Ever wonder how other moms cloth their children on a budget?
This week, I switched out a few of the kids closets, something I frankly do not enjoy doing. Keeping the kids attractively and appropriately clothed, for the most part, is quite the chore.
Far from the days of perfectly matched outfits and shoes, I am all about “Just Get ‘em Dressed“, you know? Perhaps there’s an eBook that should be written on the subject. :)
Many moms I know have adult sibs who swap clothes with them, passing the back and forth. What a blessing this is! You will ultimately spend very little on clothing for your children with this type of system in place.
While I’ve never been one, I would imagine military wives have many of the same type of “sister” relationships on bases across America. I would love for someone to speak to that.
I have never been privy to these types of relationships. Granted, once in a while I’ll be blessed with a bag of clothes from someone at church but by and large, I’m on my own.
Second hand stores like “Once Upon a Child” have been good to me over the years, but with inflation and a tough economy, my opinion is that they have priced themselves right out of the market. After months of disappointing price increases there, I’ve been shopping elsewhere.
Goodwill is awesome! They are community-based and help create jobs which gets my vote of approval! The prices are great but selection is haphazard. But when I score, I score big.
Yesterday at Goodwill, I got 17 items for $37.73! This included 8 little boys shirts @ $2.19, three little boy shorts @ $2.19, a very nice pair of women’s winter boots barely used for me at $3.99, another pair of play shoes, two pairs of in package socks, one Gold Toe and cabin socks for .99 each. Great deals! Yet, I desperately needed clothes for 9 year-old Meredith and found nothing.
Kohl’s in another great place for kid’s clothes and fabulous sales, although like everyone else, their prices have increased significantly as well. Nonetheless, if you wait for the sales with the Kohl’s Cash rebates and 20-30% coupons, you can do quite well.
Kohl’s had a nice selection of girl’s play tops and shorts 2/$18. Even at $9, I don’t like that price…yeah, I’m cheap. Or maybe it’s just that I remember when the very same shorts and tops were $2.99-$3.99.
Anywho, being a girl, Meredith is a little more concerned about looking nice and I want her to feel good in her clothes. We got 16 darling items for $113.58, which averaged out to $7.09 each, PLUS I walked out with $20 Kohl’s cash.
Garage sales have kept my kids in very nice duds for years, but once again, with gas at $4.15 a gallon here, I limit my garage saling path to about 5 miles.
Clothing swaps really have my interest, although I’ve never seen one organized in my area. This is where moms bring their kid’s gently used clothing to one location. The organizer would sort and organize. On the “Swap” date, all of the moms would “shop” and take whatever they can use. Everything that’s left would go to Goodwill. I love this idea!
Now it’s YOUR turn! How do you save money on clothes for your kiddos?
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About kmorris
I am thankful that I have a close friend and we cloth each other kids. We always shop with “each other” before we head to the store. I also love Kohl’s. I sometimes get great deals/finds at Goodwill too.
Melissa,
Can I be your friend?? JK, I know that we have different genders, but it could be fun otherwise!
Good thing friendship go beyond clothes.
I’ll just take all the glitter off and dye everything blue and then u can use our clothes. 
Melissa,
Thank you very much! The boys won’t mind at all….not.
Where I live (in nc) every church has a preschool, and every preschool has a fall and spring consignment sale to raise money for their schools! You are responsible for tagging and hanging your items to sale and take them to the sale. They keep 40-50% of the money your items sell for, depends on what school and then send you a check for 50-60%! So not only did I buy a lot of great deals at the sales this year (if you are a seller you usually get to go to a presale and then also the last days are always half off!) but I made more money tyhan i spent at the sales this year!
Lauren,
That’s a great idea! I love how different communities and schools do this sort of thing. Thanks for sharing about it!
We have a Just Between Friends sale here twice a year, but same thing, their prices tend to be quite high for used clothing. Haven’t heard of any freebie swaps around here.
