Clothe your Kids without Taking the Clothes off your Back

Every season, there is a ritual that many parents participate in with their children. It’s become a necessary burden at this point. Whether it’s the beginning of winter, the start of summer or school is about to start; you have to take your kids clothes shopping. You want them to look nice but buying new apparel for your son or daughter is very expensive. It doesn’t have to be. There are techniques you can use to keep your kids fashionable that won’t break your bank account. Best of all, you won’t have to go out of your way to do them.

It’s important to remember one thing when you are shopping for your child’s clothing; they are children. They don’t need the latest and greatest threads available because they will probably outgrow them in six months anyway. Another thing to remember is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money on shoes. Shoes get outgrown VERY quickly so it’s ok to go cheap and get them something they can abuse.

Let’s talk about where to get your children’s clothes. Try shopping at consignment stores or other discount establishments. They offer great values on clothing and should have a variety of styles for your child. If you want to make some money for your shopping bill, trade in your kids old clothes for cash or store credit! Big box stores such as Target or Wal-Mart also have many great deals on kids apparel. If you want to find alternate places to shop and still save money, they are out there but you have to look. There are many online retailers that offer discounted children fashions. Sites such as Get It Free offer coupons and savings to these retailers too, leaving you with more money in your pocket!

When you are deciding what to buy, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind to get the most use out of your clothes. Since your child will be growing, get them clothes that they will grow in to. Be on the lookout for good quality clothing that will hold up for a while too. If you can’t find this where you are shopping, feel free to sew patches into the knees and elbows of the clothing to reinforce them for longevity.

There’s one other way to save on clothing and it’s a good way to get your friends, neighbors and the rest of your family involved too. Organize a clothing swap and trade clothes with other boys and girls. Your kid gets a new shirt, your friend’s kids get new clothing and you all save a bunch of money! It’s a win-win! You can also do something similar if you have older children by giving your younger son or daughter their sibling’s old shirts or pants. Again, you get new clothes for your younger kids and money saved. If you are feeling particularly artistic and frugal, try making your own clothing. Your son or daughter will have something truly unique to wear to school.

Your child is important to you but that doesn’t mean you have to drain your bank account to keep clothes on their backs. There are many ways you can do it cheaply. If you have an idea or a tip you have used in the past, feel free to leave it in the comments below.