Do you make a "big deal" out of back-to-school shopping?

[luvflorida]

What I mean is, do you plan a day just for back to school shopping, or do you do it a little at a time? I've always enjoyed taking one day for each child and making it special just for them, shopping and lunch at their choosing.

My oldest has been out of college for awhile, and my second oldest is in her third year of college. She's happy to just get money to go spend when she has the time. My youngest daughter still enjoys taking a day to go shopping. She turns 14 this Saturday, so we are going away overnight and extending our shopping trip. I want it to be extra special because it's her birthday and she is going into high school. Exciting things!!!

Of course, I think the older they get, the more stressful the trips get. When they are young, you can pretty much choose their clothes for them, but now, HOLY COW!! We usually don't agree on the same style and type, (and price!), of clothes. Things can get ugly quickly!!

Anyone else find this to be true with their teens? I just want to say, good luck and hold on to your patience, to anyone who goes clothes shopping with teens! And, hopefully, this weekend's shopping trip with my new "Freshman" will be full of fun and void of stress!!!

 

[jennyanydots]

I don't have time to separately shop with each of my dd's. I work full time. older dd is in high school this year, younger dd in middle school.

we tend to buy all the school supplies on the list at the beginnning of the year, but we buy clothing a bit at a time. I'm still buying "back to school" clothes in October.

when they're older and going away to college, things may be different.

 

[clh2]

With back-to-school supplies - my daughter and I go every single year. We love to do this! We make a "date" out of it, and generally have dinner out, shop and stop for custard.

Clothes are a totally different story. She most likely will wear shorts & t's for the firstmonth or so of school. The only thing I have to worry about is an outfit for school pictures - until such time that she needs long pants - generally about mid-October. I refuse to buy them now, because her opinion on what she likes will change at least 3 or 4 times between now and then. I also refuse to purchase new shorts at this time of year - since if they fit her now - they won't next year.

 

[disneychrista]

With the limited choices in my town we always go to the next bigger town (an hour away) for shopping. It has of course Old Navy, Limited Too (which my oldest is now too big for) and all the other "cool places." So we make a day out of school clothes shopping. But this year I am being a bit smarter. I will get them one outfit for the first day of school and then wait a few weeks and then do the big back to school shopping trip.


As for required school supplies we always get those in one trip the first day of school or orientation, when ever they get the required list.

 

[MagicalMom]

We make school clothes shopping last many, many days. I buy jeans, pencils, notebooks, & other standard items in July. These are things that I know I'll need. When we get the school list, we buy the additional items. Shirts & shoes we usually get a couple of weeks before school starts. I know it's still warm out 7 still will be when school starts, but I'll make sure all of my shopping is done before school starts. I know the kids don't need winter clothes right now, but I am really silly about making sure they are purchased before school begins. I don't know why? I just do.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

My kids are too young for back to school shopping (oldest is just going into year 2 of preschool). But I will be doing one big day of it for the major stuff with each of them when they are in school, and then probably fill in the wardrobe gaps as we go. My mom had 4 kids and worked full time, so it was such a special treat when she would take us out for a day... BY OURSELVES to go shopping just for us, go out to lunch wherever we chose, etc. Made going back to school very fun, and I really looked forward to those shopping days. As I moved into being a teenager eventually I just got a clothing allowance and I could get whatever I wanted (so i had to determine what I needed and it was up to me whether to blow it all on one expensive outfit, or to use it wisely for lots of different things) just had to keep tags and reciepts until it passed parental approval. But I did miss those shopping trips with my mom then (just was to cool to tell her that).

 

[newholiday]

DS12 could care less as long as his body is covered!
This past wknd I went through all the clothes in his dresser & closet and took 9 kitchen sized bags to Goodwill
That morn I bought him 6shorts (from sale rack - will use for back to school and our Disney/FL vaca), 3 pants, 2tshirts and new underwear. Brought them home and it was a battle to get him to try them on!
Took him out of the boys 14/16 and into mens mediums. He's going to be needing more but I'll buy as I see them.

