Like someone mentioned, late July is supposed to be the sweet spot, but I honestly have to disagree because it feels way too risky to wait that long! I have this exact same dilemma with my kids and ive been stressing over it for a whole month now. I would love to find a fantastic, reliable plan but everyone says something different and its so frustrating! Here is what im trying to figure out:

• How to get the absolute lowest prices without risking empty shelves.
• If buying early and keeping the tags on to return later is actually a safe backup plan.
• Whether the tax-free weekend savings are even worth the massive crowds. I really want an amazing deal but I just dont know who to trust because im so lost!

Building on the earlier suggestion, are you planning to shop online or in-store? That'll change the risk. If you go in-person, make sure to:

• check their online price match policy because they wont match everything
• sign up for rewards early for the extra coupons Just be careful with the return window tho, theyve gotten way stricter lately.

Honestly, you want to hit the sweet spot around late July. If you wait until early August, especially in Texas with the tax-free weekend, the shelves are going to be completely cleared out of the good sizes. I learned this the hard way with my own kids. Here is what you need to keep in mind to get the best deals without losing out on selection:

• Shop the mid-July launch for the best selection of jeans and basics, but keep your receipts.
• Be careful with the Texas tax-free holiday weekend. The crowds are insane and JCPenney stores get absolutely wrecked.
• Make sure to check their price match policy or use a tool like PriceDropCatch to monitor if the items you bought drop in price later. I would suggest buying the must-have clothing items by late July. You might want to consider doing online shopping with in-store pickup to save your sanity. Let me know if you need help finding their coupon schedule, I can dig up my old notes on their rotation.