RoxanneYour monthly expenses exceed your income. What do you do? Look at your budget to see if there’s room for any cuts.
While you can easily cut costs associated with eating out and entertainment, here’s something you cannot cut if you have kids: Their clothes.
What makes it even worse? The fact that kids can grow so fast, they may barely wear those expensive clothes you buy them before they no longer fit.
Yes, kids’ clothes can be expensive, and keeping up with buying new ones constantly can be frustrating. There are ways to make kids’ clothes shopping more affordable, though, so let’s look at how you can cut those costs with a few simple moves:
Buy Used Kids’ Clothes
Do kids want to show up to school in used clothes? Probably not. But if that’s all you can afford with your budget, they’ll have to accept that used clothes are better than no clothes at all.
The obvious advantage of buying used clothes is that you can get them at a deep discount. Where can you find such clothes? If you’re taking the in-person route, local thrift stores are a good place to start. Many often have used clothes in good condition at affordable prices.
Beyond thrift stores, you can also look for local garage sales in your community. They can offer even bigger discounts than thrift stores, although the selection may be smaller.
The Internet is a great place to find used kids’ clothes as well. In fact, you’ll probably have a much easier time what you’re looking for there, as sites like Thredup, Kidizen, Poshmark, etc., are usually loaded with children’s attire.
When shopping for used clothes online, try to buy from online sellers with solid ratings. Also, make sure the listings have several pictures so you can ensure the clothes are in good condition before you buy.
Use Discount Retailers To Find the Best Prices
What’s one of the worst places to take your kids? The mall. Why? Because it usually has designer clothes that are quite expensive, and your kids will likely want those high-priced threads to be the talk of their classmates.
Instead of buying expensive brand names for your kids, opt for cheaper clothes at discount retailers like:
- Target
- Walmart
- T.J. Maxx
- Ross
- Marshalls
- Big Lots
When shopping in these stores, remember these three money-saving tips:
- Look for the clearance rack, which is usually in the back of the store.
- Buy pieces you can mix and match, instead of expensive outfits.
- Look for sales on out of season clothes, but remember to buy a bigger size if your children are still growing.
Get Kids’ Clothes for Free
You may want to exhaust this option before buying any clothes if your budget is very tight. Where can you find free clothes for children? The Facebook Marketplace and the Craigslist free section are great places to start.
Some people want to clean out their homes without worrying about selling their used clothes. They can achieve that goal through those two popular websites.
