Make most of practical alternatives

Summertime may give the kids a holiday from school, but that doesn’t mean the budget gets a break.

Summer camps, family vacations and other big-ticket expenditures can take their toll on family finances, and make it difficult to manage the back-to-school spending-spree.

That’s why, especially this time of year, shopping for clothes and other gear at garage sales, consignment stores and thrift stores isn’t just fun, it’s practical.

Kids’ clothes and trendy school tools can be expensive. And frequently a child outgrows his or her clothes, or stops using things before they show any real wear. Often those things are donated the next time the charity thrift store truck comes through the neighborhood, or delivered to a consignment store. A careful shopper can land plenty of bargains by checking out the neighborhood sales and thrift stores.

Most of the back-to-school tools like pencils, paper and glue can be picked up at discount stores, but other stuff, the backpacks, lunchboxes and school clothes can all be found at garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops, usually for much less than the original retail price.

Here are some examples:

Backpacks and bookbags. A brand new backpack from Jansport and L.L. Bean can set you back $50 or more. But if you’re willing to settle for last year’s model you can snag a backpack in like-new condition for much less. A quick check at Value Village turned up an R.E.I. backpack, in excellent condition, for $7.99. A stylish messenger-style computer bag was $6.99, and a kid’s rolling backpack was $2.99.

Light jacket. A lightweight Helly Hanson jacket, in mint condition, was selling for $12 at the Goodwill store on Nevada. A silvery-gray GAP anorak that folds up into its own zippered pouch was $2.99. Popular fleece tops and pants, most under $5, are available in a variety of sizes and colors at area thrift stores.

Lunchbox. All of the area thrift and consignment stores had plenty of colorful insulated lunchboxes and bags. Prices ranged from .99 to $4.99. Thermoses started at $1.

Jeans. In addition to cruising the thrift stores, I stopped by three garage sales and found a stack of denim at each one. Prices ranged from a low of $2.99 for a faded pair of Levis 505s at Value Village, to $5 GAP jeans, and $10 for a like-new pair of Lucky Jeans at a garage sale. Kids’ denim jeans, in good condition, were priced at $1 to $2 at the garage sales.

Boots, coats and cold weather items. Garage sales, thrift stores and consignment stores are excellent places to find brand name coats for kid and teens. One of the garage sales with a table full of jeans also had a rack of good ski coats and parkas. The top price was $20 for a North Face coat, but most of the jackets were in the $5 to $10 range. Coats are always available at thrift stores. A funky vintage fringed suede western-style jacket, in fair condition, was $65 at the VOA store on North Atlantic. Snow and rain boots in all sizes, as well as hats and gloves, are available year round at most thrift stores and local consignment stores are putting out back to school wear now.

Dorm Decor. For College bound students, there are good deals on extra-long twin bedding ($5 per set at Value Village) and comforters ( $5 at Goodwill,) coffee makers, microwaves and televisions. Dorm necessities such as clock radios and desk lamps, as well as dishes, glasses, coffee cups and silverware can be found at garage sale and thrift stores for a fraction of what they cost new. Futons and mattresses are also available.

Framed prints and posters were under $10 at Value Village and Northwest Christian Thrift and Furniture.