONE back to school outfit or two shirts, if they don't need/want pants. It is just too hot to waste the money on jeans right now. Plus, later, I can get them on better sales!! We do have to do new shoes for all in school. Since we were sandals/flip flops all summer, there is almost always a shoe size change. Plus, my bigger kids usually have worn their shoes down to YUCK by the end of the previous school year. We actually try to use the same shoes for the entire school year for those who have feet that have stopped growing! By not buying all their clothes now, we avoid those growth spurts, and it also eases up the pain of school supplies and fees. I know that kindergarten alone has a $49 fee plus two supplies that have to be bought through the school. I am not sure on my other kids yet, but once they hit jr high/ highschool age, it gets worse..MUCH worse! I am just ready for the continuity of school. I am a schedule person....with six, I have to be. I can't wait to know exactly what time each has to get up and go, where they go, what I can/have to do during the time they are gone, when they will be home, etc. I want supper at suppertime..not, "oh my, it is 7pm again, and we haven't eaten."!! I have to admit, though, I will miss them terribly. I just can't believe my five year old is going....

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We usually buy the boys 5 new outfits,pair of shoes,socks&boxers.We have 5 in school and it can be very expensive.But i start buying at the beginning of summer so that we don't feel the crunch too much.We do school supply shopping the first weekend of august.GGGGRRR!It may seem like alot of outfits to start school with,but we don't buy any other clothes except for christmas and b'days.If they want some extra shoes during the school year,they have to earn the money.Or can ask for them at christmas or b'days.

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I buy all the stuff on the supply list, DD7 will need a new lunch box this year, we'll see about the backpack, hers is ok, but maybe she is outgrowing My Little Pony???

AS for school clothes, definitely shoes, a few outfits. Unless it is a great bargain, I won't buy a lot of long pants/jeans, last year she was a 5 when school began, by the time she was in jeans they were starting to be a bit short, so I got a few pairs and so did Grandma.

Last year I also made a list of what she had that fit, and jotted some ideas down as what I could look for to go with it.
Like "jeans with red hearts and rainbow" next to it I had "red shirt" that she had but then looked for another shirt to match.

Money's tight right now, we're going to get supplies this week, I beter do Target soon or it'll be empty aisles by the end of the week! The rest I'll wait on!

Each DD (older 2) gets a new pair of tennis shoes because they've out grown the one's from last year. Last week I hit a deal at JCPenneys 50% off clearance shoes. So one pair cost $18 (originally $80) and other pair was $15 (originaly $60) I also got my 3 yr old 3 pairs of different sized tennis shoes for $30 total to grow into. Then my 10 yr old fell in love with these red nike tennis shoes that are impractical and I told her no but later I went back and got them for her for Xmas ($12).

Supplies that are on the list are all they get nothing extra in that dept.. They each get new socks and underwear. Oldest DD got 3 pairs of new from the store jeans at 8.99 & 9.99 each. She's too hard to by for at rummage sales. My 10yr old got 3 new Tshirts from Old Navy at $4 each. Otherwise that's it that's new from the store. Everything else including backpacks, lunch boxes & clothes are bought from rummage sales. I start rummaging in April and usually by now thwy are done for the year and part of next year. I do have to say we go to Plato's Closet and another upscale consignmet shop to by oldest DD's jeans throught the year.

As the girls ask for things throughout the year we may buy them but only if we find a great sale or clearance. This way the expense is spread thoughout the year and it's just easier to handle.

I always go overboard for DD. *But she loves consignment shops and garage sales. *I did all of her school clothes this week end and only spent $50! * She got 5 pairs of jeans (3 Tommy Hilfigure, 1 Guess and 1 Ralph Lauren) , one pair of black slacks (Ralph Lauren), 4 pairs of tennis shoes ( 1 Scketchers, 2 Nike, and one pair she needed for cheerleading), and 13 shirts ( 3 Abracombe, 4 Tommy Hilfigure,3 Aeropostal). *Almost half of the things I bought still had the original tags on them. *I was so excited. *Now if I can get as lucky on DS.

I buy new underwear and socks before summer camp. *I got backpacks on clearance at the end of the school year. *I also bought DS football cleets at the end of the year.

[/quote]spent $50! * She got 5 pairs of jeans (3 Tommy Hilfigure, 1 Guess and 1 Ralph Lauren) , one pair of black slacks (Ralph Lauren), 4 pairs of tennis shoes ( 1 Scketchers, 2 Nike, and one pair she needed for cheerleading), and 13 shirts ( 3 Abracombe, 4 Tommy Hilfigure,3 Aeropostal). *Almost half of the things I bought still had the original tags on them. *I was so excited. *Now if I can get as lucky on DS[quote]

What great deals you got

ok that didn't work I can never do the quote thing

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I don't do much!! Heck there are too many expenses any whay just with putting money in all their lunch accounts and paying for dd's volleyball and such.

I look at their lists and see what we have. Then I get the rest. I don't think anyone needs a back pack this year. I have some spare backpacks and lunch boxes that I got in clearance sales last year if we do need any. I do not buy back to school clothes, I just buy what they need when they need it. I do know that oldes ds needs new tennis shoes because his are just gross. I just don't see spending alot of money all at once (especially since I have 5 in school right now!)

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~Happiness is a large family~

Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. James 1:19

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24