Splurge or save?

Make the most of back-to-school shopping with sound advice from money-savvy moms
Aug. 6, 2010 | By: Alison Dunn

School might be the last thing on a kid's mind in August, but it’s the month when most moms start thinking about back-to-school shopping. When you consider the cost of backpacks, lunch bags, winter boots, clothes and all the other back-to-school essentials, it's no wonder moms have started to dread this time of year as much as their kids do.

Which back-to-school items are worth a splurge? What can you pinch pennies on? We asked real moms to add their two cents to this great shopping debate. Here is some of their best advice.

Splurge

Backpacks: If your child is in grade four or older, you definitely want a good backpack that is built to last. The books get heavier the older kids get, and you want to make sure the zipper isn't going to wear out. "They also need it to fit properly to avoid back and neck pain," says Karen P., a Montreal mom of two.

Lunch bags: Kids have a tendency to leave half-empty yogurt containers, juice boxes and other messes in their lunch boxes, so you should spend the money and buy one that's washable. "Splurge on one that has a removable liner that can be popped into a dishwasher," says Anne S., a mom of three from Kingston, Ont. "Then lunches don't get squashed."

Lunch containers: More schools than ever are jumping on the eco-friendly bandwagon, and reusable lunch containers are a must. Splurge on good quality containers once, says Nicola H., an Oakville, Ont. mom of two. "They get washed lots and the low-priced ones don't seem to last," she says. "The better quality ones can also go in the dishwasher." (One caveat: if your child is prone to leaving containers behind or throwing them out, you might want to keep a few dollar store containers on hand.)

Water bottles/thermos: Again, moms agree you need a good quality water bottle that doesn't leak and doesn't leach toxins into the liquid. Shannon R., a mom of two from Oshawa, Ont., recommends a good stainless steel bottle with no paint to chip.

Winter boots: Little feet get cold quickly, and the moms in our survey say it's best to splurge to ensure they're waterproof and warm. A good, warm pair will last the whole winter, says Karen R., an Ajax, Ont. mom of one.

Snowsuits: Like winter boots, a good coat and snow pants will keep kids warm and toasty all winter long. If you buy good quality, you may even find they last two full winters. The cheaper snowsuits just don't last, says Cheryl V., an Oakville mom. "We bought one this year that didn't," she says. "It got holes in the knees after a few months, rips under the arms and in the pockets."

Save

Raincoats: Yes, your child needs a raincoat, but it's one area where cheaper is better. Kids tend to outgrow raincoats before they wear them out, and they're not worn frequently enough for quality to make much of a difference, says Caroline D., a Burlington, Ont. mom of two.

Rain boots: Like raincoats, kids don't really wear rain boots that often – and even when they do, they have to take them off as soon as they get to school. Swanky ones aren’t worth it, our moms agree, so grab the cheapest rain boots you can find.

Shoes: While you shouldn't completely cheap out on shoes, it's still one area where you should look for savings. "You can get good shoes on sale, and with how quickly they outgrow them – not to mention destroy them – it just isn't worth it to spend a lot," says Cheryl V.

Winter accessories: Our moms agree that spending too much money on winter accessories (like mittens, hats and scarves) just isn't worth it – if only because their kids seem to constantly lose these items! Make sure the mittens are waterproof and look for sales so you won't be too mad when these items don't make it home from school.

Clothes: Until your kids are older and label-conscious, it's best to save when you can on clothes. Most moms find that kids (especially boys) wear out clothes long before they outgrow them, and expensive clothes don't last any longer. Michelle P., an Oshawa, Ont. mom of three, says she usually only buys one "special" outfit for picture day, then saves on everyday clothes.

Where to find savings

If you're still looking to save money on big-ticket items, why not try one of these tricks from our panel of moms?

Buy items off-season: Try buying a snowsuit at the end of winter, or fall clothes in October, our moms recommend. Often, you'll find the best deals on items when stores are trying to make way for new seasonal items. If you buy a size or two bigger than your child, he or she will likely fit into that size by the time the next season rolls around.

Hand them down: If you've splurged on an expensive snowsuit for one child, you might find it lasts through a second or third child. This works best if you have more than one child of the same gender, but even certain items like boots, hats, mittens and snowsuits in gender-neutral colours could work. Or ask other family members with older children if they have any items they want to get rid of.

Consider cross-border shopping: Our moms report savings and a better selection on back-to-school items south of the border. If you're planning a trip to the U.S. in late summer, it might be worth picking up a few back-to-school items at the same time.

Check out mom-to-mom sales: Many communities have groups that frequently run mom-to-mom sales. You can pick up some great bargains on used children's clothes and items – and maybe even sell a few of your own to pay for some of those back-to-school items. Check out your local newspaper for advertisements of upcoming sales.