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MONEY SMART KIDS
Back-to-School Shopping
by Janet Bodnar

Before you start your back-to-school shopping, give some thought to a couple of new surveys.

The first, by the National Retail Federation, found that families with school-age children will spend an average of $483 on back-to-school items, up from $450 a year ago.

In the second survey, by Capital One, nearly 85 percent of high school and middle school students interviewed said that their parents hadn't discussed back-to-school finances with them. Only 4.7 percent of the students had actually worked on a budget with their parents.

It seems to me that a $500 buying spree presents some opportunities to give your kids a few lessons in how to shop smart for clothes, which account for most back-to-school purchases. Play your cards right, and you can avoid battles with your kids -- and maybe even turn the shopping duties over to older teens next year.

Start by asking the kids to take an inventory of all the clothing they own, from shirts to socks. Have them make a list of stuff they need, as well as new things they'd like to have.

Tell them how much you're planning to spend and which items have to come out of that budget. Does it include basics, such as underwear and coats, or will you spring for those separately?

Then sit the kids down with some catalogs (in print or online) to match your budget with their wish list. Once they see that spending $50 on a pair of jeans eats up 25% of their $200 fund, they'll know they have to cut back on other items, forgo the jeans -- or shop in cheaper catalogs.

When you hit the stores, make the task more manageable by limiting your excursion to, say, three stores. Include at least one of your own choosing as well as your kids' favorite. Steer them to sale racks to compare prices. Show them how to select clothes that won't fall apart in the wash and how to choose items that are stylish but not faddish.

Work deals with them. If they really must have those $50 jeans from Abercrombie, look for tops at Old Navy -- or have them contribute their own money, as more than half the students in the Capital One survey plan to do. They'll be willing to cooperate if you dangle the prospect of a clothing allowance -- and independent shopping trips -- as a reward for not busting the budget.