Back to School Shopping and Donations
It’s about time for kids to start school, which means it’s back-to-school shopping season. This can be an anxiety-inducing time for parents with having to navigate the crowds and trying to keep a balanced budget. Skip the anxiety and shop smart with these 5 helpful tips.
Make a list and check it twice
You can easily keep your back-to-school budget by making a list and sticking to it. All too often parents find themselves in situations where they and their kids just throw things in the shopping cart without thinking and being surprised by the total in the checkout line. Most schools should provide a list of required and recommended supplies on their websites, which is a great place to start when making your back-to-school shopping list.
Take inventory of what you have
After making a list, we recommend going around the house and taking stock of everything you have. You’ll be amazed at all the things you’ll find hidden in drawers and just lying around. Doing this can help you cut down on how much you have to buy. This is also a great excuse to go through and find any unwanted items and clothing. Donating to thrift shops like Hearts Thrift Shop can be a great way to clean house and help provide these shops with items they need for other families doing their back to school shopping. We accept any gently-used items you’re looking to donate so that others might make use of them.
Bargain Hunting
Before going out shopping, remember that a great way to save money is to look for deals and coupons. Most stores are offering discounts and deals for back-to-school shoppers. Check on the store’s website and see if they are offering anything that might fit your family. We sometimes offer discounts for shopping at Hearts Thrift Shop, so follow us on Facebook and sign up for our newsletter so you don’t miss out!
Don’t shop at peak shopping times
Crowds can be difficult to deal with at times. The best way to beat the crowds is to avoid them entirely. Avoid shopping at peak shopping times by either shopping before the season or after the season. Instead of getting everything now, only buy the essentials and then wait a few weeks to buy everything else. This can be great because it can allow you to evaluate what your child really needs and allows time for more options to become available.
Thrift Shopping
One of the best ways to save money and cut down on the hassle of back-to-school is thrift shopping. Thrift shops usually offer lower prices for quality clothing. New clothing that is priced the same is often of lower quality. Thrifting also allows you to feel better about where your money is going. For people who shop at Hearts Thrift Shop, they know that all proceeds after expenses go toward supporting our Mobile Soup Kitchen and our Hearts Harvest Pantry and Cafe.
If you’re looking to do some back-to-school shopping, stop by Hearts Thrift Shop for affordable prices and a relaxing atmosphere. You can also help other families in their back to school shopping by donating any used or unwanted items.