Comments on: Clothing kids without breaking the bank http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html Naturally inspired living for the Christian homemaker Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:41:31 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Kate http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html/comment-page-1#comment-21459 Kate Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:45:17 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html#comment-21459 I, too, stay at least a year ahead of my kids, sometimes longer. My son (11 weeks) has up through 18 month clothes, if you can believe that. I found an entire 18-mo. wardrobe (10 pairs of pajamas and 20 outfits) for $35 on Craig's list and I had to buy it. Had to. It's great stuff. I shop clearance where I pay $3 for a shirt or less. I went to a "sidewalk sale" and went at the end of the day and got a whole bag of kids' clothes for $1! I literally paid 5 cents an outfit, I figured out. I got a few pairs of sweatpants and shorts, some plain white t-shirts, and even a really nice Christmas dress for my daughter in that bunch. The dress alone probably cost $50 new and I got it for 5 cents!! Can't beat that. I also try to buy certain items (socks, undershirts, onesies) in plain white and as cheap as possible. I don't care if it's stained. Then I can use it all my babies without feeling like it's the "wrong" gender. I also sew all my own cloth diapers and I'm about to start sewing training pants and underwear (for my daughter as well as myself) which saves a lot. I sew anything I can, although I find buying clothes at garage sales and such generally cheaper than sewing, especially as quick as kids grow. :) I, too, stay at least a year ahead of my kids, sometimes longer. My son (11 weeks) has up through 18 month clothes, if you can believe that. I found an entire 18-mo. wardrobe (10 pairs of pajamas and 20 outfits) for $35 on Craig's list and I had to buy it. Had to. It's great stuff. I shop clearance where I pay $3 for a shirt or less. I went to a "sidewalk sale" and went at the end of the day and got a whole bag of kids' clothes for $1! I literally paid 5 cents an outfit, I figured out. I got a few pairs of sweatpants and shorts, some plain white t-shirts, and even a really nice Christmas dress for my daughter in that bunch. The dress alone probably cost $50 new and I got it for 5 cents!! Can't beat that. I also try to buy certain items (socks, undershirts, onesies) in plain white and as cheap as possible. I don't care if it's stained. Then I can use it all my babies without feeling like it's the "wrong" gender. I also sew all my own cloth diapers and I'm about to start sewing training pants and underwear (for my daughter as well as myself) which saves a lot. I sew anything I can, although I find buying clothes at garage sales and such generally cheaper than sewing, especially as quick as kids grow. :)

]]> By: Sandy B http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html/comment-page-1#comment-21458 Sandy B Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:13:42 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html#comment-21458 I do this and have for years. It is fun to open the totes and see what new clothes we have for the next year. I like the idea of lists - because that is my downfall. I end up with too much of something and not enough of something else. And I seem to always over-buy for summer - I somehow alwyas forget that we only have 2-3 months of warmer weather here in Minnesota! But, I just wanted to add that I only stockpile 1-2 sizes up. Kids' tastes change and styles change so much that unless you are only buying basics/classics - you may end up with something in a few years that the child will never wear, and neither will anyone else (in other words, you won't be able to re-sell it and you have then lost the money you spent!). There have been occasions where I have found something absolutely incredible at an amazing price though (like a few years ago I found a Columbia winter coat that was in excellent condition for $1.00 that was 4 sizes too big for my ds at the time - but he is able to wear it now!). I may try the Ziploc bags idea - although the totes are easier to label and see what is in them easier. But, due to storage space, I need to condense! I do this and have for years. It is fun to open the totes and see what new clothes we have for the next year. I like the idea of lists - because that is my downfall. I end up with too much of something and not enough of something else. And I seem to always over-buy for summer - I somehow alwyas forget that we only have 2-3 months of warmer weather here in Minnesota!

But, I just wanted to add that I only stockpile 1-2 sizes up. Kids' tastes change and styles change so much that unless you are only buying basics/classics - you may end up with something in a few years that the child will never wear, and neither will anyone else (in other words, you won't be able to re-sell it and you have then lost the money you spent!). There have been occasions where I have found something absolutely incredible at an amazing price though (like a few years ago I found a Columbia winter coat that was in excellent condition for $1.00 that was 4 sizes too big for my ds at the time - but he is able to wear it now!). I may try the Ziploc bags idea - although the totes are easier to label and see what is in them easier. But, due to storage space, I need to condense!

]]> By: Liz @ Frugally Blonde http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html/comment-page-1#comment-21457 Liz @ Frugally Blonde Sat, 28 Feb 2009 03:10:14 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html#comment-21457 This was a really good post! I do a lot of things you do, although I think I'm going to have to try the plastic bags instead of bins. One of the main ways I get clothes for my daughters is a semiannual children's consignment sale. The prices are a little higher than yard sales but lower than consignment shops, and the selection is excellent. I also volunteer at the sale in order to be able to shop early, and it is actually a lot of fun. It's become my semiannual tradition; my husband knows he watches the girl on consignment sale day! This was a really good post! I do a lot of things you do, although I think I'm going to have to try the plastic bags instead of bins.

