5 money-saving mom-approved tips for scoring back to school clothes on a budget

Last year, Americans spent an average of almost $850 per household on everything their kids needed for back-to-school. And some moms reported spending up to $450 just on new threads for their little ones. That’s a pretty steep price tag for something they’ll grow out of in a snap. If you’re all about finding the best deals to keep from blowing your budget, shopping preloved first is a great option. Here are five tips to help you get the biggest bang for your back-to-school bucks on Mercari.

Smart savings for back-to-school starts here.

1. Score new for less

When you search Mercari for kids’ clothes, select Condition on the right-hand menu. Click New to see all items listed that have zero wear. Many of these pieces still have original tags – sellers often list pristine items simply because they can’t return them, which means you can score brands like Nike, Adidas, Gap, Cat & Jack, and more at prices below retail, without compromising quality.

Shop girls and boys shoes at great prices.

2. Make an offer

It’s always worth the time to make an offer on clothes you know they’ll love. If you’re a money-saving mom or dad, you know that even a reduction of $5 per item can add up to a big discount overall. You’d be surprised how many sellers are flexible on pricing. 

3. Hit the Like button

If you have a little extra time to shop this year, go through and Like your items a day or two before buying them. Sellers will often respond to Likes by sending you an offer for a lower price in hopes to get you to add to cart. 

4. Pay over time with Zip

Whether you’re buying a big bundle of clothes or eyeing something a bit pricey for your little one, Zip lets you get it now and pay later. Just select Zip at checkout and split your total into four easy payments. Now you don’t have to wait until payday to get them something they’ll love.

Learn more about Zip here.

5. List last year’s clothes

Got a pile of now too-small clothes that still have a lot of life left? Offset your back-to-school shopping costs by listing them on Mercari. Don’t feel like packaging it all up and shipping? When you list with Mercari Local, you don’t have to – just set it out, and a driver will deliver it right to your buyer. 

RELATED: Get your listings in front of more potential buyers with these 6 easy tips.

New to listing? Get started here.

We hope these tips help you stay on budget while checking off everything on your back-to-school list. As a mom myself, this is how I shop for back-to-school items on Mercari, so consider these tips mom-approved! And if you have any questions, send us a tweet at @mercari_app.

Happy shopping!    

Related: Boost your sales: 10 top tips for selling clothes on Mercari, 6 ways we’ve simplified selling

Main image credit: Monkey Business Images