. School Clothes’ Inventory

I’m sure you don’t want to hear it, but for many school districts in my area (and maybe in yours, too), school will begin about the middle to late August.  Ouch!  Where did the lazy days go and do we need to think of school already?

Yes, I would propose it is time to do a school clothing inventory, figure out what clothes you have on hand, what you can use for this year’s needs, and what you will need to purchase to fill out each child or teenager’s wardrobe?

A simple School Clothing Inventory form will help expedite this process, keep the budget in tow, and help you along the way.  This form is also useful for those of you who have grown children but would like to update and improve upon your own or husband’s working wardrobe.  What do you have?  What works?  What needs to be added?  How much do you have to spend?

Remember, most projects, especially a big one like this, are best done in small steps.

- First, we will take an inventory.  That will take a bit of time (with everything else that needs doing).

- Then soon afterwards, we will begin shopping with our printed inventories (which will then act as our lists).

- Finally, we will mend, alter, and otherwise label the items so they will have a chance to be useful for the whole of next year (layering for seasonal weather needs).

One word of caution.  Some children and teenagers seem to grow the most between when you shop for pants and they begin school.  Buy bigger at the waist and longer at the leg to allow for this spurt of growth.

So, my friends, with all else that is on your mind, get out enough boxes for each of your family members and label each them:  School clothes for ___ (name of child or teenager).  This can act as you initial stash as you sort, find, and make decisions.

Out of season clothes that are useful but not needed right now (meaning that they are of the size between two children) should be stashed in additional, labeled boxes or containers.  My favorite labeling system is:  Boys-1 pants, Boys-2 shirts, Girls-1 pants, Girls-1 tops, Girls-1 skirts/dresses, etc. for all ages.

Let’s get going!  School is starting up again too soon this year unless we get a head start on our preparations!

Find more helpful ideas in my House of Order Handbook.