One of the main ways I get clothes for my daughters is a semiannual children's consignment sale. The prices are a little higher than yard sales but lower than consignment shops, and the selection is excellent. I also volunteer at the sale in order to be able to shop early, and it is actually a lot of fun. It's become my semiannual tradition; my husband knows he watches the girl on consignment sale day!

]]> By: TopazTook http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html/comment-page-1#comment-21456 TopazTook Sat, 28 Feb 2009 02:38:15 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html#comment-21456 My problem has been "guesstimating" what size clothes my daughter will be wearing in a future season as I'm shopping ahead. I've found this kids' clothing size chart, with its info on weight and height information as it relates to sizes, to be very helpful: <a href="http://kidstockmontana.com/sizing.html" rel="nofollow">http://kidstockmontana.com/sizing.html</a> My problem has been "guesstimating" what size clothes my daughter will be wearing in a future season as I'm shopping ahead. I've found this kids' clothing size chart, with its info on weight and height information as it relates to sizes, to be very helpful: http://kidstockmontana.com/sizing.html

]]> By: Hester http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html/comment-page-1#comment-21455 Hester Sat, 28 Feb 2009 02:38:12 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html#comment-21455 The XL Ziploc bags are good for brining a turkey too :-) Hes The XL Ziploc bags are good for brining a turkey too :-)
Hes

]]> By: susan http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html/comment-page-1#comment-21454 susan Fri, 27 Feb 2009 23:07:30 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html#comment-21454 I to have bought my kids clothes at second hand stores garage sale ect. I spend 130.00 and bought my son summer and winter clothes lots of name brand stuff. yesterday I saw this youtube video they passed a new law last summer that took effect feb 11 so now alot of thrift stores are trashing all kids clothes. because of the chemicals they used to make them lead on painted tee shirts and lead in snaps here's the link CPSIA- THRIFT STORE stripped of KIDS' ITEMS <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK4XqK8XwQ4&feature=channel_page" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK4XqK8XwQ4&feature=channel_page</a> I to have bought my kids clothes at second hand stores garage sale ect. I spend 130.00 and bought my son summer and winter clothes lots of name brand stuff. yesterday I saw this youtube video they passed a new law last summer that took effect feb 11 so now alot of thrift stores are trashing all kids clothes. because of the chemicals they used to make them lead on painted tee shirts and lead in snaps
here's the link
CPSIA- THRIFT STORE stripped of KIDS' ITEMS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK4XqK8XwQ4&feature=channel_page

]]> By: Carrie http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html/comment-page-1#comment-21453 Carrie Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:12:36 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html#comment-21453 This is one area that I am able to have fun with because children's clothing can be so affordable. Our local huge biannual consignment sale is coming up in the Western Chicago suburbs and I was actually a little sad when I looked at my daughters' clothing stores and saw that they hardly need anything for this summer. No matter -- I need summer maternity clothes so I'll have fun bargain shopping for those. If you do find that all your planning has left a blank spot in your kid's wardrobe, Freecycle can be a big help -- you just send out a message saying, "Anyone have a size 2T girls coat?" And someone probably does. This is one area that I am able to have fun with because children's clothing can be so affordable.
Our local huge biannual consignment sale is coming up in the Western Chicago suburbs and I was actually a little sad when I looked at my daughters' clothing stores and saw that they hardly need anything for this summer. No matter -- I need summer maternity clothes so I'll have fun bargain shopping for those.
If you do find that all your planning has left a blank spot in your kid's wardrobe, Freecycle can be a big help -- you just send out a message saying, "Anyone have a size 2T girls coat?" And someone probably does.

]]> By: LANA http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html/comment-page-1#comment-21452 LANA Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:05:52 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html#comment-21452 Clothing young children isn't the expensive part (or shouldn't be if people take your advice), it's the fashionista teens that will really break the bank even when you can shop at thrift stores and find great stuff...any tips for those guys? Clothing young children isn't the expensive part (or shouldn't be if people take your advice), it's the fashionista teens that will really break the bank even when you can shop at thrift stores and find great stuff...any tips for those guys?

]]> By: Amie http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html/comment-page-1#comment-21451 Amie Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:59:53 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html#comment-21451 I love using ziplock bags as well because you can see what is in there. I find the more kids I have the better I am at knowing which clothes to keep and which ones to throw away. We have so many 0-2yr old clothes for girls I find myself limiting myself to what I can keep for the next child. If it doesn't fit in this bin its out type of mentality which helps cut down on clutter too. Great advice! Amie I love using ziplock bags as well because you can see what is in there. I find the more kids I have the better I am at knowing which clothes to keep and which ones to throw away.

We have so many 0-2yr old clothes for girls I find myself limiting myself to what I can keep for the next child. If it doesn't fit in this bin its out type of mentality which helps cut down on clutter too. Great advice!

Amie

]]> By: Naptime Seamstress http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html/comment-page-1#comment-21450 Naptime Seamstress Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:43:59 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/02/clothing-kids-without-breaking-the-bank.html#comment-21450 Ummm. I meant that I store clothes in the attic. Not food. Sorry. You don't want to hear my excuse!!! Ummm. I meant that I store clothes in the attic. Not food. Sorry. You don't want to hear my excuse!!!

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