Although January is great for sledding it’s also an optimal time to go back to school clothes shopping. At least that’s how I shop. I’m a clearance shopper and this season holds fantastic deals. Last year I bought my oldest’s pants for four dollars each. Earlier this year, one of my sister-in-laws was seeking on-line shopping advice after moving to the middle of nowhere. Since I’m very familiar with the middle of nowhere, I was happy to help. Here is my reply. I hope it helps someone else find some fabulous savings.

Okay…so I do A LOT of online shopping. I don’t even have the patience to walk around stores anymore. I really like clicking the button to get to the section I want, click for the size, and viola! It’s magic.

1. I prefer sites with a brick and mortar store so I can make free returns (no shipping). I save all my returns for one of my trips north. Read the return policies; there’s usually a pretty big window for returns. I spend a lot of time consolidating orders into one or two stores so shipping isn’t outrageous. And a site absolutely has to have a clearance section!

2. Lands End gives you free shipping on reorder (wrong size, color, etc.) plus you can return to a Sears store that sells clothing. (Can’t return to a Sears that only sells appliances and tools.) Lands End is very pricey but I find great deals by shopping under their overstock tab. They are a mail order company and have fantastic customer service: phone, chat, email … you name it. Their merchandise is very high quality and will survive through at least two or three children. That’s pretty high on my priority list. January starts their winter clearance. If you have your eye on something, buy it in January. Otherwise wait until February or later and see what’s still there. I’ve even bought coats and winter boots in June when they are really cheap but great quality. July begins the summer clearance. Same thing goes. If you really want/need something get it at the first price slash otherwise wait a couple of months and check back for the really low prices.

3. JC Penney is another favorite. However, their in store clearance prices are much better than online. If you can, plan an end of January or even a first week of February shopping trip. Summer clearance starts in July and gets really good the later into August you go.

4. TheChildrensPlace.com offers $5 flat rate shipping which is like driving to Walmart and back so that’s a good deal. Their sizing runs really big. I like their shirts. Girls pants are poor quality. Boys pants are okay in slim size but not too many to choose from.

5. Target has the nicest, most inexpensive girls dresses you can find. They don’t have many pants offerings in slim sizes so I don’t use them too much. Boys’ Sunday outfits are also very reasonable. I like their girls’ shirts but usually not the boys’.

6. Amazon I love for books but learned the hard way not to order anything else because of the various sellers. I thought it would be great one stop shopping and save me a bundle on shipping. I didn’t realize every seller would charge me shipping separately! (Amazon themselves also sells some nice educational games.)

7. Old Navy has great online clearance prices just like their stores. I don’t like them. A lot of their merchandise is just plain cheap. It’s as bad or worse than Walmart. You can find heavier fabrics, but you can’t tell online so I only rarely use them. I ordered long jean skirts for my girls from Old Navy that I couldn’t find anywhere else. I also got lucky with a heavyweight sweatshirt for my oldest son which he lost. So if anyone out there has a brown hoodie with Mt. Aire across the front let me know. It’s been missing since the fall.

8. Cabelas has been good for Nate’s clothes. Again I shop the January-February clearance. We also like their other “stuff”.

9. Toys R Us has a clearance section. It’s usually really good in October. If you want to buy anything really big (ie.: dump truck, shot gun) the shipping isn’t worth it. They also have an ongoing clearance section which works for me because my kids don’t watch enough TV to know they have the “old” version of a toy.

10. Magical Moon Toys in Logan is my favorite toy store. They’re working on coming online. They have a site, you just can’t order from it yet. They have more unique and educational oriented toys. When we’re in Logan I stock up on generic birthday presents for when my children get invited to birthday parties.

11. Anderson Seed and Garden is another Logan store that is online. They have the best selection of seeds anywhere. Everyone should stop into their store sometime for a truly turn of the century experience. They are very helpful and can tell you anything about gardening. You tell them how long your row is and they measure out the right amount of seed for you.

12. Samsclub has a clik and pull tab for groceries that can be helpful in determining how much your groceries will cost before you actually get to the store. You can send them your grocery list and they will pull it for you and have it waiting when you arrive. I haven’t actually used that part, but have seen the baskets awaiting pickup in the store.

13. Honeyvillegrain.com is where I buy Farina (Cream of Wheat), my Vital Wheat Gluten, and a 9-grain cracked cereal mix I use instead of cracked wheat in my bread. There is also a 6-grain rolled cereal I like. Everything is packaged in number 10 cans for long term storage. They also have other products you may be interested in.

14. JoAnns sells fabric. I’ve only ordered this a couple of times. I still prefer the store for that. It also has a link for a pattern seller which is very helpful. It’s easier for me to browse on my computer than in a store. I like to walk into the store, pick up the pattern and be done. Nate showed me some better sites for fabric. If your interested I can find them.

15. Don Aslett’s Cleaning Center is the place I shop for everything cleaning related. They sell high quality everything that really works. Plus, I love his books. They’re just fun to read, and he’s a really fun presenter, too. I like the little refill packs so I don’t have to buy a whole new bottle everytime I run out of cleaner. I prefer stopping by the store for things like the foaming bowl cleaner because the weight of full bottles of stuff really increases shipping fast. And don’t order a mop unless you absolutely have to. Shipping again.

How do you shop for the best deals?