I am used to buying my kid's clothes at a significant discount (Read how I do it here.) However, this year my son started a private school that requires uniforms. I was shocked at the prices because it has been so long since I had bought kids' clothes at regular prices!
I checked the school's website and learned that they offered a uniform exchange. One day in July I went down to the school basement with the school secretary who nicely offered to rummage through bags of uniforms with me. We find four pairs of used shorts, five short sleeve shirts and one long sleeve shirt in my son's size. Those were free to me.
Then, when JCPenney ran sales such as $10 off an order, I bought two long sleeve shirts and so did my mom. (I paid her back for these.) (I bought the shirts one size bigger than my son wears so he can also wear them next year.) I also bought 3 pairs of long pants when they were on sale and buy one get one half price (the 4th pair of pants was a black pair for my son's dance recital; he can't wear black pants to school).
Just last week I did have to buy the belt ($6.99) and the school gym uniforms ($54.65) from the uniform store for full price. (The gym clothes have the school's name and logo on them, so I couldn't buy them any where else.)
All told, I spent $144.60 to outfit my son in uniforms for the year. If I had just bought at full price from the uniform store, my cost would have been $329.94. That is a savings of 56%.
Now, in the next few weeks, I plan to watch for sales on uniforms as the school year begins. I will then stock up for next year. Hopefully I can get them even cheaper.
3 comments:
Great job. I dread all the money I need to spend on fall clothes!
We also have to get uniforms, which are costly. I'm lucky b/c I get a lot of hand-me-downs from friends with older kids, but I've also learned to buy at Lands' End over other stores. I bought four pairs of pants at Old Navy last year, and thought I was getting a great deal. Of course, when I got holes in the knees within weeks, I thought again. Grrrrr.
I love that LE gives you a money back guarantee on anything, anytime. I just watch their sales carefully, go through ebates, and don't overbuy. It's still expensive, but at least I know the clothes will last until his younger brother wears them!
Good for you! Now that is smart shopping!
Stop on over to my blog, Free 2 Be Frugal, sometime and see how our family saves money!
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