It’s tradition to load up on back-to-school stuff in August. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years with my girls who are 9 and 11, it’s to wait and do most of our back-to-school clothes and shoe shopping in September and October.
We bought a couple of outfits each in August so they would feel ready for the new school year. But they can easily wear many of their summer outfits and last year’s clothes that still fit them well into September.
Stalling not only buys me time to take advantage of Columbus Day sales, and other money-saving opportunities that pop up as the leaves turn, it gives my kids a chance to tune into fall clothing trends and get a firm idea of what they really want by checking out what their friends are wearing. And that’s important.
Even when they were much younger, I’d later find August back-to-school clothes and shoes in their drawers and closets basically unworn because they turned out not to be the right thing by September or October.
Lesson learned: Timing is key, even with back-to-school shopping.
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