In case you didn’t already know: Kids are EXPENSIVE! There are so many things you have to buy and it seems like every time you blink they need new clothing, new shoes, etc. Either they outgrow them or wear them out. Can we talk about holes in the knees? - How does that happen so quick?
Even if you are only buying the essentials, buying children's clothing can be a huge hit to your finances if you aren’t careful. Looking to ease some of the cost associated with buying children’s clothing? Here is how I save my family money when purchasing clothes for my kids…
Always check the clearance rack! - Read that again.
One of the easiest ways to cut down on the cost of kids' clothing is to purchase items on clearance. This is especially true for things like winter coats that tend to be more pricey. Use the end of season discounts to stock up on items for the next year. The only time I have had an issue with purchasing things in advance and not being sure of sizing is when I am purchasing jeans for my kids. Jeans are usually a little more difficult to predict what size will be needed depending on growth spurts, so I typically wait and buy jeans when the time to wear them comes around.
Look for stores with reward programs.
Stores like Carters, The Children's Place, and Old Navy are all known for their children’s clothing and have pretty great rewards programs. All of these stores reward you for your purchases by giving you points that can be redeemed for store credit. These rewards are especially helpful if you are buying for multiple children. I highly suggest signing up for their rewards programs and email promotions. Yes, they will send you frequent emails. While some people may find it annoying, if you are really wanting to take advantage of savings, the emails are a great way to keep up with points and be notified of sales and promotions. If you’re worried about cluttering up your inbox, you could always create a secondary email address to send the promotional emails to.
Take Advantage of Clothing Resale Shops and Garage Sales
If you are fortunate enough to live in an area close to a Once Upon a Child store, take my advice - GO! If not, be sure to search your area for second hand children's clothing stores and check them out. This was honestly the easiest way for me to save money on clothes for my kids. I know some of you are already thinking, “ew they’re used/dirty/old/stained/etc.” But I can tell you, in my experience that was not the case. In fact, most of the items that I was able to find at second hand stores still had tags on them for a quarter of the price retail stores would sell them for. An added bonus is most of these stores allow you to sell your gently used clothing to them for cash or store credit.
Garage sales are another great way to save if you are up for the hunt. You could also take advantage of garage sale pages in your area on Facebook. It isn’t uncommon for other moms to sell bundles or sets of clothing for huge discounts on Facebook groups. Some even offer items for free to those in need. - Just remember to be cautious and safe if meeting someone you don’t know.
Buy Items That Are Versatile
Sticking with neutral colors and solids are a great way to mix and match outfits. These items never go out of style and if you also stick with gender neutral colors you can piggyback on savings by passing these items down to younger siblings.
With our first born, my husband and I knew we wanted more kids, so we made a conscious effort to purchase items such as our crib, carseat, and stroller in gender neutral colors. I wish I would have known then to make those same gender neutral decisions when it came to buying clothing. It would have saved us a fortune 14 months later when our second child was born. Hindsight is 20/20, and I’m still learning.
Think About How Much Clothing Your Child Actually Needs
We all go a little crazy from time to time when buying clothes for our kids, but over buying is also overspending, and if you are trying to cut costs, overspending on seasonal clothing is a big no-no. Consider what items are realistically needed. Your child doesn’t need 12 different outfits every season. Unfortunately this was another lesson I learned from doing things the wrong way. Aim for 6-7 outfits that can be mixed and matched to change up looks.
Stay Organized
I’ll be honest, there have been more times than I’d like to admit that I thought my kids were in need of more clothes only to find jeans and t-shirts stuffed on the sides of their beds or in the corner of their closets after I purchased more. Lost socks and underwear? Yeah, the closet and under/beside the bed are the best places to find those hidden gems too.
Try to keep a relatively organized closet and dresser. This is not only a good way for you to keep inventory of what your child has and needs, but it is also a great way to teach your child organizational life skills.
Comment below with any tips or tricks you have found helpful with saving money on your kid’s clothing.
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