There is absolutely no reason to buy brand new clothing for your children at fancy mall stores or department stores. Instead, check out used clothing and discount stores to keep your child well-dressed on the cheap.
Children’s clothes might as well be disposable. After all, if they aren’t ripping a hole in the knee of an expensive new pair of jeans, they are growing so fast that those jeans are looking more like shorts. The key to buying kids clothes without going under financially is to shop on the cheap, without making your child look like an orphan in a Charles Dickens novel.
Garage Sales
Garage sales, yard sales, rummage sales… whatever you call them, they can be a great place to buy nice-looking, inexpensive clothing for children. Most people who sell clothing at a garage sale will sort it by size, making it easier for you to shop. The clothing is usually washed. Many people use garage sales to sell communion dresses and other fancy clothing that has only been worn once. As for the price, it usually can’t be beat; anywhere from a quarter to a dollar per item of clothing is standard. You can even barter with the garage sale owner if you are buying more than a few pieces of clothing. For example, if clothing is a quarter per piece, and you are buying five pieces, offer a dollar. Odds are your offer will be accepted.
Unfortunately garage sale clothing has its downside too. They usually feature clothing for babies, toddlers and preschoolers, so older children are out of luck. And garage sale shoes for children are a no-no, unless you are buying dress or novelty shoes that won’t be worn too often. Especially in the case of sneakers, shoes take on the shape of the previous owner’s foot, and are not likely to be comfortable for another children.
Look over garage sale clothing carefully before buying it. Keep an eye out for missing buttons, stains, rips and items that obviously have not been washed. These are all bargaining chips for getting the garage sale organizer to lower his or her price.