Clothes shopping for kids -budget stores

[mousefanmichelle]

I am hoping you all can give me some good budget tips on shopping for my kids. I usually go to Kohls and get their clothes but I am just not finding that bargin there anymore. I need to keep this to about $100 per kid and they need jeans and shirts. I just don't know where to shop besides Kolhs and I need to get the most bang for my buck.

Our house hold budget is tight and I am getting a bonus from work since we haven't gotten a raise in 2 yrs they decided to give us a bonus for a job well done. So my bonus is going for clothes (as you can see it's not a big bonus at all but something is better than nothing right!)

I have 3 kids ( oldest 2 are boys 16 & 14 and my 3rd is a girl -almost 12yrs) Where can I take them shopping to get good deals and decent clothes that will last them. They need jeans and shirts, sweatshirts.


TIA!
Michelle

 

[alyssa810]

I'm a fan of Old Navy, but my DS is little and grows out of stuff super fast. Sometimes the quality of ON isn't quite...up to par, but I also try to stick with clearance items so I'm not paying that much. That being said, I'm a big fan of the clearance rack at places like the Gap, and even Macy's or JC Penney. Do you have any TJ Maxx or Marshalls near you? Those are my absolute favorite places to bargain shop for kids' clothes.

 

[DebMcDonald]

I think Old Navy is another good idea, and if you apply for the credit card you can take an additional 20% off at times which will stretch the budget. Right now Kohl's has the % off sale, if you shop on line, you can use the 30% off code. Unfortunately I feel when the kids get to the next stage above the 6X the clothes are almost double the price.

 

[bjscheel]

Well, thrift stores (can be hit or miss), and eBay...I just sold DD's 14 slim jeans. The buyer got 9 pairs of jeans for $33 delivered to her house. Great for her, great for me, because I didn't pay much more than that at thrift stores before she wore them.

I do a lot of thrifting and consignment shops and garage sales, but now DD is wearing 16 slim and I am having to buy new mostly. Gap is having 30% off online through today. Over the weekend Justice had 40% off entire store, everybody was having sales when we shopped.

 

[Dr.Girlfriend]

I honestly mainly shop at Goodwill. But no one in real life (aside from my family) knows this It takes a little time but I find really good bargains at my local Goodwills. I also think Target sends all of their surplus items (including clothes) to Goodwill nationwide.

For instance, today I'm wearing an Express button up business shirt and a black Merona skirt. The Express shirt retails for $29.99 and the skirt retails for $19.99. I paid $3 total together.

The kids get almost all of their clothes from there and Once Upon a Child. If the stuff looks brand new, I buy it. And a lot of the time at both OUAC and Goodwill I find brand new stuff with the original price tag still attached.

 

[ChristaDeVil]

We're a big Kohl's family, but I understand where you are coming from. I get a lot of my son's clothing at TJ Maxx, but it isn't always consistent. I order all of his jeans from Old Navy, and I'm always able to find some kind of discount code for ON. Honestly, I get a lot of his clothing from Wal-Mart and Target.

 

[Princess Nancy]

Someone mentioned Once Upon a Child, but you will do better if you go to Plato's Closet!

My girls LOVE getting their Jeans there. I pay anywhere from $7 to $19 a pair. The more expensive ones are from Abercrombie and Hollister.

They like getting them there because they are already washed!

Good Luck!

 

[tlbwriter]

Another vote for Plato's Closet, but be prepared to spend an entire afternoon there. It takes forever to plow through the clothing, and there are never enough dressing rooms.

 

[marcemc]

Target is a great option. I love shopping at Oshkosh B'gosh when the stuff goes on sale, their quality in my opinion is the best.

 

[mousefanmichelle]

I was thinking an outlet mall - We have Tanger or whatever here and I just don't know if those stores have good deals or not. I went into the Justice store there and the prices seemed the same as at the regular Justice store. I didn't know if the rest of the stores are like that or not. Any opinions?

Does Plato's Closet have kids clothes - I thought it was more adult clothes. My dd is wearing a size 10 reg, my 16 yr old wears 32/33 waist and my 14 yr old wears 14 slim.

Thanks so far for the replies! Keep um coming!!!!

 

[HS3kids]

I like JCPenney, but their sales can be hit or miss too. Target and Walmart can have some good deals as well. Check online for clearance sales, I do most of my shopping via clearance for the best savings.

 

[Dr.Girlfriend]

Oh, I didn't realize you had older children when I recommended Once Upon a Child. I have a 9 yr old and a 2 yr old and they fit in those ranges of clothing.

 

[tlbwriter]

Does Plato's Closet have kids clothes - I thought it was more adult clothes. My dd is wearing a size 10 reg, my 16 yr old wears 32/33 waist and my 14 yr old wears 14 slim.

