School Supplies

I just thought I would put this questions forward.

How many of us actually buy new clothes for school now? I actually dont. My kids always wear their vacation clothes the first month of school. then I go out and buy them more fall type clothes.

How many go out and buy all the supplies the schools say they need? Another no for me. I do buy them their backpacks, pens and pencils and binders. But i wait on anyything else. I learned with my older 2 that many times I spent money for no reason when the teacher would claim that isnt necessary.

For the last question....where are the best buys? I have found quite a few things in my store.(I do get first pick ya know!)

Christine
August 26, 2008 10:30 pm · Link

my child is going to start going to daycare/preschool.
they dont need school surplies not yet anyway! but i did get some cure outfists at marshalls here intown
i am woundering if i should buy more dresses or pants for day care. what do u think?

averymommy
August 26, 2008 10:42 pm · Link

we love goin out to staples and getting all the stuff on the school list. its a big family trip for us. the kids love it!

Hackettstown Dad
August 26, 2008 10:49 pm · Link

I bought 5 pairs of pants and 5 shirts for my 5 year old from the Gap Kids Outlet for $95!!! I thought that was pretty good. I will couple these new pieces with the few things that he still fits into. Still have to get him a pair of sneakers and a backpack, but thats it.

Jenn
August 26, 2008 10:53 pm · Link

My daughter told me she needs new clothes for school (she's starting high school) because she only has 1 outfit - I guess she's been wearing the same outfit all summer (since she only has 1). I'm afraid to see how much this is gonna cost me. If anyone knows of any good sales, please let me know..

Jill
August 26, 2008 11:01 pm · Link

I bought the girls a few pants. My youngest outgrew everything this summer. They didn't get any tops because they mostly wear their spring/summer stuff. We've been taking advantage of all the free stuff that Staples has been offering plus the binders that were on the list.

Kate S.
August 27, 2008 7:27 am · Link

For school supplies - I started watching the sales ads in the Sunday paper for great deals on the required items. Then I would stop by the store (when passing on a normal day - not a special trip) and pick up the sale items - or free items at Staples. Within a couple of weeks, I had everything on the list and for far less than the PTO school supply sale (they offered to get most items for $30).

As for clothes - over the summer, we made a trip to the outlets during the clearance sales from last year. (Styles don't change that much). Picked up items where DD has outgrown for some great discounts. Well set with Summer clothes for early school start and layered clothes for the fall. Still need to pick up some heavier pants for Winter.

Still have to get Winter boots and shoes. Those feet never stop growing! :-)

DD is just starting elementary school - so it should be interesting to see what the fashions really are!

Coralie
August 27, 2008 7:35 am · Link

Definitely pants for preschool! Comfy pants!

jobey99
August 27, 2008 8:20 am · Link

usually Hackettstown High School sends a list home after the first day of school, this list is pretty lengthy and costly to say the least, I still have to go clothes shopping for her, will start this weekend. there goes my money.

chrisb
August 27, 2008 8:26 am · Link

Jill - I just took my girls to TJMaxx - they both made out great - one found jeans for $10 and she loved them - I do not think of TJMaxx when we have to go shopping - we were up in ITC and just stopped in.

Ronnie
August 27, 2008 9:08 am · Link

WAL-MART!! I bought my kids a few pairs of stretch pants @ $3.50 ea, what a bargain! If you don't get your stretch pants now they seem to disappear by November when they start to need more.

For pre-school definitely comfy pants. I try to send my kids in "ok" clothes vs their "good" clothes. They come home w/ food dribbled on their shirts, paint, who knows what. Sometimes I can "Shout it Out", and sometimes I can't!

Anne
August 27, 2008 9:39 am · Link

I usually buy a couple of new outfits for the first couple of days and shoes/sneakers and then let him wear his summer clothes until it gets cooler. In the meantime, I buy an outfit or 2 a week and put away for the cooler weather so I am not buying all at one time.

As for supplies, he usually got a list in the mail or it's on the website and have all of that for the 1st day. I buy all of that at Walmart.

Michele
August 27, 2008 10:36 am · Link

It's fun to dress up the preschoolers, but with the amount of hands on activities most teachers plan, it's more practical to have them wear pants.

Don't spend a ton of money on clothing-many times they will get paint and food on and there are some things that just never seem to come out-no matter how much Shout, Spray and Wash or Oxi Clean you use!

imurbrnidgrl
August 27, 2008 10:47 am · Link

What free stuff at STaples? We went there and they didnt give me any?

Christine
August 27, 2008 5:44 pm · Link

I'm so glad our school (www.TranquilitySchool.com) has uniforms so we don't have to worry about buying "this and that" brand names and the "cool" stuff in regard to clothes. It really makes getting ready in the mornings so easy--especially with girls! No whiney "I have nothing to wear!" arguments. Its so nice! Not to mention that the uniforms are sooooo much cheaper than regular clothes. I bought pants for $13.00 a pair and the shirts are $15.00. Nice, eh?

As far as school supplies, I usually get everything on the list. I know that some teachers end up spending their own personal money buying supplies for students if the parents don't supply it, and I just couldn't bear to put that burden on a teacher!

I also always buy extra hand sanitizer, kleenex, , Lysol, antiseptic wash, bandaids, and antibacterial ointment for the classrooms to help cut down on germs and infections. Many teachers spend their own money buying this stuff, too, and I just feel so bad for them. They don't make that much money to have to spend it all trying to keep themselves and their class healthy.

SusieQ
August 27, 2008 8:18 pm · Link

Christine - you had to check the flyers each week (or their website). One week it was free pencils and glue. This week we got free pencil sharpeners, 3-hole punch things for binders, and something else. Nothing huge but everything helps. I think it was a draw to get customers in.

Kate S.
August 27, 2008 8:40 pm · Link

I must have been in the hospital then on vacation. Took the kids for shoes and sneakers. Footlocker was having a huge sale. The Deb in Rockayaway Mall had by 1 get the other 1/2 off. It didnt have to be the same thing eith. I got a her shirt dress, camousel and tights for $36.SHe is also got her loved Jona t-shirt. Not bad.
Lots of sales for sure.

Famous Footwear in Budd Lake has the most nice backpacka or #20- they were 28.00, WE GOT OIR YPSA

Christine
August 27, 2008 11:55 pm · Link

Christine - I also got a lot of good deals at Walgreens with their specials. Was able to pick up the required glue sticks and markers at a price lower than any other sale in the area.

Yes, it is a draw to bring in customers and it take dicipline not to go for much more than the sale items. But for those looking to save everywhere they can, it gets the job done if you start looking a couple of months ahead of time.

Organization is everything.

Coralie
August 28, 2008 7:13 am · Link

I don't buy much as I know the sales are better for clothes after school starts. I did just buy both of my kids sneakers. And I did buy my daughter one new oufit. She is starting 5th grade in the middle school so I did buy all the supplies she needed that were on the list...though I thought tissues should be supplied by the school.

Kimberly from Htown
August 28, 2008 1:34 pm · Link

Well the Rockaway mall is having loads of sales. I got my daughter 2 pr of leggings, 3 shirts for $39. It is buy one get one 50% off at the Deb. Hot topics, Journeys, pac sun all havuing huge sales. Hitting Kohls and the dreadful Walmart for unmentionables on the weekend.

O and did get her 2 jeans with the tags on in Second time Around today! LOL!

Christine
August 28, 2008 5:53 pm · Link