Amazing Back to School Shopping Savings for an Epic Year
Back to school shopping can be such a fun experience to kickstart your child’s excitement for the upcoming school year. If you’re going to be a kindergarten mom, like me, then now is the best time to start school shopping traditions for your child. There’s no better way to engage them in the experience, as well as ensure they have the necessary tools, than to start shopping early! Utilize the information to follow to ensure you aren’t scrambling for picked over supplies and clothes at the end of August!
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Back to School Shopping Made Easy
When does back to school shopping start?
For most, back to school shopping starts about a month or a few weeks before the start of the school year. Many utilize tax-free shopping days in their state as a guide to begin shopping. You’ll want to check the details of your state’s guidelines on what is eligible and when. The Federation of Tax Administrators has a complete list of all states detailing dates and requirements.
In Ohio, for example, the department of taxation provides a list of frequently asked questions. he following information:
The sales tax holiday will begin on the designated Friday in August at 12:00 a.m. and end on the designated Sunday in August at 11:59 p.m. For 2023, Ohio’s sales tax holiday is from Friday, August 4, 2023 at 12:00 a.m. to Sunday, August 6, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.
Ohio Department of Taxation
This is the best budget-friendly time to begin shopping because the savings allow you to stretch your budget. However, any time earlier than the days leading up to the start of the school year is a good time as you’ll still be sending them with what they need regardless of when it was purchased.
What should I be buying for the upcoming school year?
Use your school district as a guide! Most school districts, and sometimes even your child’s school, will provide a supply list of what your child’s grade level requires. This is a great tool because it is coming from the source of your child’s actual curriculum. Take advantage of that school supplies list and use it as a guide in the store. You can even make it a scavenger hunt for your child by drawing the supplies (for the non-readers). A great tradition to start that encourages your child’s independence of choosing their own school supplies (of course with your guidance). Don’t forget items like lunchboxes and backpacks depending on how you intent to provide lunch.
In addition to supplies, we know you need school clothes. Especially if your child is half as active as mine, you know they can be hard on things like shoes and pants. Choose clothes that fit their active lifestyles, express their big personalities, and are both stylish and functional! Most of the tips here will focus on public school clothing, but similar concepts should apply even if your kid is required to wear a school uniform.
If you’re taking advantage of the tax free holiday, keep things like price per item in mind. Again using Ohio as an example, the department of taxation says this:
During the holiday, the following items are exempt from sales and use tax:
Ohio Department of Taxation
- An item of clothing priced at $75 or less;
- An item of school supplies priced at $20 or less; and
- An item of school instructional material priced at $20 or less.
The total of purchases will likely be well over these amounts. That doesn’t matter. These guidelines are based on the cost of each individual item in an order.
Selecting Places to Shop
Choosing where to shop for the upcoming school year largely depends on what items you’re buying. Some stores can’t be a one stop shop for both supplies and children clothing, so we’ve compiled lists based on each!
Where to shop for school supplies
While cost is important, this is usually a matter of preference. Some may opt for one place over another based on overall shopping experience, loyalty rewards and discounts, or availability. According to Krazy Coupon Lady, typical places to shop with actual coupons/savings on back to school supplies include:
- Amazon
- Target
- Walmart
- Macy’s (backpacks)
- Five Below
- Dollar Tree
Where to shop back to school clothes
Finding kids clothes is simple. Finding kids boys clothes, not so much. The in store selections can be a stale assortment of dinosaurs and sharks. My recommendation start planning now. Go to store websites and sift out the haves and have nots. If you notice a pattern of styles that don’t fit your child’s aesthetic, that saves you a trip.
Take advantage of:
- Outlets – great for name brand quality at slightly cheaper prices
- Malls – one stop shop to reduce drive time
- Plazas – similar benefits to a mall
- Online clothing stores – better selection of clothes
Use all of these mediums in conjunction. I know I personally like getting basics and shoes in person, in the store. This allows me to have him try things on which will guide my online shopping decisions. Blogs by Aria does a great job of putting great looking outfits together for you!
Some specific stores with amazing kids clothing deals include
- Kohl’s
- Macy’s
- Walmart/Target
- JCPenney
- Gap
- H&M
- Finish Line
- Outlets: Nike, Ralph Lauren, Adidas, and more.
Again, I personally feel like these places are great for basics, or even if you’re into name brands. However, they lack originality, so if that’s what you’re looking for I’d add some online shopping to the mix.
This list should give you a head start on where to find great clothes with some great offers. Shop Rakuten deals at most of these stores for cash back from 1-5% on top of your tax savings.
Best kids clothing stores online
Be sure to at least try a few items in store before starting your online shopping spree. Stores are usually pretty good about having size guides based on weight and height but individual brands can run big or small. Buyer beware of the parameters set by your state for tax free weekend (or week) when making decisions on online shops to utilize.
Qualified items sold to consumers by mail, telephone, e-mail, or Internet shall qualify for the sales tax exemption if the consumer orders and pays for the item and the retailer accepts the order during the exemption period for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the exemption period.
However, if the order and payment were made before the sales tax holiday, even if the item was delivered during the sales tax holiday, it would not qualify for the exemption.
Ohio Department of Taxation
Keep in mind, the stores above can be green online options if you don’t have one in your area or if your location has limited stock of the items you like.
Top 3 Places to find Kids Clothes:
- Amazon – great when you know exactly what you want and can search the specific item.
- SHEIN – you may not have even known they sold kids clothes. They tend to be a little thinner than expected, so be mindful of that. They’re also great for sets!
- Fashion Nova – believe it or not they have a great selection of kids graphic tees making this a great destination for boy moms.
Final tips:
Don’t forget to buy PJs. They aren’t technically for school, but as your child grows, PJs shrink (FAST), so throw a couple pairs of pajamas in your cart.
Same applies to underwear and socks. Make sure your child’s underwear and socks fit properly. This is also a great time to throw out old underwear and keep your child’s room clutter free!
Since you typically only do these hauls maybe twice a year, be prepared for all weather conditions the season brings during the semester. That is, if the stores are offering items for other seasons. It’s us midwesterners that have something to fear with being ill-prepared for season changes!
Don’t forget to accessorize. EVEN boys! Better yet, especially boys! It’s so easy to elevate their look with a chain or a hat. If you feel your outfits always look lackluster, throw in some accessories.
Back to School Shopping Takeaways
In summary, choosing the right time to start shopping can ignite your school year! This is especially true for incoming kindergarten classes, as this is a new experience for both you and your child. Send them to school with all the tools they need. We’ve covered where to shop, what to shop, and how to shop. Armed with all this information, you should now be able to decide when is the best time to start back to school shopping for your family!
