Parents Chime In On Back-To-School Shopping

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council consisting of local parents, take your questions, gives advice and share solutions.

Question: How do you tackle back-to-school shopping trips?  Do you stick to the list when it comes to name brands?  Where do you shop for back-to-school clothing without breaking the bank? 

Answer from MaryAnn Schiller (mom of 2): PTO offers parents the option of purchasing the Toolbox. The teachers from each grade comprise a list of the school supplies that will be needed for the following year and then the PTO submits the list to Toolbox, a company that gathers all the required items and literally organizes them into a school toolbox. It is not mandatory for families to buy the Toolbox, so you're free to shop for your children. This year, our PTO collected and placed the orders early enough so we actually picked up our orders before the last day of school. I haven't looked at my class supply list since June. All done.

Answer from Roe McKernan-O'Brien (mom of 4): I go through all supplies left over from last year first and then hit the dollar store. I don't buy Fiskar scissors because my kids could care less and so could I. I buy the rest at Walmart and buy extra crayons, folders, etc., because they need to be restocked often, especially if you have boys. Also, don't wait until August to buy, all the sales start in July and put all your stuff in their backpack until September, then you can relax the rest of the summer.

Answer from MaryEllen Stephens (mom of 4): Basic school supplies can be had at Target, Staples, and Office Depot. Target will price match for the exact product which is fantastic for some of the doorbusters that are 25 cents or less. Sears has an awesome selection of Land's End that I was able to get for 50 percent off including shoes. Boscov's has a great selection of panties and socks at savings of up to 80 percent. They had three pack of Disney socks for 49 cents and a 10-pack of underwear for $4.99. If you are not a brand snob, there was an awesome Target coupon for $5 off children's jeans which made them FREE. I ordered brand-name sneakers from Sears yesterday for $14.99 a pair. The sneakers were on sale for 50 percent off with an additional 20 percent off and free shipping. Backpacks with matching lunch kits were purchased from The Children's Place for $19. They also have all t-shirts and polo shirts for $5.

Answer from Kim Johnson (mom of 2): Staples, Walmart, Kmart and Target...check out their websites or circulars and see who's the cheapest. No way am I getting the name-brand stuff. The lists are just suggestions anyway. Also, I have gotten all the stuff on the list before and found out one of two things: 1). He never used it all year and comes home on the last day; and 2). They gave it to someone else.

Answer from Lynn Hackett (mom of 2): I hate shopping for supplies. I'm not going to go to several stores to find the right color folder, etc. Our PTO sells a box put together by some company and I just buy that. Taking the boys gym-shoe shopping was enough to make me crabby for the day.

Answer from Jennifer B. (mom of 3): I buy the kids new clothes for the school year during the Friends and Family Day sales that many stores offer this time of year. I have gotten great deals at places like Gap Kids, Old Navy, and Lands End, usually at a savings of 30 percent off. Of course, I usually also find stuff for me, so I'm not sure if I am really saving money in the end!

Answer from Bretany Pilko (mom of 4): Back-to-school shopping was never a hassle before this year, when . Next year I will plan better and re-write the lists so I can actually go up an aisle, once, and never return. It will save a lot of time. As for clothing for the boys, I already bought a ton of fall clothing last year at the Philadelphia Premium Outlets.  I bought long sleeve shirts for the boys at the Gap and Children's Place for $1.99.