How to Save Money on Back-to-School Outfits

This post was written by me on behalf of JCPenney in partnership with Activate. All opinions are 100% my own.
Back-to-school clothes shopping was always one of my favorite summer traditions when I was a kid. My mom would give us a set budget to shop and we could buy whatever we wanted. I have always been a budget shopper, so I always liked to see how far I could make my money go when shopping, even when I was in elementary school! I wanted to get the most outfits and the most new pieces that I could with the money that I had. My kids have learned through the years to do the same thing so it's fun to see what they end up selecting and how they do it. Back-to-school shopping is even more important to them now that they are older. This year my youngest is in junior high, my middle daughter will be a sophomore in high school and my oldest will be a sophomore in college. Clothes matter to them! They want the latest trends and styles and I want quality at a great value. I've got some tips on how to save money on back-to-school outfits and can't wait to share them with you.

photo by nickl.media

How to Save Money On Back-to-School Outfits

1. Make a list

Go through your kids closets and see what they need. Do they still have jeans or pants that fit them from the previous year? Are there hand-me-downs they need to try on to see if they fit? Make a list of the things they need so that you can get the necessities to help them fill their wardrobe.

photo by nickl.media Total Girl low waist jegging Arizona high neck velvet tank

2. Shop for the essentials first

Jeans are an essential in most kids wardrobe. Find those basics they need first so you can match and supplement with other items. My kids love shoes but it does them no good to pick out shoes that won't match what they have in their closets or that can only be worn with one or two outfits. Make sure kids are coordinating to make the most of what they have and get the most use out of the items they are buying.

photo by nickl.media Arizona winter moss green girls jegging Arizona cold shoulder with necklace

3. Make a day of it

Spontaneous trips are fun, but I find that when my kids have planned for a day of shopping, they are in the shopping mode. They aren't whining of complaining but instead are prepared for trying on clothes and making careful consideration of the items they are shopping for instead of rushing just to get things done. You want your kids to select clothing items they are going to want to wear instead of items that will just hang in their closet.

4. School already started? Not to worry!

Even though we have a few more weeks of summer left, I am seeing back to school pictures already. Not to worry! You aren't behind! Sometimes waiting until school has been in session for a week or two is best so that kids can see what their peers are wearing and decide what style they like for the school year. 

photo by nickl.media

Arizona Lace Up Tank Total Girl light wash jegging

5. Coordinate

Sites like JCPenney.com  make it easy for you to shop current trends and find coordinating pieces so that your kids can get the most out of their wardrobe. I've heard some people call it fashion math, I just call it smart! For instance, my 15 year-old-daughter selected 19 pieces at JCPenney when we were shopping {some of them are featured in the images in this post}. She spent $140 and created 38 different outfits from those 19 pieces {plus some items in her current wardrobe} for a total of $3.68 per item. That my friends, is how you save money on your back-to-school outfits!

photo by nickl.media

6. Stick with a color palate

I tend to buy a lot of neutrals which is helpful because I know that I can coordinate just about any other neutral with items in my wardrobe. The Camo game is strong this year and JCPenney is doing it well! It's super easy to find pieces that can mix and match {great for that fashion math in #5} so that you can get more outfits for less money.

photo by nickl.media Total Girl low waist jegging Arizona high neck velvet tank

7. Make a one-stop shop

You can shop at JCPenney and get everything on your list. Pick up everything from backpacks, to shoes, to athletic wear in sizes for the whole family with brands and styles they love at prices and quality that you will love. I was surprised at all the great styles at great prices that we found while shopping with my very picky daughter. If you've written JCPenney off, think again. Give them another shot, you may be surprised at what you find.

photo by nickl.media

8. Have fun!

Enjoy the time with your kids. As your kids get older and more independent, you will be spending less and less time with them. Take this time to enjoy them, get to know about their personality and what they like and what they don't like. Ask them questions and listen, you might be surprised at what you find out and it just might help you know what to add to their Christmas wish list because that will be here before you know it!
Are there any tips I missed? I'd love to hear how you save money on back-to-school outfits. 
disclaimer: this is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of JCPenney. All opinions are 100% my own. I promise, I wouldn't share something I didn't love.