by Ann E. Smith

Created on: July 30, 2009

With the end of summer comes a family ritual: back-to-school shopping. This time-honored tradition includes purchasing new fall school clothes for your children.

With the economy in a major recession, you likely need to make some adjustments this year. For starters, you may be working with a much smaller budget for clothes.

Don't despair. If you plan, make smart choices and do some price comparisons, you should still be pleased with the outcome. Below are tips for buying school clothes on a budget.

* Before you purchase anything, determine your budget and commit to staying within it.

Many people blow too much money when shopping for clothes. One of the big reasons for that is they do not practice any kind of discipline around their shopping behaviors.

You can do things differently. Before you take your kids shopping or purchase even the first item, determine how much you have to work with, and then allocate per child.

You will be making all of your future decisions working within the framework of what you have to send for each child. Be committed to this choice, and you will stay within budget.

* Make a list of types of clothes that are needed. Prioritize as "must have" and "nice to have."

Look through your children's closets and talk to them about their needs. You will want to think from a comprehensive standpoint, and be sure to consider shoes, jackets and accessories like belts and socks.

Next, make a list of needed items. Prioritize your list by what your child must have and what would be nice to have.

* Do some research online.

Next, do some research online to get an idea of what the prices are for various items. If your child loves a particular brand or store, see if you can find discounts or if a big sale is about to happen.

You are creating a mental canvas of some of the things that are available, and getting a feel for upcoming sales. And it's smart to do this before you even leave your house.

Check out what online retailers are offering free shipping, and take note. As you do your research, jot down prices and good deals. You may come back to them after hitting the brick and mortar stores.

Be sure to check discount online retailers, too. For example, overstock.com is known for having name brands at discounted prices. And there are countless other options.

* Go shopping!

Finally you are ready to go shopping. Give yourself time to check out various places and run some price comparisons.

Be sure to hit outlet malls or stores like Old Navy and Target, which offer a great selection of kids' clothes at reasonable prices.

Avoid impulse buys. Focus on getting the top priority items at the best prices you can find. And try to spread out each child's budget as much as you can.

If you find something on your list at a really good price, go ahead and get it. Back-to-school shopping is so popular, and good deals go quickly.

* Take advantage of a tax-free weekend.

Many areas offer tax-free weekends when it's time for school to start. This allows families to get a price break when shopping for things that are needed for school.

Check to see if this tax-free weekend is available where you live. If so, make sure you are very prepared and hold off on shopping until this time. It may be crowded, but you can save by not having to pay taxes.

And remember, if you are not finding what you want at the prices you would like, you can purchase some of your items online. Be open and flexible, and you can get the back-to-school clothes your children need, and stay within budget.

Learn more about this author, Ann E. Smith.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.