Ah, back to shopping for school clothes. Like it or not, there’s no denying that your kids can’t start the new school year with the beloved clothes (i.e. too small and maybe with holes in them) that they’ve been abusing all the time. ‘summer. But how can we make our kids look great on day one without breaking the bank?

Lucky for us, Austin is full of thrift stores where you can often find trendy finds on a budget. (Some will even pay or take donations of your old clothes!) Check out our top places to go back to school on a budget in Austin.

Note: This list is by no means exhaustive as it would be impossible to list all the great deals in Austin. We’ve tried to present a good mix of options, some for those who enjoy the thrill of the hunt and others for those who prefer a more carefully curated experience. Our hope is that you will come to a place you never knew existed. And if you have a favorite that we haven’t mentioned here, feel free to add it in the comments. Good shopping!

Here are the best spots for back-to-school shopping!

Children

Child to Child: Every kid to kid offers hand-picked, lightly used items, as well as an affordable selection of new items. Stores are locally owned and stocked with boys ‘and girls’ clothing sizes 0-14 (some stores offer junior sizes for girls and up to size 20 for boys). Purchase items for cash or store credit.

• 5300 S MoPac Expy # 102b
• 14010 US-183 # 420
• 575 E FM 150 Ste D (Kyle)

He was a child: Save up to 70% off original retail prices on lightly used boys ‘and girls’ clothing, sizes 0-20. Buy items for cash or store credit.

• 13945 Route 183 North
• 7010 highway 71 west
• 1601 South IH-35 (Round Rock)

High-end resale Sparkle Kids: Local children’s store that buys, sells and trades the best children’s clothing for ages 0-10.

Teens

Plato’s closet: Plato’s Closet offers designer clothing and accessories for teens and 20s. Purchases and exchanges.

• 5400 Brodie Way
• 2000 S IH-35 (round rock)
• 1335 E Whitestone Boulevard (Cedar Park)

Uptown Cheapskate: At Uptown, you’ll find fantastic new and lightly used vintage and trendy clothing at a fraction of the retail price. In-store cash or credit purchases.

The whole family

Austin Thrift House Support League: New and little used items. Proceeds benefit League of Austin Assistance philanthropic programs. Donations accepted.

Austin animals alive! Thrift shop: A thrift store for humans that allows customers to “shop for you, save a life” as the proceeds go towards the costs of the ABS program !. Donations accepted.

• 5801 Burnet Road
• 5102 Clarkson Avenue
• 1409 Oltorf Street West

Goodwill from Central Texas: several locations. Donations accepted.

Hope Family Thrift Store: Quality merchandise used with care at affordable prices. Profits help disaster survivors and families. Donations accepted.

Savings city: A clean, bright and organized place to buy merchandise at a good price. Donations accepted.

Economy of the upper drawer: A funky little thrift store with a big heart. All proceeds go to Project Transitions. Donations accepted.

• 4902 Burnet Road
• 7101B Woodrow Avenue

Treasure city: Probably the most thrifty thrift store in Austin. Treasure City works for zero waste: they throw away as little as possible and partner with Ecology Action to recycle everything they can. Donations accepted

Bonuses for bargain school supplies

Austin Creative Reuse: ACR collects, distributes and sells reusable materials donated by industry and individuals. Inventory changes quickly, but you can almost always find pencils, paper, art supplies, etc. at incredibly low prices. Donations accepted.

If you’re looking for fun family activities on a budget, be sure to check out our FREE events calendar, here.

Featured Photo via Monkies Vintage and Thrift