It is that time of year again. I’ve been talking about swapping out the seasonal clothing for my family. When do you do your swap? If you missed the first part of this series, click here: Swapping Out Seasonal Clothing. Now, let’s continue.
Winter jacket and snowsuits are done separately from regular clothing. I usually make that a family affair, with everyone trying on different items to see what will work for them. Anything that is too small for the youngest or my only girl gets set aside to be donated.
When I get back to the drawers, I sort everything by type and sometimes by material. So jeans may share one third of the drawer, with khakis on the other side and corduroy pants in the middle. Any outfits that can be put together, or one-piece outfits get their own drawer. This helps when my two-year-old wants to pick his own outfit or even when my husband needs to grab a change of clothes for our little boy. Being organized in the beginning really helps later.
If I find myself short on a particular item, I can choose to make due without it, put it on the list to find or purchase, or try to get by with an item from the previous size that runs a bit larger. I scout out yard sales, thrift stores and friends for clothing items throughout the year. Usually I have plenty of clothing left over and have to choose the most appropriate things from my lot.
Anything clothing that was deemed to small gets put into large shopping bags in preparation for donation to a local charity. If I know a mom that might need that particular size and season, I will contact her and ask. Another option could be to sell the clothing or Ebay or Craigslist, although I usually choose donation.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog and caring for little ones in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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