Back To School Tips

It’s that time! Back To School!

Oh, how I miss those days of rushing to buy all the things for the new school year!

NOT!

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My kids are grown and gone but for over 20+ years, about this time, I started thinking about my kids going back to school. I would get a wee bit excited and a wee bit sad. They grow up so fast!

With many kids in the house, back-to-school time was often hectic. Each kid had their own needs and wants. Without a solid plan, it would be easy to walk into a store and buy more than needed and forget important items.

Being on one income this could become a very stressful month. I always was a voice of reason. If they had clothes that fit then they didn’t need anything. Yet I also didn’t want my children to be the only ones in the same exact clothes they had on the year prior.

It was very important for me to plan ahead because of our budget and sometimes not even NEEDING clothes. So I found that the best way to shop for these clothes is to have a plan.

I would start making notes about what they needed to have (and do) before school starts again. I wanted them to return refreshed and proud! Ready to take on a new year yet still be within a budget and reasonable.

I created a Back-to-School Needs Worksheet that I’veve used every year since to get my kids and their back-to-school needs organized.

Before we do any back-to-school shopping, I would have them fill out the Needs Worksheet (or I fill it out with them). It was a great opportunity for us to go through their closets, weed out items that don’t fit anymore or no longer fit their personal style, and donate extra clothes to charity (or give hand-me-downs to their siblings). It was also a great opportunity for me to check through their wardrobes and discard any items that are too worn out to keep.

There is a section for undergarments, clothes, and accessories, including their backpacks. I also had my kids check through their gym clothes and dress clothes in addition to their regular school day clothes. This way, I could shop for back-to-school, gym class, and Sunday outfits all in the same trip.

The Back to School Needs Worksheet is great because I could shop with or without my kids because

I had all of their sizes right in front of me.
I knew exactly what each child needs.

And I included a notes section in case they wanted a particular color item or another special request.

I have used this printable for many years, and I just love how organized it makes back-to-school shopping. I highly recommend it for moms with kids of any age, especially moms that have multiple kids.

Download your own Back To School Clothing Needs Checklist for free by entering the coupon code… I SURVIVED THE SUMMER