Affordable Ways to Update Your Kids’ Wardrobe

It seems like a regular weekday morning. You wake your kids, lay out their clothes and get their breakfast started. Everything is going along as planned when you hear those dreaded words. “Mom, these pants don’t fit me,” or “My shoes are pinching my feet.” You find yourself asking how the clothes that fit two days ago just won’t give another inch today.

Most moms on a budget get as much wear as they can out of their kids clothes. If the pants start getting shorter or tighter, you look at the calendar to see how long your kid may be able to get by until the season changes. Here are some ideas for updating the wardrobe when your kid is ready but your budget may not be.

Consignment

There are two major benefits to consignment shops for kids clothes. You can find high quality, brand named clothing at extremely cheap prices, and you can sell the clothes your children have grown out of at the same time. At many consignment shops, you’ll actually get more for the clothes you are selling if you opt for store credit instead of cash. These places sell like-new clothing. Chances are your kids (or anybody else) won’t know the difference. Here are some links for consignment shops and sales in the Dallas area:

  

Kid to Kid (multiple cities in Dallas area)

Sister’s Closet (Lake Highlands)

Cutie Patootie Resale for Kids (Frisco)

Once Upon a Child (multiple cities in the Dallas area)

Kids Consignment Sales (lists multiple seasonal sales in various cities)

Ebay and garage sales are two other options that can yield fabulous savings on new and gently used kids clothes.

E-mail Savings

Signing up to receive e-mails from your favorite kids clothing stores is an ideal way to get secret sale codes and special coupons for VIP customers only. Stack those savings onto already reduced prices whenever possible. Old Navy, Kohls, Crazy8.com and Children’s Place are just a few of the many places where you can use coupons on sale merchandise. Stores like Ross, TJ Maxx and Marshalls sell brand new, brand named clothing at discount prices.

There’s also a special website called shopittome.com. Sign up on this sight by plugging in the exact criteria you’re looking for (i.e. boys clothes, size 7). Sometimes you can even choose specific stores. When there’s a sale that matches your criteria, you’ll receive an e-mail with pictures of specific items that specific stores have on sale.

Clothing Swap

Organize a clothing swap at your house. Invite other moms of all age kids to your home, ask them to bring seasonal clothing in a variety of sizes and let the swapping begin. It’s similar to a cookie exchange or book swap. You’re just adapting the idea for your own needs.

Kids grow out of their clothing so fast that it almost seems like a crime to spend a lot of money on new ones. With these tips, you shouldn’t have to.