I'm impressed by the number of families that don't go back to school shopping. Most of the people I know make several big trips to buy all new stuff.

Hopefully my daugther will be able to wear the same dresses she wore at the end of the year to start the new year.

I bought her a couple long sleeve dresses and jumpers on ebay for preschool. She will only wear a dress and it is hard to find play dresses in the stores.

I can't buy all at once- my budget is too tight for that and honestly if I saved the money for it- I would fall over dead at the check out! Growing up my mom would take us out within days of school starting and doing that- yikes!

I am stocked up for my youngest right now- up to 5/6 and she is almost out of 3T. This past school year- she started school in size 18/24months- by the end of the school year she was in 3T. She grew so slow that I just quit stocking up and payed for it dearly! My oldest clothes are in decent shape- but recently I did go to Kohls and get her about 4 shirts and 3 pairs of pants. Her birthday is coming soon and usually she will get a few outfits or gift cards to get some clothes and that helps out. The only ting I really need to get for her is maybe 2 long shirts/sweaters, underclothes and school supplies (paper, pencils, erasers- no bookbag- hers is still in great shape!).

DS will have to wear a uniform this year for kindergarten. He is going to a new charter school near our house. They can only wear khaki tan or navy pants or shorts and have about 6 colors of shirts they can choose between. Since I'm not sure what he will like the most, I plan on buying him 1-2 pairs of shorts that will hopefully fit him both at the beginning of the year while it's hot and the end of the year. He starts August 13, so it will be hot. I also plan on buying one pair of khaki and one pair of navy pants and maybe 4-5 shirts to begin with. After a few weeks, we'll see if he needs more than that. I'm thinking we will end up buying at least one more pair of pants in each color and maybe whatever color and style of shirt is most popular. We also need a good pair of nice shoes and a belt. I've heard there are some good places that sell uniforms cheaply and I'm hoping I can find some at Goodwill or the Salvation Army for cheap.

I basically have no choice but to do some pre-shopping this year, since DS hasn't ever had to wear a uniform. Plus, he grew out of all of his pants that he wore last year. We've been lucky that it hasn't gotten cold, because I don't think he even has a pair of jeans that fit him at this point.

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Ds is probably going to be a size 7 by fall.. which is a good thing as he ran holes in all of his jeans by the end of the school year save one! Luckily, most of his shirts are 6/7s so I will not need to do much in the way of short sleeves. I am on the look out for size 7 bargans in jeans and long sleeve shirts for the fall.

Other than that, we have almost everything else he will need for school, with the exception of a new backpack. The one I got him for kindergarten was $4.88 at walmart, and it has lasted 2 years. It still works great, but will be too small for next year... So, I will hang on to it for dd!

We buy as needed also, DD gets her school supply list the week before school so there is always things we need to get and I like to get her a new outfit.

my kids aren't in school yet, but when they are they will wear uniforms (but it is a private school)
I wish everyone wore uniforms, I did for 1-8th grade and it was so much easier

I wait until it gets cooler and then only buy them a couple things at a time, if they need it. I have a habit of buying stuff on sale whenever I'm out shopping. I hit the clearance racks all the time and if I see something that I think they will like, I'll pick it up for $3 or $4, etc. I hit the clearance racks a few weeks ago at Target and picked up the next sizes for my kids for next year...all items were under $3 each. With 4 kids, it helps alot!!

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"Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but they can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake!" - ANONYMOUS

I don't know if some of you have heard or know about Sales Tax Holiday (tax free) and here is the weblink: Sales Tax Holidays Check on the date of your state and this might will help with your budget so you don't have to pay the tax when shop for school supplies/clothes.

Thanks for posting this. Unfortunately, Colorado isn't on the list.

__________________
www.myspace.com/vioburn

Frugal is being wise with your money and resources and cheap is forcing everyone else to.

Check out my blog, I'm starting to add more to it, as I can...www.ginnyv.com

Guess I never thought about sales tax on clothes. There never is one in MN!

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

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