It’s coming. You know it and I know it…and the kids know it! In fact it may be the only reason they are willing to face the fact that school will soon be back in session – back to school clothes shopping. The one time a year when we take them out and blow all our dough on hip cool clothes they’ll actually wear (at least until Christmas when they’re 3 inches taller).

I’ve devised a way that back to school clothing shopping doesn’t have to break the bank – even with two growing boys on my hands. Its called bargain shopping – and not only can it save you money, but it‘s green because ultimately you‘re recycling and in many cases the money you spend is going to local people in your community or to charitable organizations. Now, I love bargain shopping but my kids weren’t thrilled with some of the deals I was finding by hunting through consignment shops, thrift stores, yard sales, and flea markets. There is a way to get them involved though, and help them to see the light.

I told my boys that I was willing to spend about $100 for new clothes and shoes for each of them. That sounds like a lot to kids, but we (adults) all know that $100 does not a wardrobe make. To show them why bargain shopping might be just the ticket I took them to the mall and let them pick out what they wanted. With just a few items each the tab would have blown our budget, and that didn’t even include shoes.

Then we went to some of the thrift shops and the flea market. They found a lot of like-new clothes with brand name labels that were cool enough to wear around their friends, and they soon realized that they had a lot more choices and that they could get many more items for their money. Sometimes they get everything they want and I still have some green left over.

The boys also realized that mom says yes a lot more in the second-hand stores – when cruising the mall, so many of the hip/cool shops are just so expensive I won’t even go in to look, yet alone let a 10-year old boy spend $50 for a pair of jeans or sweatshirt in it. But at the bargain shops they are likely to run into a few similar items for a fourth of the cost (or less) and as long as it’s not inappropriate, I’m likely to approve.

Here are a few tips for getting organized and getting your money’s worth back to school shopping this year:

1) Help the kids go through their closets and dressers and weed out anything that’s too small, too worn out or that they just refuse to wear. Let the younger siblings go through the older ones’ cast-offs to see if there’s anything they’d like to have. Of what’s left throw out the rags but start a donation pile for the worthy items.

2) Take a visual inventory of what’s left and make a note of what’s needed – don’t forget about pajamas, shoes, socks and underwear, too.

3) Set your budget – what it is you’re willing to spend per child and discuss it with them. If they don’t like the idea of getting second-hand stuff take them window shopping and show them the difference it can make – most kids will forego new when they realize they’ll only have one complete outfit.

4) Check around for sales, deals and discounts – look in local papers, mailers and the Internet. Make a list of places you and the kids will shop based on what you find. (Although they dig the thrift shops and flea markets now, my boys still love shopping at Old Navy, so I wait for sales or coupons.)

5) Start with the second-hand stores, flea markets and yard sales first – they’re cheaper and inventory changes so quickly, the stuff they like at retail shops will likely still be there later.

6) Whatever you can’t find at the bargain places, or won’t buy there – I recommend buying new for socks, underwear and shoes, start combing the retail stores for.

7) Many states are offering a sales tax-free weekend for any back to school shopping, so try to shop during those days. The tax-free applies to clothing, supplies, computers and sometimes other items. Check here to see if your state is participating in the

August 7-9 tax-free weekend

.