While yard sales and clothing exchanges might work well for your babies and young children, it is hard to score free or cheap stuff for the older kids. Often, clothes wear out before they can get passed down to you or the trends change and your teen wouldn’t be caught dead wearing something from five years ago.
Still, you can’t afford (or don’t want to afford) spending hundred and hundreds of dollars a year on clothes for your teens and tweens. Saving money just takes a little knowledge and information. Here are some ideas on how you can save money and still make your kids happy, all while building them a great wardrobe.
Shop the Better Discount Stores
You can get great clothes by trendy designers at half the cost if you do your shopping at the better discount stores. for example, Marshall,s TJ Maxx and Ross all have good deals on popular styles.
Shop the Outlet Stores
You can also get some very nice deals when you shop the outlet stores. Timing is everything. If you want the best selection, you’ll have to arrive early in the season, but it will be worth it. Most of the time, you will find the exact same items that are in the regular retail stores, but at a deep discount. Make sure to check any items over carefully, if they are marked “irregular.”
Shop the Consignment Stores
Whether it is a national chain store or a private shop, consignment shops can be great resources especially when it comes to teen clothing. Although the items are used, more consignment stores have strict rules on condition. They also make sure that the items they carry are classic or fit in with current trends. You won’t find stuffy old grandmother clothing at the good consignment stores, and it can be fun for teens to put together their own style from the various treasures to be found.