GAYLORD - There’s no question more parents will watch what they spend while back-to-school shopping this year. This is especially true when picking out new threads - one of the biggest expenses in preparation for the new school year.

While shopping on a budget may mean sifting though the bargain bins in box stores for new clothes, it should also open shoppers’ eyes to other options available, including skimming the racks at resale and consignment shops around town. With the right approach, diligent shoppers can often find gently-worn name brands and all-around quality clothing at garage sale prices.

Goodwill

Forget that $40 pair of factory-worn and fashionably-faded denim jeans. Pick up four pairs of “the original pre-washed” jeans for half the price at Goodwill, said manager Joe Wambold.

“You name it, it’s here,” he added, pointing to rack after rack of clothing in the South Wisconsin Avenue store. There, employees sort through a thousand new clothing items daily, sending only the best to the racks. Much of those items are like new, with many name brands and styles to choose from.

Prices start at $1.79 for kids’ shirts, jeans and dresses, and go up to $5.49 for adult clothing items. Shoes range from $1.49 to $3.29 a pair. Socks run 29 to 99 cents per pair.

Items with that week’s special tag color save 50 percent. Have clothes of your own to donate? Subtract another 10 percent from your total.

“The key is to have time to look,” he said. “You can find any brand, any item you want, if you have time to look.”

Goodwill is a nonprofit organization.

Shopping list

kids’ shirts, jeans, dresses: $1.79 and up

socks: 29 to 99 cents

shoes: $1.49-$3.29

backpacks: $2-$3.99

Children’s Unique Boutique

Looking for higher-end or hard-to-find new and used clothes for your son or daughter? Children’s Unique Boutique has them at a cost far below retail “to fit every budget and lifestyle,” said owner, Trisha Smith.

Specializing in upper-end clothes for ages 0 to teen found either in out-of-town stores or online, the boutique offers much of its used stock of tops, jeans, dresses and shoes between 99 cents and $8.99 per article. Even the new merchandise from distributors, still with the original price tags, are available often at half or less of the retail price, averaging between $3.99 and $12.99. There’s also weekly sales on new merchandise.

“The store brings affordability to name brands,” Smith said, adding she’s very particular on the condition of used clothing” she receives for consignment.

Merchandise at her South Otsego Avenue store includes Osh Kosh, Cach Cach, English Roses and GAP, among others and features new items daily, geared to the season. One portion of a wall is stocked with new backpacks, lunch pails and nap pads, all marked down from retail.

The key to shop at her store, said Smith, is to come often.

“Check back a couple times a week. You never know what you’re going to find.”

Shopping list

shirts: $.99-$4.99 used; $3.99 and up new

jeans: $2.99-$8.99 used; $6.99 and up new

dresses: $2.99-$6.99 used; $8.99 and up new

shoes: $3.99 used; $8.99 new

backpacks: $3.99-$5.99 used; $9.99-$19.99 new

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