Wednesday, 24 September 2008
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Budget Shopping for Children's Clothing
As the seasons shift, so do my kids' wardrobes. I absolutely love shopping for my kids and getting clothing for them. Not sure why it's so much fun, but it is. I guess I love how easy it is - I know the size, I like it, I buy it. Not too much trying on, and neither of them are too opinionated. R just particularly likes anything that has a sports item on it - baseball, basketball, football, soccer... take your pick. He's easy to please! And now that I have A I have fun with a little girl, buying all of the little accessories and dresses, etc. We're a young family on a budget, and I determined long ago that I was not going to spend a lot of money on my kids' clothes. When R was young I did a lot of garage saling, but now that I have two, it's a lot of work to go with both kids, and it's so hit or miss that I got frustrated after awhile and decided to find other options. A few years ago 2 ladies in my area decided to hold a twice annual children's consigment sale and it is awesome! Last year they had over 100 people consign, and they have it so organized. They have everything hung on racks by gender and size, they have tables of toys and shoes, and racks of coats. Everything has to be in good condition and priced appropriately. It's like walking into a store, but everything is about $1 or $2. Last year I bought Gap and Children's Place jeans for $2 each for R and I've always bought him Carter's brand winter coats there for about $5. They always look brand new and I appreciate it so much! I always tell them that if they decided to stop doing it to let me know - I'll find a few friends and take it over!!
The other thing that I do is shop off season for them. Children's place is one of my favorite stores to go to for this. I usually get 15 or 20% off coupons in the mail every few weeks and they have what they call their "Monster Sale" at end of season. The majority of their clothing racks are $2.99 and under and they also usually have tights for girls for $0.99 and shoes for $2.99. When I use a coupon on top of that I get a lot of clothing for not much money. I also buy basics at Target when they have their sale items. I've gotten so used to spending so little on clothes for them, that I wandered into a name brand store one time and I about fell over when I saw the prices.
Anyone else on a budget when it comes to shopping for your children's clothing? How do you stay within your budget? Where and how do you shop?
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Comments (17)
I have 3 young children, and I know what you mean. Luckily, my sister-in-law LOVES garage saling, so she picks stuff up for me all the time. I've tried taking the kids with me, but I don't particularly enjoy garage saling, and especially now with 3 young kids. I also shop the Children's Place monster sales, Old Navy has good clearance stuff sometimes, and Walmart end of season stuff for $1-$2. Yeah, I can't imagine paying more than $5 for an item of clothing for my children. :) When you have to get something for actual price, it's ridiculous.
I look for sales and coupons, and I also buy shirts a size or two too big. She just now growing out of one shirt that she's had since last year. With pants though I have to buy either right in her size or close. I always have to buy pants with an adjustable waist, because when the length fits the waist doesn't. Those are usually more expensive so I really try to look for sales on those.
Has that sale already happened? I live not too far from you. I would love to check it out - and I am sure my sisters would too.
Usually the whole family shops - and picks up things whenever there is a good deal. some of my favorites are Children's Place - there is a new outlet close by that always has good sales! And Kohl's - I always have coupons and their clearance is amazing! We are usually buying a couple of seasons ahead - and save a ton of money that way!
Another good way to save money is to share clothes with family and close friends. That way you can get more than 1 child's use out of the cheap clothes!
@der_lila_Stern@xanga - No, the sale hasn't happened! It's being held at the Refton Brethren Church in Christ, which is right outside of Willow Street. If you feel comfortable, you can send me your email address and I'll send you the flyer with all of the information. It's a great sale. I love Kohl's too! You can send your email address via a message instead of posting it here! :)
I like to buy off-season too. I buy alot of stuff at Wal-Mart because it may not last forever but it doesn't fit them very long anyway! That Monster Sale at Children's Place - I just happened to go in there during that with a few friends and found jeans for my daughter for $1.99! I was very excited by that purchase.....
I was very frugal buying clothes when my kids were little. Mine are all 13 to 21 now, but I always try to at least shop by sales. It gets a lot harder when they get older, so enjoy it now. My kids used to call our thrift store/garage sale/consignment shop purchasing as "recycling"
We were "green" before our time! Actually, they still love second hand stores.
I would love to find out where that consignment sale is as well! I'm in the Rothsville/Akron/Ephrata area, but I don't mind driving a little distance if it means great bargains! I will message you my e-mail address if you don't mind sending that flyer my way!
@Mom2Be - then you are in my area. The East Earl Goodwill has lots of good stuff. That is where I get a lot of my children's clothes. Mine too.
All my 4 kids have jobs. Task done. They wear what they can afford.
When they were kids. Yard sales. Pay Less shoes. And Walmart.
I love thrift shopping, so most of my kids' clothes come from there. I also love garage sales, and have got some awesome deals (although, yes, it's hit and miss, I usually go looking for other things though, and if I come across kids clothes that's just a bonus). My mom buys the kids name brand clothing sometimes, and I also check out the sales racks at the grocery store or if I'm out shopping with someone else. I can't justify spending lots of money on clothes that my kids will get all dirty and sometimes destroy (I'd rather not care about such things, they're kids), and ultimately grow out of in 6 months or so... I do like them to look cute, but it's not worth buying new, expensive clothes.
I love thrift shopping. We will definately be stopping by yard sales, goodwill, anywhere we can find a decent price. I know from when I was younger, and my niece and nephew now, that they grow so fast and the stuff you get them one month may not fit next month.
I do alot of off season shopping at KMart and Wal Mart, alot of times I can get like tank tops for $.60 after the clearance and percentages off!
I also go yard saling, and I buy up to a few sizes larger when I can so we always have bigger sizes.
We also have a Once Upon A Child resale shop that I frequent. I sell my old clothes to them,and then buy her new, and usually the money I made on what I sold offsets what I bought!
I but from once upon a child, kidtokid, walmart and target oh and goodwill. I also like craigslist. What I save makes my husband happy
I love consignment shops. I sell stuff at consignment shops, then use the money as store credit to buy "new" clothes when I need them. Anything clearanced out is good too.
Has the Monster Sale already happened at Children's Place? We just moved back to Texas, and there's one near me.. I would love to check it out!
@Kristenmomof3@xanga - Yeah, I shop there too- it is pretty much right over the hill from where my midwife is located... a good and maybe a bad thing, depending on how much I spend ;)
We have the same type of sale. Ours just occurred a couple of weeks ago. It is called Reruns Are Fun. Ours has the offer of working in order to get in early. You have to volunteer at least 10 hrs and then you get two items per hour that you work. They also raffle off money for the workers. Then the last day is half price day. It is a great way to get things for the little ones. We always get good deals. I love it! And working is a great break. They also have maternity clothes. And now they do "Home Runs" Where we can get household items.
We also do sales and our parents do garage sales at times. We are most definately budget concience.