Since my boys are currently 5 and 2, it's usually pretty easy to purchase most of their clothes from garage sales, thrift stores, and resale shops. However, there are always a few things that are harder to find. For me, it's winter gear, such as coats and snow pants. To make sure that I'm not paying full price, I purchase those items when they are on clearance at the end of the season.
Although it sure doesn't feel like winter is ending anytime soon (here, anyway), I started keeping an eye out for clearanced winter gear about a week ago. On Wednesday, I hit the jackpot at Meijer. I found a winter coat and snow pants for 75% off for my 5 year old next winter. The coat is really nice with double layers, and it retailed for $59.99...I paid $14.99. The pants were $19.99, and I got them for $4.99. I bought the size that I thought my son would be wearing next year, and then I made him try it on when he got home from school to make sure that it had some room to grow into.
How do you save money on clothes? Have you found any good clearance clothes deals lately? For more frugal ideas, visit Biblical Womanhood.
Latte
Don'tcha just LOVE clearance isles! This is the only way we buy our clothes. We usually hit Kohls just before the end of a season and never pay much more than 2-3 dollars for each item and 10-15 dollars for shoes. We do hit other stores like Sears (great for coats) and Old Navy! This also helps with resale because those name brands fly out of my house during yard sales!
I love your blog and I am going to add your button to my ToFF (The organic Frugal Freak) blog!
Well stay frugal,
Latte
Tonya
I do the exact same thing. I used to keep totes labeled with future sizes...now my daughter has drawers under bed so I store all the future clothes there.
Kohls had a great clearance sale after Christmas. I got my 2 year old sweaters for 90% and then another 10% off cause it was power hours or whatever. I bought whatever sizes I could find. I got 4 sweaters around 2 bucks each. On another day at Kohls, I got a bunch of long sleeve t-shirts, sweatshirts and even summer tank tops for my daughter ranging from 80 cents to $3.80 with the average being $1.60. I bought everything I could find in as many sizes.
I have been lucky to find yardsales and thrift stores for my kids winter gear. Since we always have a lot kids around, I stock up on various sizes and keep them in a tote in my attic. I have paid .25 for them at yardsales...you can't beat that. I do the same with ice skates cause they are so expensive, but at yardsales I can get them dirt cheap. It's awesome.
I think I might track how much I spend this year on my kids just to see.
Meshellyn
We do this too. Basically I can not imagine paying full price for any of my daughter's clothes because I shouldn't have to! There are such great deals at the end of the season (or mid season as you pointed out). I just have a tote in her closet that I put things into and go through at the beginning of each season and wash and hang up. The Children's Place monster sale is always a good one, and Target and Carters have been good to us in the past!