Shopping for kids’ clothes can be ridiculously expensive. But you want your kids to look cute, right?
On the one hand, you can save money by shopping only when things are on clearance, off-season, or during big semi-annual sales. But even with sales, retail prices can put a huge strain on your budget.
How can you outfit your children in clothes that fit, look cute, and are even from the best name brands, without breaking the bank?
Buy consignment!
Consignment shops, unlike regular thrift shops, are very stringent about the quality of items they’ll accept for resale. And they sell things when they’re in season – so you don’t have to worry about buying a winter coat in June just
to try and stay ahead financially. Consignment shops are pricier than typical thrift stores, though, so if you have more than one kids’ consignment shop in your area, try to visit each of them at a time when you’re not in desperate need, so that
you can get a feel for which store typically offers the best prices.
Aside from consignment shops, another thing that I’ve discovered since becoming a mom is consignment sales. These are typically very large “event” sales that are hosted by a church, group or even a company that specializes in putting
on such events. Just like at a consignment store, the quality is generally high and I’ve found the very best deals at consignment sales. Earlier this year, at a consignment sale put on by a local church, I scored 25 outfits and 3 big-ticket toys,
for $47.50!
At another consignment sale I found deals that were still great… but I went a little overboard. I wound up buying six sippy cups (all in a baggie together for $2.50,) nine toys, four books, and approximately 40 outfits, for $220. The
toys alone would have been probably $150 retail, and in my mind the clothes would have been close to $1,000 easily. I feel confident that by shopping at consignment sales, I’ve saved thousands of dollars on toys and clothes for my baby. However,
in this instance, I hadn’t intended to spend as much as I did.
Shopping at consignment sales is a fantastic way to save money, but it is important not to do what I did – buy too much and blow your budget!
Here are my best tips for saving money and keeping on track:
1. Have a plan
Make a list of the things you need the most, and approximately how much you’re willing to spend per-item. When temptation strikes, consult your list. Do you really need that cute snowsuit, or will your little snuggle bunny likely never use it? If you don’t need it, leave it on the rack for the next mommy who does. And whatever you decide to buy, make sure you’re completely comfortable with the price – there will be other sales, after all.
2. Bring your own shopping bags
…and a luggage cart or grocery cart or even your baby stroller (if your baby’s not in it!). The bigger sales usually have bags at checkout, but they don’t offer shopping carts. So you’ll need something to carry the armloads of deals you find. A few reusable shopping bags, a big gym bag, or something else that’s easy to move stuff in and out of will do just fine.
3. Bring cash
Decide ahead of time on a budget that will work for you, and only bring that much cash with you. Don’t allow yourself to use plastic, because it’s way too easy to go over budget – especially when you’re in the “but it’s such a good deal!” mindset.
4. Bring a calculator
Eventually you’ll start to get a little hazy keeping track of all those $2.50 footsie pajamas. Are you up to $10 or $15? You don’t want to lose track of what you’re spending, get up to the register and discover you don’t have enough cash with you… and then break out the plastic, because you’re too stressed/embarrassed/short on time to put stuff back.
5. Special discount for consignors
Also keep in mind that most sales offer preview days and special discounts for consignors, so if you’ve got stuff to sell, you could save even more money. There are usually strict guidelines for how to package your items for sale, so make sure you register and get all the details in time to prepare and drop off your own items.
To find consignment sales near you, keep an eye out for events held by local churches, ask other moms, consult Google, or use a site like Consignment Mommies. If you follow these tips, you’ll score great deals and feel good about your purchases, not just because the prices are good but because you will have purchased items that you’ll actually get the most use out of. Perhaps you’ll even have enough left over to treat yourself to something fun.
Christal loves shopping for her family as well as saving money in the process. She has some insightful tips for things that have worked for her in the past and is happy to share her experiences with you. Her thoughts and opinions don’t necessarily represent brightpeak financial and we are not affiliated with any of the services or links herein. This post is meant to make you aware of some money saving options that may be available to you and your individual situation.
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