Plato's Closet has "teen clothes." They may not have anything to fit your daughter yet, but there would probably be plenty for the boys.

 

[gonesaleing]

Whatever you call it, it's the only way to shop. I buy everything at them and I spend pennies on the dollar. My kids are both teenagers now and they often come with me.

Strategy - go out early but not too early. Get there at 8 am and have lots of small change.
Tactics - haggle if you feel comfortable and be ready to walk away if something is too expensive. Always look at labels and know your sizes. Always wash everything immediately upon getting it home. Put away items if they are for the wrong season.

Here are some of my most recent finds.
3 jackets from my son/husband - 1 leather Hugo Boss, one suede Gap and one Banana Republic. Each cost $5. Cost me more to have them cleaned.
Ugg boots, size 7 - $1
4 Lucky shirts for my daughter - $2 each
Jeans - $1 each. 3 pair fit my daughter, 1 pair she didn't like.
3 underarmour shirts - $1 each.
Assorted dvd/cds/books - saving for Christmas presents- $1/$1/25 cents each.
Longchamps (French) handbag- $5
Vera Bradley mini purse, brand new- $3
Cocktail dress with sequins for daughter to wear to homecoming dance, still in plastic from dry cleaners - $5. Fits her perfectly.
Longaberger basket (I collect them) - Wine basket plus plastic plus fabric insert - 50 cents.
Navy blue blazer for my son's first Holy Communion - $3.
I could go on and on.

You have to be the right kind of person to shop the way I do. I love the hunt and not knowing what I might find.

We do buy retail when we need to and I don't resent having to overspend when necessary as I save so much at other times.

 

[QVCshopper]

It takes time, but Goodwill and tag sales. I sent my DD5 to school today in $2.50 Lands End pants with a matching .25 Lands End shirt (found at different places). She has a nearly all LE and Gymboree wardrobe, picked up mostly second hand.

I do splurge of Gymboree once in a while; they have some surprising deals, like $3 shirts and $4 shorts. You just have to be patient and buy out of season.

Also, Sears Lands End marks their stuff way down at the end of the season. I've done well there. And Target if it's super cheap, like the $2.50 bathing suits yesterday.

 

[SaraJayne]

Yard sales may work for some (depending on location) but here, all of our yard sales are done for the year.

And if the OP needs clothes now, waiting until late spring of next year doesn't work.

OP, I'd hit Plato's Closet if you're on a really tight budget for the older kids. For your younger DD, have you tried an Oshkosh B'Gosh outlet store? Or even Old Navy for her.

 

[Jenny-momof3]

Justice at the Outlet Malls is a regular store. But other stores like Gap do have outlet prices.

I would stay away from ebay since you're working with a pretty tight budget. You don't want to be stuck with clothes that may not fit and then you're out that money plus shipping costs as well.

I do this for my cousins family every Christmas. She has 4 children and has a critical health condition that leaves her unable to work. I spend $100 per kid and I love the challenge of finding them good stuff within my budget!

You're coming into the season of great sales for the items that you need! I think you can really stretch your money far if you're willing to just look around a bit and not do it all at 1 store.

If I had $100 to spend for each kid I would divide it up like this...

3 pairs of jeans/pants per kid for $50....I'd look at Old Navy, Aeropostale, JcPenney, Macy's, TJMaxx, Walmart Plato's closet for jeans and pants.

Then with the other $50 I would try and get 5 shirts/hoodies out of that. Again looking at all the stores listed above. I've been able to get even more than 5 shirts some years depending on what I can find. only buy what's in style and decent quality.

It may take you a few trips out to find everything within your budget but the savings will be worth it. Look at it as a fun challenge to get the most for your money.


Report back and let us know how you did. Good luck!

 

[tlbwriter]

Yard sales are great if you don't need a particular thing right now - if you just want to see what's out there, buy for the future, etc. But if you need the exact right thing (i.e., jeans and sweatshirts in certain sizes) you can waste a lot of time.

 

[PTag06]

I just read an article that said if you are looking for jeans, buy them after the back to school rush because you will get the best deals. I always shop off season and have signed up to get mailers and emails from my favorite store about upcoming sales and coupons. I have an outlet mall here and have signed up for their savings club. It was free and all I have to do is print out a coupon and go to guest services to pick up my coupon book for the month.

 

[mousefanmichelle]

Thanks everyone for the helpful tips!

Yard sales are pretty much done here in Michigan so I will look to the sale racks at ON, Marshalls, TJ Max, Kohls etc. My daughter is starting to get picky about her clothes, my oldest doesn't care as long as he is wearing something and my middle son.... let's just say is not easy going but they can either get alot for the money by shopping sale racks with me or get a little by not. I have to say I am not looking forward to spending a Saturday shopping with the 3 of them but I have been putting it off and they each only have 1 pair of jeans that are good and 1 pair that are ify - so I guess I gotta!