Learn how to save on back to school clothes, tips from a mother of four! Back-to-school shopping doesn’t have to break the bank! It can be fun!

“This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of OshKosh B’gosh; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.”

How to Save on Back-To-School Clothes Shopping Tips

Back-to-school is one of my favorite times of year. I love watching the kids blossom as they adjust to a new grade, new teacher and new friends. And then there is school supply shopping, which to me, is the best shopping experience of the year.

I am a total school supply nerd! The pencils, the notebooks… and don’t get me started on the smell of a brand new box of crayons! I can justify any school supply purchase – always, but there also comes a point where I get sick of “bleeding money.”

Over the years I have found great ways to save on at least one aspect of our back-to-school shopping: clothes! Being a large family, we are also great at managing our hand-me-downs. You should check out our hand-me-down system, it’s a good one, trust me!

This year, I teamed up with OshKosh B’gosh to bring you smart ways to make sure ALL your kids have what they need, without breaking the bank!

We have four boys, three of them are now in elementary school, with the last one just two years away from joining his brothers. This back to school season would have been financially painful IF I didn’t use all the tips and tricks I have learned over the years!

Back to School Clothes Shopping Tips for Large Families:

Know your kids’ sizes.
- Every quarter, I line the kids up and measure their length, weigh them and check their shoe size. (I bought a real foot measuring thingy on eBay a few years ago and it’s been the best investment ever!)
- I keep a note in my phone with their current sizes and measurements.
- Knowing their sizes makes it possible to shop with confidence when you come across a good sale.
- This genius tips also allows you to shop without always having ALL your kids in tow at the store, which we all know is a good thing!

Shop ahead six months to a year.
- Go to town when the end of back-to-school sales hit!
- Stock up on uniform basics for next year, remember to size up for each kid.
- Plan ahead and research the dress code at the school your child will attend next year.
- (Pro tip: this is also smart to do with basic school supplies. Stock up on crayons, composition books etc. so you can replenish your kid’s supply mid-year or simply be prepared for next year!)

Buy basic colors and styles.
- Know your child’s favorite colors. (Not the ones that change daily, but if they like “bright and cheerful” colors, or if they prefer “dark and neutrals.”)
- Sticking to the basics allows you to mix-and-match styles easily.
- This a perfect strategy for hand-me-downs, buying mostly basics and sprinkle in a fun shirt here or there that matches the individual kid’s style.
- Your hand-me-downs will stretch further if they are neutral and are more easily loved by all the younger siblings. (Our oldest kid LOVED dinosaurs when he was younger… we bought him dinosaurs on everything and now his younger siblings are stuck wearing dinosaur shirts and PJs – and unfortunately, they do not share his love for paleontology.)

Sign up for rewards and emails from OshKosh B’gosh.
- The company emails their latest sales and deals, often including great coupon codes.
- Their rewards program adds up quickly. You earn credits towards future purchases, which always comes in handy. (I have already saved over $30 on future purchases at Osh Kosh B’Gosh. These rewards are earmarked for their back-to-school end of season sale.)

I saved on back-to-school clothes by shopping at OshKosh B’gosh:

I recently shopped for back-to-school at our local OshKosh B’gosh store and it was heavenly. (Locate a OshKosh B’gosh store near you!

Seriously, I only had Jonah (our toddler) with me. He had been informed that this was “mama’s time” to get her shopping on, which he fully respected, or at least he sat nicely in the stroller.

I bought the greatest outfits for the kids, all clothes they will enjoy throughout the year – and beyond. I managed to follow my own tricks of the trade and thereby got something that can easily be passed down to the next brother, but also fit the individual kid’s style and taste.

Each of the kids got zippered hoodies, in different colors. These super soft and comfy hoodies will act as the kids’ winter jackets, because we live in South Florida and our winters are don’t last longer than a week – at the most.

I bought basic classic jeans for all four kids. The adjustable waist is a must for our long and lanky kids and the easy to snap buttons save my sanity in the mornings.

I loved their plain uniform short-sleeved polo shirts. These shirts always look nice too when the kids have to dress for church and a family dinner at a restaurant. I picked out colors that each of the kids loves.

And then came the graphic tees. I went a little overboard here because of the incredible sale they had at the store. I found one for each of the kids in the clearance section and then one from their crazy promotion of “buy one get two free.” That particular promotion is probably over by now, but wow – that’s one I will be watching for in the future – and you should too.