Back to School Shopping

When we where kids, we got all new clothes, shoes, school supplies etc in Aug in one big "back to school" shop every year. But then that was it. It lasted us until Christmas when we got a few more new clothes.

In the summer, our old school shoes where recycled to be our play shoes.

But now days, at least in our house, the shopping spree seems to last through out the year (which we are working on cutting down), so that come school time, my kids have still got a lot of good clothes - and there is no shortage of shoes either!

So I have started going through their things before I go shopping and buy them what they need, which isn't really a lot.

Sometimes I feel that it's being a bit chintzy and maybe taking away from the back to school tradition that can make it special. We used to feel great the first weeks of school in our new duds.

I do like to make sure they have a new back pack and school supplies (I'm an office supply junkie so that part is easy) and they always have a few new things to wear.

And I always like to take a "first day back" picture before they leave the first day even though they are usually rolling their eyes :0)

What is your back to school shopping policy?