Children grow so quickly that it seems they need new clothes every time their parents turn around. As a result, it can often get expensive to keep children dressed, and saving money on clothes for children can actually seem like the impossible dream. Fortunately, however, with a little bit of advance planning and smart shopping, you can actually save money on clothes for your children, and still manage to keep them in style.
The first thing that you need to do is to know what they need. Keep a running inventory of what fits your children well, so that you always know what they already have on hand, and by doing this, you will also know what they need. Keep a list with you at all times, even if it’s only a mental list so that you will be able to pick up those things that they need when you see them on sale.
It is also necessary to keep your children with a classic wardrobe as much as possible when you are trying to save money. Look for the types of clothing that never go out of style like jeans, t-shirts, and other types of clothing that tend to stay in style from year to year. While it is fine to buy a couple of trendy pieces here and there, keeping your kids in more classic styles will allow you to buy a few sizes ahead when they go on sale for the best prices.
Watch for clearance sales, as these will save you the maximum amount of money. In fact, stores like Kohl’s, JCPenney’s and Stein Mart will often send coupons in the mail that are good for an additional percentage off those things that are already on clearance sales. They also give away gift certificates for spending a certain amount. Take advantage of these offers, because they can save a great deal of money. You can often get cute outfits that might otherwise cost a fortune for a fraction of the cost. Clearance sales often start in the middle of the season, so you may be able to get great deals by waiting until that time.
Buy clothes that are too big. Even if your child’s current wardrobe is just fine, you can start buying a few sizes ahead when you see things on sale. This will save you money in the long run. You can even do this with shoes when you see the “BOGO” sales at places like Payless shoe stores. Buy one pair of shoes in your child’s current size, and buy one in the next size up. This can save a bundle of money in the long run, because even though there will be more of these sales, the base prices often go up, meaning you may not save as much later.
These are just a few of the ways you can shrink your budget while your kids are still growing. They may continue to grow, but you will not go broke if you plan your budget carefully, and plan their wardrobes. As for those trendy pieces, buy them while they are on sale and use them as accents to the more traditional pieces. This way, you are still saving money, but your kids are in style.