If your a parent then you know that kids require a new wardrobe basically every season. This can cause a huge strange on the budget if your not careful. Being the frugal mom that I am I decided to share with you my top tips for saving on children's clothing.
Thrift Stores
Thrift stores are great for finding inexpensive quality kids clothing, but you will need to follow a few rules: Make a list and only buy the best quality. You will be tempted by the racks and racks of cheap clothing, but if you want the clothes to last you will need to be picky about what you buy. I normally spend $1-2 per item at thrift stores.
Bonus Tips:
Check for stains and holes
Ask the sales associates about sales
Consignment Stores & Sales
Doing a quick google search will probably be the best way to find consignment sales or stores in your area. These are GrEaT for finding quality clothes on the cheap. The prices will probably be higher than the thrift store, but they will should be better organized with a larger more high quality selection to choose from. I normally spend $2-3 per item at consignment stores.
Bonus Tips:
Sell clothing your child has outgrown here to make money towards the clothes that they need.
Ask the sales associate if they have a mailing list so you can be notified of upcoming sales/events.
E-bay & Craigslist
I haven't had much luck buying clothes on Craigslist because the selection is usually pretty limited and I'm picky, but it's worth it to check your area listings just in case! I have however, found some expensive name brand pieces on Ebay for AmAzInG prices. This is great for mommas who don't have the option to go around shopping at thrift stores all the time. I've found awesome prices on more expensive pieces such as winter coats and ski bibs.
Garage Sales
Garage sales are awesome for finding quality clothes at really cheap prices (think .25-$1 a piece!!), but you need to invest time and energy into finding the best sales, because a lot of the time (if your being picky!) you will walk away empty handed. In this season of life I don't have the time or extra arms it would require to haul my kids around every weekend trying to find the best sales, but I look forward to being able to do that in the future!
End of Season Sales
I've found that the best times to buy summer clothes are July/August and the best times to buy winter clothes are January/February. This is when the stores are clearing out their inventory to make room for the next season. To make this work you will need to look ahead and buy next years summer or winter wardrobe at the end of this summer or winter. Make sure you are on your favorite stores mailing lists so you can be notified of their end of season sales and can print any coupons that they might send. The best savings are when you match a sale with a coupon. Target, Kohl's and Children's Place are great for finding new clothes at a great price if you shop at the right times. When buying new clothes I try not to spend more than $5 per item, but it's not uncommon to find things around $2-3 per item.
Hand Me Downs
If you have multiple kids the easiest way to save money is to pass clothes down the line, but if that isn't an option you can always ask friends or family if they have any children's clothes they don't need. A lot of people don't mess with reselling stuff and would be donating it anyway so it never hurts to ask! Plus if you find a good source of hand me downs then they will probably keep coming as each size is outgrown!
I hope these tips help you save some cash. I'd love to hear any other advice or tips you may have in the comment section below!
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Another thing that I have gotten into lately is a Facebook mama's swap page. It basically functions like craigslist. People post items for sale and interested moms arrange pick up. I've found some amazing deals on cloth diapers, clothes, baby items, and toys. I've also been able to sell my kiddos' outgrown clothes
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