Comments on: Clothing Kids Without Breaking the Bank: Part 2

By: Clothing Kids Without Breaking the Bank | Keeper of the Home

Clothing Kids Without Breaking the Bank | Keeper of the Home — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:40:02 +0000

[...] Part 2 Part 3 [...]

By: wholesale kid's clothing

wholesale kid's clothing — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 05:24:50 +0000

thanks for sharing this post very interesting..especially the place where to shop.garage sales, kids swap meets, thrift stores and occasionally clearance retail sales.I aready know the garage because my mom always went to garage sales to buy some clothes of mine when i was child. nice entry keep posting!

-altheya-

By: Chicky Mama

Chicky Mama — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 04:20:01 +0000

What a timely series for me! I've been sorting through my kids' clothes and paring down over the past few days since we have too much and posted on my own blog about how much to keep.

I'm a shop ahead type, too, scouring end-of-season clearance for next year's clothes, but my best buys have been from Craigslist lots. It's been fantastic for getting items in one size, generally in outfits, for very little money. I rarely spend more than $1 per piece and often as little as $.25 per piece. The kids wear the clothes and then I relist them for $1 per piece, essentially clothing them for free.

(I have one girl and one boy, so I'm not keeping clothes to hand down to the next kid.)

By: Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:50:43 +0000

I rarely buy new clothes for me kids, but here is how they get clothed: 1. gifts from grandparents (which are nice b/c they often include Please Mum and Children's Place), 2. Goodwill - the color tags on sale change each week so I try to go on Monday to find the 75% off stuff, but I will buy at full thrift prices for good brands and great condition, 3. Our church has a FREE exchange twice a year where folks bring in their excess and the congregation and community come to shop for free (this is such a blessing!), 4. hand-me-downs when they are offered, 5. retail clearance at 75-90% off or slightly more if the item comes from a place like Lands' End with excellent guarantees - sometimes as a gift from us for their birthday, 6. trying to get to more garage sales this summer than I have in the past.

When I am the one choosing the clothing (i.e. not gifts), I try to select some basic items that could go through several kids and are good for both boys and girls, like khaki or navy pants, jeans without embellishment, coats in navy or green that could be paired with scarves and hats that will be more gender specific. I also don't like them to have too many in any one size because I find I actually stay on top of laundry better when there is less in the rotation. Oh, and I never buy items of clothing with characters just as a matter of personal preferrence and because I don't think they mix and match as well as plain items.

By: Audrey

Audrey — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:12:04 +0000

My mom and I go garage saling all summer every summer, and if you go to the right neighborhoods, you can get some reeeeeeeally nice stuff, for your kids and yourself!

Also, I LOVE Value Village!!!! It's like the Nordstrom of thrift stores.... and it's sooo cheap!

By: Sheri

Sheri — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:33:05 +0000

I like to shop the clearance racks, mostly at Target. I also shop at garage sales and Once Upon A Child. OUAC has higher prices, but it is good if you are in a pinch. I recently discovered a consignment sale called Just Between Friends. They have sales in various states in the US. You pay a few dollars to get in, but they usually waive the fee on the last day and also have everything 50% off on the last day. Things go fast on the last day though! They not only have clothes, but also everything baby/kid (furniture, toys, books, strollers, play gyms, etc.) They are only in the US, but your reader's can check and see if there is one near them at jbfsale.com.

By: Beth

Beth — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:26:51 +0000

Not having much luck with our local thrift stores. They are not very clean and they don't have a lot of kids clothes.

I do have to admit though that I LOVE to shop at our local outlet mall. They have Carters, Childrens Place, Gap etc and I can find new clothes there for the same price that the local thrift store is selling them for, $2-4.

I am excited for garage sale season start soon! I am hoping to find some good deals!

I also shop on eBay. I just found a winter jacket for next for my son from Lands End NEW extreme squall jacket for $10!!! I was SO psyched!

I LOVE saving money anyway I can...it certainly helps our financial situation but it is also a game..LOVE it! Thanks for all your good ideas!

By: Jennifer C.

Jennifer C. — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:59:23 +0000

I never reject anything anyone gives me as far as hand-me-downs. I usually search through and weed out the out of style or very worn clothes and keep the rest. But I think if you willing accept stuff, then the "giver" is more likely to keep you in mind for more stuff as their children grow. I also like garage sales. Occasionally, I'll find someone desperate to clear out their clothes. I found one lady who told me to fill a grocery bag for $1. They aren't always the "best" clothes, but great play clothes and fill ins. It's nice to have a few nicer outfits the kids can wear to special occasions or church and I'm willing to pay more for those. I saw the last poster commented on used shoes. I try to buy only used shoes that aren't worn much for much the same reason b/c I don't want them to have foot problems due to badly fitting shoes. Plus, my daughter has wide feet like my husband, so I think it's necessary to have those fitted properly. I probably spend more on my kids shoes than other areas but b/c I save in other ways, I think it's ok. But again, even at yard sales you can find a pair now and then that are barely worn.

By: Gabrielle

Gabrielle — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:56:56 +0000

Great ideas here! I love looking in the clearance sections- especially at The Gap. You can definitely get some great buys. I bought my daughter a dress for her dedication for $5 there. And it had beautiful details on it.

I do have a question regarding shoes. I remember reading somewhere that it is not a good idea to pass on shoes because they mold to the feet of the one who is wearing them. Do you have any thoughts on this? I guess it is probably OK for shoes that are only worn occasionally.

Thanks again for the information!

By: Sandi

Sandi — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:27:32 +0000

I went to the last Kids Swap and found sweat pants for Ike and the next size up sleepers for Eli and a birthday present for Journey (kids cook book like new) all for great prices. I also found a local girl who carries my prefered diaper wraps. I love buying locally when possible.

The other really good deals I have found for my own clothes and the kids is Old Navy when they do clearance on their clearance. It is the same or cheaper then thrift stores and it's new. I bought a few pair of jeans for me, a hoodie and long sleeve T's for my son, and a few sweaters for Journey. I think we spent $35. Often it is the end of a season stuff they are selling. I just buy big and then use it next year too. Like Carey said, I have a harder time finding all I need at a kids swap with having a very slim 8 yr old and very tall 5 year old (who wears size 8 tops)

Last year I bought all my maternity clothes @ (Guilford)Old Navy. I paid an average of $5 per pair of jeans and tops. I will Craig's List these and easily get back what I paid. I simply check regularly for their sales. I also have friends who let me know when they hear about it themselves.

I agree about the thrift store prices here.