We’re military (14 years in) but I don’t know of any swapping in particular that military wives do. Sometimes I do save my 4 YO daughter’s outgrown clothing and find a family at church to offer it to. And once in a while, someone offers us some hand-me-downs, though by and large there isn’t much we can use (my oldest two girls are very slim and tall and I don’t let them wear Hannah Montana or the kind of stuff where their stomachs show). I just got my 10 and 7 YO daughters some summer things at The Children’s Place and Target for similar prices as you’ve mentioned…about 20 pieces for $140.
The other age group I have trouble finding used things for is my 3 YO son. I guess boys that age are hard on clothes and maybe they just don’t last? I’ve bought several items new knowing at least they can hopefully be passed to our 1 YO son at some point.
Hi Cathy,
I agree with you that little girls need to look like little girls, not “hoochie mamas”.
As a mother to 6 sons, I can tell you that not much is left to pass down. I too love The Children’s Place when they have sales. I don’t ever seem to score well at Target, not sure why.
Thanks for commenting, good to hear from you!
We have used our church as a great place to hold a clothing swap. We set a date, everyone brings their stuff, and then we go through it like a big free yard sale. We do baby & household items as well (I scored a BRAND NEW cast iron pan at one!). We also put out a few signs that stated that after a certain time, anyone could come in and look (for free). My heart filled when a single, pregnant woman came in and we were able to give her maternity clothes, a high chair and a bunch of baby clothes. Anything left after a set time went to Goodwill. We’ve done it twice now, and it’s been a huge success both times.
Jillian,
I LOVE that idea!! I MUST organize something like this. Thanks for sharing!
With four daughters, I’m careful to buy well made clothes for my firstborn that will hold up as I pass them down the line. Sometimes cheaper clothes and fabrics only last a season or two. I need clothes to last for several years. This has worked well for me.
Hey Jen,
Yep, I hear you! With four girls right in a row, I would do the same thing. Actually, I have three sons in a row, and I’ve done the same. Works great.
Thanks for commenting!
I had problems borrowing clothes from a sister-in-law; she started claiming some of the things my mother had given me were hers. People sometimes get attached to their baby clothes, so I think it works better if the baby clothes are considered a gift, not a loan. One thing that helped me a lot is sewing. I look for sales on patterns (never buy them full price, JoAnns and Hancock Fabrics have pattern sales all the time.) Fabrics can be bought on sale, with a coupon, at thrift stores, or you can cut down adult size clothes to make clothes for a child. When you child outgrows clothes you can sometimes add a ruffle or cuff to make it longer. It is easy to add a skirt to a shirt for a cute dress.
Hi Vmfisher,
I agree that handed-down clothes need to be a gift, not a loan. I don’t accept anything that someone wants back, too much pressure and I’m doomed to fail.
Great ideas for sewing. It can be a good resource when you find good deals.
Thanks for commenting!
We have a great used clothing store that has decent prices, but the best part is that I can bring clothes in and get credit.
Heather,
It’s great to have someplace like that around! I need to find a locally owned store around here instead of the big name consignment stores.
Hi Spunkydiva,
Praise God for grandmas, eh? Sounds like you’ve got some great clothing sources!
Hi Heather,
Sounds like you’ve got it down! I LOVE clearance racks, especially Kohl’s! I get the best deals!
I also love the idea of the “free yard sale”, more people should do that.
Hi Andi,
Yea for Mom!! Oh, and yes, I’m totally cheap too!
Thanks for commenting!
April,
Like you, I am not able to save much, either the kids wear it out or the next kids are different genders.
Sear’s KidVantage is great, I’ve taken advantage of that program for years. I have found that their prices have gone up significantly, though. Have you?
I know I am joining this party a little late… but I have to put in a plug for Craigslist… I have had several huge scores where moms are selling “lots” of kids clothes. I recently bought over 120 items for $75. You can’t pick and choose but I have found the clothes to be cute and in good condition. Just search for the size– for example girls 2t lot.
Allison,
Craigslist can be a great resource for clothes, thanks for bringing that up!