I bought his folders & binders on the same trip. DH bought his floppy discs a diff day. I only now need to get him 1 notebook.

 

[BedKnobbery2]

I buy a little at a time both for clothes and supplies, because that way I can take advantage of amazing deals (like 19 cent crayons and 5 cent folders at Staples, or $10 mens pants on clearance at Old Navy) when they pop up plus it seems to hurt less to spend a bit here and there for it than all of it in one fell swoop! Our schools lists were late this year--got my 5th grader's list finally on Friday, still waiting for my 7th grader's list. I already had about 2/3 of the stuff for my 5th grader, and we'll round it off before school starts.

 

[HollyJoy]

I do a little at a time. I can never find all the things that I'm looking for in one day! LOL

 

[Auggietina]

It is a big deal with a trip to the 'big' mall!

DD loves to shop for clothes, so its an all day affair with us.

As far as school supplies, I just pick those up when I remember.

 

[Lynn CC]

DS will be a senior this year and I'm lucky if I can get him to go try on a new pair of sneakers. He orders everything online, he doesn't like to clothes shop at all!
He usually wears his nice shorts and shirts to school for the first couple of weeks anyways, so as long as he has new sneakers he feels he's all set.
I used to love to go school shopping for new clothes when I was a kid! I guess boys are different?

 

[Cindy B]

I've taken them every little bit at a time.

I'll pick up an outfit here or there. Shoes here, shoes for son there, etc.

I could never do it in one day!

 

[mickeyboat]

I will take each kid on a special trip to pick up a few things.

I have gotten a few things on my own. Their birthdays are at the beginning of the school year so that helps.

I brought DD's 3 and 4 to JC Penny this weekend and had them try on clothes in the fitting room for the first time. For some reason, they thought getting naked in the store was hilarious, because they erupted in fits of giggling which didn't stop. I'm sure the other people waiting for the dressing room were amused to hear DD3 holler out "I'm nakey, I'm nakey" over and over again. And me telling them to put their underwear back on!

Denae

 

[bobcat]

I do take my DD on a day long shopping trip but her birthday falls the week before we start school so it is a combo birthday lunch and shopping trip. DD could care less but I will usually take him out to lunch and then to one store to pick out a few things.

 

[Kallison]

I shop during the off season - I'll check out Kohl's clearance for shorts and t-shirts for next summer. Last year I got the long, baggy denim Levi's and other brand shorts for my boys for $1 to $3 each. My oldest DS needs a few pairs of jeans and maybe some fresh shirts. My youngest DD has plenty of stuff, I unpacked her closet and she had about 6 pairs of pants with the price tags on that I had purchased thoughout the year. The middle DS is the most concerned with fashion, so I'll probably take him out around end of September. They'll start out the year in shorts anyway so I really don't worry about it until it starts to turn cooler.

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

I took off Fridays starting July 2nd. So each Friday we did a little something. We've gotten clothes and back to school supplies. This Friday will be new sneakers and DD needs a new Winter coat.

Spreading it out helps with the costs too. And the kids like having something to look forward every Friday.

 

[meeshi]

When the kids were younger we'd spend the day and go back to school shopping. Now I try to get a little at a time when I see things on sale. DS14 doesn't like to shop and I pretty much know what he likes so I pick up stuff for him when I find things on sale. $8 cargo pants at the old navy outlet was a great find so I bought 4 pair. We bought his shoes online and he wants to break them in before school starts, (heaven forbid they look brand new on the first day of school.)

DD16 is a little harder to buy for. We went shopping a couple of weeks ago and found a few things, but she needs some more and I'll have to take her shopping again. I remember when she was going into 5th grade and we went shopping and I would pick out certain items and she said, "Mom, I'm not in Elementary School anymore"

DD12 is easy, I buy most of her clothes at the Old Navy outlet.

Staples has been having excellent sales on school supplies. I think I spent $2.50 so far and got 25 mechanical pencils, 18 spiral notebooks, 10 folders and 3 packs loose leaf paper.