Any tips/tricks on clothing the kids?

Question

Does anyone have any tips on where I can locate used but nice clothing that won't send me into debt? I went to a resale shop/boutique in my area (Peoria, IL) and it was unbelievable how much they were asking! Like 7.50 for a pair of used Old Navy jeans in a size 12mos.

If it makes a difference I have a 5 year old and a 4 month old. I posted this question in the grade school area because I thought it might be better to ask some people who have had kids in school a little longer than I have.

Specialist-- I don't have money to buy clothing full price at the stores, how would I have money to vacation overseas with two kids? Thanks anyway, though.

Answer 1

There is a HUGE community sale here twice a year. ALL they sell is maternity, kids clothes, kids toys, bikes and baby gear. One gymnasium full of clothing sorted by size and sex and another full of all the other stuff. I get GREAT deals there every time AND make a couple of hundred dollars selling off our used stuff. I'd suggest you try to find out if there is anything like that in your community.

Answer 2

Find one of those thrift shops where the proceeds go to a charity. They usually are cheapest. And no, $7.50 IS NOT a good price on jeans, unless it is just very important to ou to have designer ones. You can buy a pair brand new at WalMart for less, and they go through them too quickly to pay so much, except for something special. Also, with the consignment shops, you may have to check around- try your yellow pages- some are ridiculously high. There is a great one here that we buy from, but even the best sometimes mark too high- based on what they are told the item costed new. The once had the same toy box we had bought new and for the same price! I pointed it out to the shop owner and she fixed the price. If something is too high don't be ashamed to haggle. If you are a member of a church, they often have 'chains', where someone with a child a little bigger than yours passes clothes to you, and you pass clothes to someone with a child a little smaller than yours. And don't forget to buy things for next year on clearance at the end of the season. Incidentally, I think even Goodwill (who I consider to be ridiculously high) only charged 3 bucks for a pair of baby jeans.

Answer 3

Depending on where you live, Goodwill and Salvation Army stores have great bargains as most kids outgrow their clothes before they outwear them. At some locations, they get items from retail stores that didn't sell on clearance and are brand new and still have the original price tags on them. Some Salvation Army Stores have a 1/2 price day and you get 1/2 of the sticker price. I got my son' school wardrobe this year for under $30.

Although it is getting a little late in the season, garage sales are a gold mine for children's clothing cheaply.

You could also try Freecycle under Yahoo groups and sign up for the group in your community. People in your community can post items that the need as a "Want" and things that they don't need anymore and want to get rid of a a "Need".

Answer 4

I am a bargain shopper, and not at stores, just at the local city mission or goodwills... I always do yard sales too.. I find Limited Too, Old Navy and other brands too there at those places.. never ever have I had to pay full price for anything... I also do alot of shopping on Ebay... You could also become a member of your local freecycle too and you may find some... you can't beat used excellent clothing!!

Answer 5

You can also buy individual pieces of clothing on ebay. I just bought my daughter Old Navy jeans for $4 and paid $2 S&H. You can ask the clerks at stores when they have their end of season clearance sales. Sometimes the prices are cheaper than thrift shops and it's brand new! My opinion is that Target and Old Navy have the best clearance sales.

Answer 6

Goodwill, DAV, Salvation Army stores, Garage sales. If child is old enough to give you guff about used clothing, begin teaching the value of a dollar. For $50.00 at goodwill you can get ALOT more items than "the mall." And cute stuff at that. Hello! Illinois. I grew up in Galva, Illinois. I'm coming to you through this tachnology from Wichita, KS. since 1981.

Answer 7

With 3 girls,9, 3, and 5 mo., we have limited clothing budget. Sometimes you can find inexpensive clothes on ebay. Try sale/clearence at department stores. Try a goodwill store. My family bought almost all clothes for the first. I was blessed to use hand me downs for the others. Friends gave too! I have to say, here lately if it not on sale we don't get it. Hope it helps! Good luck finding what you need.

Answer 8

If you can afford large lumps at once ebay is a really good place to buy "lots." You can walk away with a lot for about .50 per piece of clothing.

Yard sales are good as well. Also look online for a "swap and shop" childrens clothing group. It's generally a bunch of ladies who get together for the sole purpose of swaping/selling/buying used clothes.

Answer 9

Y! Groups has a great area for find inexpensive to free items, including clothing. It's called "freecycle" and "cheapcycle". Just type in either of those in the Y! Groups search. Then you find the one closest to your area and join up. You can then review all the posts and find people listing clothing for kids. It's an awesome area.

Good luck!!

Answer 10

garage sale, GoodWill Stores...we used to buy my sd's clothes at Goodwill because she was growing out of them so fast!! If you take your time and look you can sometimes find brand new stuff straight from the stores! I've found stuff from Target with the tags still on. Go early in the morning and search search search! Good luck I know how expensive kids clothes can be!!!