Shop smart for back-to-school clothes 

Back-to-school shopping. If you're like a lot of moms, just the mention of the phrase can make you panic, reminding you of the maddening crowds and huge credit card bills that make the annual August stock-up almost unbearable.

According to a 2005 Harris Interactive Personalshopper.com survey, 60 percent of parents find fall shopping with their children to be stressful. But getting your kid clothed for the school year doesn't have to mean staking out a spot in a packed parking lot, arguing over clothes that seem better suited for a music video than for math class, or spending more than you can afford. With these simple tips, you'll keep from maxing out your patience and your credit cards!

• Make a list. You can leave your aspirin at home if you draw up a game plan before you hit the mall. Make a list of what your children need and stick to it, just as you would when buying groceries. A week before you head out, ask your kids to do some "window shopping" by visiting the web sites of their favorite stores and comparison shopping sites to search for the best prices. Check for sales in the fliers in Sunday's paper.

• Avoid the crowds. Instead of braving the mall on a Saturday, select two weeknights to go shopping after dinner. You'll face smaller crowds and be forced to get the job done before the mall closes.

• Compromise is key. With kids getting their fashion inspiration from celebrities (usually inappropriate clothes for school-age children), it's hard to find common ground. Try reading your daughter's magazines with her and flagging clothes you both like or watching television shows together and discussing the messages sent by certain styles. To teach them that there's a time and a place to wear different looks, designate one shopping trip for getting school basics but plan another for party clothes. So when she holds up the sequin top, you can say yes, but not for school.

• Shop for essentials first, trends second. It's a common scenario: Once your daughter sees what her friends are wearing, the skirt she loved in August seems lame. Kids can be fickle; a few weeks into the school year, when peer pressure kicks in, they're bound to come home with a list of must-haves. So buy just the essentials at the beginning of the season rather than everything at once; remember, there's always going to be another sale. Insist that your kids leave the tags on their clothes until they're about to wear them and make sure you hold on to receipts so you can easily return anything they have second thoughts about. Create a file that includes catalogs, sizes and wish lists so you can act if you find a sale while on your own.

• Make a plan and save. Instead of heading straight to the mall, check consignment shops first. Unlike thrift stores that take whatever they can get, consignment shops are selective, and some of them cater exclusively to kids and teens. Have your kids weed through their closets before they shop so they can turn in their old clothes for cash to go toward new purchases. You can also set up a swap network with a group of friends: Before everyone goes shopping, gather at a pal's house to trade your kids' outgrown clothes. Ask about frequent-buyer cards at stores you go to often (Famous Footwear and Sears have them); you'll earn future savings with each purchase.

• Shop where kids can be kids. You really can pick up pieces that won't bare all or break the bank. Start with these great sources:
  The Children's Place: Trendy looks at teeny prices (www.childrensplace.com)
  JCPenney: A wide range of clothes at great prices, including rough-and-tumble sportswear (www.jcpenney.com)
  L.L.Bean: Timeless, easy-to-care-for clothes for all kinds of weather (www.llbean.com)