It’s the most wonderful time of the year … well almost. That rift from a holiday tune is my little back to school shopping theme song. Why? I love back to school shopping:

• The anticipation of preparing for a new season is almost palpable. Who doesn’t like the feeling of turning over a new leaf? Cooler days have us putting away our summer tops and shorts and looking for something new to put on.
• The fall clothing lines are out and new and exciting, I love to see what different stores are predicting as the new looks for fall. Animal Prints? Vampire-esque costume-like pieces? Basic Neutrals?
• Back to school shopping doesn’t feature the frenzied crowds of holiday shopping. The sales are great and you don’t have to burrow through a mob to get to them.

Generally back to school time is the second biggest shopping season of the year. But the Wall Street Journal is forecasting a decline in sales; no surprise, as unemployment continues to be high, and spending continues to shrink.

So here are a few things I plan to do to make sure my spending fits my budget this season:

Reuse or buy used: Some supplies from last year are fine to use again this year. Lunch boxes, and sports bags are two examples. Others can be bought from the Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop or other consignment stores around town. And don’t forget rummage sales and mom to mom sales. If I had time, I’d hold a sale of my own to raise cash for purchasing new items. Instead, I will box up the summer items that will not get handed down, and sell them to a children’s resale shop like Once Upon a Child, Children’s Orchard, or Grow with Me.

Price shop: Take a moment to check online retailers to save money and time before going out. Also, look at the weekly ads to shop around for the best price. This works really well for clothing basics or school supplies. Many office supply stores and drugstores are featuring items like crayons and paper for as low as a penny.

Shop the discount stores: Chain discount stores like Target, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls are a nice place to start for low-priced fashion basics for kids and adults. Urban Outfitters and Orchid Lane Warehouse are also great shops for low-priced quality items.

Shop early … and wait: Sure, it is easier to get it all done in one trip, but if you resolve to buy items when they go on sale, you will save money overall. My school-aged kids get a first day of school outfit, and then as the back to school apparel goes on sale (many times during the first week of school), we add to the wardrobe as needed.

Buy in bulk: I will likely make a trip to Sam’s Club or Costco to find a deal on quick and healthy lunchbox items. While there I can pick up bulk packages of tissue, snacks, etc to use at home, or donate to the kids’ classrooms.

So there you go, a few tips for making the most of the back to school shopping. On that note, I am eager to see what shopping I can get started on this weekend. If you have other great ideas to share, please leave a comment, share the joy.