Saving Money On Back To School Shopping: A Quick Guide

Want to save more money on your list of back to school items this year?

The average family spends over $100 per child on new clothes, shoes, school supplies, and more at the beginning of every school year.

Last year, I discussed three easy ways to cut down costs and keep yourself organized during back to school shopping over at Money Saving Mom.  

If you still need more money-saving ideas on back to school shopping, here are four more suggestions to consider:

• Host a clothing swap.  This would be an easy and fun summer activity for your circle of friends, especially if you have kids of similar ages and sizes.  Just invite everyone to bring their clean and gently used clothing to the party, and trade off while the kids run around in the backyard.  Older kids may want to host their own swaps, so they can have more control over what comes home with them and/or can try items on before agreeing to a trade.
• Clean out your kids' closets for extra cash.  Sites like ThredUp or Twice are willing to pay good money for your kids, tweens, and teens' gently used items, especially if they're name brands.  You can earn cash to take with you to the mall, or to turn around and use right on the site itself for even more savings.  If you don't like shopping online, check out clothing consignment stores in your area like Plato's Closet or Clothes Mentor.
• Shop thrift stores in ritzy zip codes.  The more expensive areas of town usually have a better range of clothing available in their thrift shops.  Here in San Antonio, for example, I really like shopping the Salvation Army on 281 N in the Stone Oak area -- you'd be shocked at the deals you can find there on higher-end labels!
• Don't forget about garage sales.  They often offer the best bang for your buck, as children's clothes could be priced for as little as $1 or $2 per item.

What are your best tips on saving money during back to school shopping?  Share them in the comments section below!