Children’s clothing is adorable, but it can sometimes be outrageously priced. Fortunately, frugal moms know how to save money when it comes to wardrobing their quickly growing little ones. Below are some valuable tips for money-conscious moms everywhere:
Save Sibling Clothing for Your Younger Children
This one is a no-brainer. If you already have a stack of gently used clothing, why get rid of it when it could be used again? Parents planning to have more children in the future should hold onto their kids’ old clothes. Use storage tubs to keep organized, labeling the gender and sizes of the contents on them.
Take Advantage of Consignment and Thrift Stores
Some children’s consignment stores allow families to trade in items that they no longer use or want for credit towards other second hand items in the store. Families can pay a fraction of the retail price for kids clothes. Thrift stores are another great source for gently used seasonal clothing such as coats and scarves. In addition to seasonal items, you can also find a wide variety of every day wear at these stores. You can also find kids dresses, shoes, and accessories at reduced rates
Shop Off Season and the Clearance Racks
Many department stores drastically cut prices at the end of a season, providing parents an opportunity to stock up on bigger sizes for the coming years. Most stores also offer year-round clearance racks. These items may be different than the end of the season mark downs, so take the time to search the clearance racks thoroughly.
Make Your Own Clothing
Crafty moms may opt to make their own kids clothes. If you know how to sew, you can purchase patterns and fabric to make new clothing items. Even fabric from worn clothes can be reused and sewn into a completely new wardrobe piece. Don’t hesitate to ask friends and family for sewing patterns. You can also find pattern styles and tips for free online.
Say Yes to Hand-Me-Downs
Apart from saving your own hand-me-downs, ask your friends and family if they know of anyone giving away old clothing. This is a great alternative to shopping at consignment shops, plus you won’t have to pay for the clothing.
Search Online Deals
You may be able to find awesome deals at online auction sites as well. Be aware of which sites offer deal of the day specials, because these will likely save you the most money. You should also take advantage of sites that provide shoppers with comparison prices. Many retailers offer online discounts, but having a comparison chart can save you both money and time. Take note of sites that offer free shipping. You don’t want to lose some of the money saved because of costly shipping fees.
Request Clothing Gifts
Instead of ending up with piles of toys at birthdays and holidays, why not let well-meaning family and friends know what clothing items your child really needs? It could even end up being a special experience such as grandma taking her granddaughter out to shop for kids dresses, or flipping through an entire kids catalog together and choosing something together.
Erin Martin is a guest writer from Carter’s and OshKosh B’Gosh children’s clothing stores. She has contributed to various kids style and health blogs around the web and maintains her own, KidSource.
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