Avoiding Back To School Madness!

Well it's August and that means only one thing: the kids go back to school soon. OMG. There's so much to buy - uniform, stationery, new coat, new bag - then there's the queues...

Erm, hang on - haven't they only just got out of school?

I just don't understand why everybody goes mental this time of year - it could be so much cheaper if we all learned to relax!

Here are some handy tips to bear in mind when you're close to pulling your hair out.

1. First and foremost - save what you can. If by some divine power your LO's school shoes are not ripped to shreds and still fit, then keep them! Keep everything that still fits and is not stained - and if it is stained, try a good stain remover before you get rid of it.
2. Be realistic. Have a good think about your lifestyle and work around it. Do you really need 5 school shirts, or could you make do with just 3?
3. Avoid the queues by shopping online. Many places offer free delivery as well as good deals this time of year. It's also much faster to choose what you like.
4. Preserve throughout the year. It's very hard with young children, but try and do what you can throughout the year to keep those shirts white and the cardigans bright etc.
5. Buy bigger sizes on sale. You can get some really good deals with certain items once the children are back in school, when the sellers put everything on clearance. This tip is never guaranteed to save you money, there's always the chance of someone else having got there faster than you with a child exactly the same size, but buy what you can.
6. If the school logo isn't compulsory, don't buy it in. It is ridiculously expensive these days to buy school uniform that has a logo on it but there are perfectly good alternatives in the shops without a logo that are a cheaper by a vast amount. If the school is willing to accept these items, then buy those instead.

Of course, once the Back To School shop is over and done with, the shops immediately start overflowing with Christmas stuff... on to the next buying adventure then!