When you're shopping for back-to-school items, it's hard to keep walking past all those clothing deals and not buy a few outfits. While you will want to keep your eyes open for specials, it turns out that if you really want to save on clothing, you may want to wait a while.
That's because you don't have to pay hundreds of dollars for back-to-school clothing right now. Walmart's Matt Goans said if you want clothing now, big-box stores may surprise you.
"Walmart now has Justice brand. They have been with Walmart a couple of years now, with shirts for $15," Goans said.
If you are a Target shopper, Target's Cat and Jack brand also offers trendy school clothing for less than $20. But unless your child wears a uniform, mom Vondi Wheeler says back-to-school shopping for a high school student isn't always that simple.
"My youngest daughter was in normal, regular clothes and it was a nightmare when it came to prices," she said.
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What you can do about high prices
This year the National Retail Federation expects families to spend $257 on clothing and accessories for back-to-school. But that's just the start: You can add another $167 for shoes. Jamie Miles of Passionate Penny Pincher gave some easy ways to slash those numbers.
"You don't have to drag all your kids to the mall and come home and having spent $1,000. That is totally unnecessary," she said. "Resist the FOMO (fear of missing out)."
Instead, she suggests you stick to first-day-of-school outfits, and not worry about September clothing until the Labor Day sales start.
And before you go to the store, have a try-on day to know your child's size.
Miles also has a great backpack rule that all parents can try. She recommends waiting until after school starts to buy one.
"The one that's $40 now will be $7 in three weeks because they slash them on clearance," she said.
Another way to save, she says, is to try shopping for gently used clothing at Goodwill or consignment stores, or used clothing stores like Once Upon a Child.
For those one or two must-have items, Miles says sign up for emails or texts on the retailer's website.
Mom Johanna Anderson is just glad her 5-year-old daughter isn't asking for designer clothes just yet.
"We'll get there eventually, I'm sure," she said.
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