Kids can be expensive. The average family spends more than $1,700 on clothes every year — a figure that only goes up if you have more than two kids or you have children who play sports. For the typical family, back-to-school spending alone tops $650!
Being frugal while shopping for clothes doesn’t mean your kids need to wear generic, poorly-fitted, or out-of-style clothes; you can keep your kids in name-brand shoes and clothes without breaking the bank. Here are some easy frugal habits that can improve your personal finances year-round.
#1. Set up a kids clothing swap
Swapping outgrown clothes with other moms is an easy way to get a new wardrobe for your kids without a trip to the store. A clothing swap can also be a fun night out with friends. Clothing swaps usually last for a few hours and allow a group of moms to bring in freshly laundered kids clothing in good condition. These swaps can take place at a community center, church, or a friend’s house with invitations to any mom in the area or a group of friends.
If you want to organize your own swap, invite about 10-15 people and ask everyone to bring at least 10 items and a dish or drink to share. Label empty bins with gender, size, or the type of clothing and ask guests to sort their own clothing as they arrive. Guests can mingle and enjoy the treats while taking home as many items as they need.
#2. Ask for clothing as gifts
Do your kids get tons of toys from friends and relatives on Christmas and their birthdays? Try asking family to gift clothing instead of toys. When the grandparents ask for a list for Christmas this year, put a coat or a new pair of shoes on the list.
#3. Hit the yard sales
Yard sales are a great destination for gently used kids clothing at rock-bottom prices. Baby and toddler clothes tend to be the easiest to find, but look for yard sales in the Pennsyaver that advertise kids items. This is an easy and affordable way to pick up name-brand clothing, sometimes with tags still attached.
#4. Try consignment stores
Consignment stores, including online stores, offer children’s clothing with a focus on quality. Consignment stores generally have very high standards on what they expect in terms of brand, age, and condition. They also tend to offer great seasonal sales that allow you to fill a bag of clothes for around $10. You can even sell your clothes back at the end of the season to recover some money.
#5. Check out the auction sites
Auction sites have a bit of everything, including lots of clothing. It’s easy to find a huge selection of kids clothes at good prices if you’re willing to buy a large lot of clothes and take a risk. When shopping auctions, it pays to calculate the cost per item. Sometimes you can get a great deal and snag a lot of gently used high-end brands for less than $1 per piece. In general, the larger the lot of clothes, the better the deal. Don’t forget to consider any shipping costs!
#6. Shop the season-end clearance
Want to save on clothes? Buy a size larger when the season’s stock goes on clearance. For example, buy spring clothes when they go on sale toward summer and fall and go a size up, getting 4T clothes for your three-year-old. Department stores put clearance items at great prices and, when combined with coupons and cash back offers, you can even get items for free. Stores even begin getting rid of seasonal items before the season is even over so you can snag a great deal on slightly-too-big winter coats they can wear for a month or two this year and again next year.
#7. Have the kids share some basics
While you don’t need to be extreme, even boys and girls can share some basics like snow pants, jackets, hoodies, and gloves. Instead of buying two sets of everything, buy these essential but high-dollar purchases in neutral colors like black and brown so they can be passed down to a younger sibling.
#8. Go cheap on play clothes
It doesn’t take long as a new parent to learn that kids have a way of destroying clothes — fast. Those new $60 shoes you just bought? A weekend of riding bikes and playing at the park will make them look about ten years old with ripped shoelaces and tread worn away. Focus on separating your kids’ school and play clothes and be willing to go cheap for discounted graphic tees, flip flops, and shorts for the summer.
#9. Sell unneeded kids’ clothes
When your kids outgrow their clothes or just don’t wear them, put some money back in your clothes fund by selling them. You can sell kids clothes through auction sites, at a garage sale, or to popular online consignment stores, which offer a decent payout for brand-name and popular items that are recent and in good condition. Online clothes buyers are like an online consignment shop and give you a payout per item based on what they will list the item for in their store.
#10. Shopping online? Search for discounts first
You can save a ton of money by buying your kids clothes online when you stack discounts and coupons. Start by looking for discount codes you can use through sites that compile discount offers. Depending on the store, you can save anywhere from 5% to 30% off your purchase price and/or get free shipping. Next, check if the store offers cash back through through savings sites. These sites give you cash back of 1% to 30% or more when you use their referral link to shop online. In many cases, you can combine savings through cash back sites with discount codes. Finally, be sure to check the store’s clearance section to look for bargains.
