Not actually a Disney tip, but saves me lots of $$

[crazymomof4]

Since this board is about saving money so that we can afford a great Disney vacation I thought I'd post this. I have been doing this for 14 years (since I was preg w/ DS #1) and it can save you hundreds of dollars a year. Even more can be saved if you pass the clothes down from child to child.

I buy almost all of my kid's clothing, on clearance, a year in advance. I don't just pick up a few items.....I buy the whole wardrobe! I generally shop in the end of August for summer things and Feb/March for winter things. I shop the 50-75% off racks at my local department stores and children's specialty shops. I don't want to insult anyone here, but I don't usually buy clothing at K-Mart, Walmart or Target. While the clothing there is inexpensive and looks good new, I found that it doesn't last as long as most of the name brand clothing. I'm sure it works out for some who use the clothing for just one child but since I pass clothing down through 3 boys, I really need well constructed garments that don't fade or come apart so my youngest DS doesn't look like a pauper! (actually, I supplement his hand-me-downs w/ some new items) Anyway, by shopping only clearance, I pay the same or even less than the discount store prices. The savings can be huge! For example, last march I got all of the clothing that my DS, 14, needs for next winter for about $225 and since I got everything on the 75% off rack, I was actually coming home with $1000. dollars worth of stuff! I saved $775! Another advantage is that you avoid the "rush" on buying at the begining of a season. When others are frantically doing their back-to-school shopping and paying top dollar, I'm casually browsing the greatly reduced summer stuff (and feeling very smug about it )
I'm forever grateful to my "seasoned" sister-in-law for turning me on to this trick and wanted to share it with others. I know this may not be a new idea to many but some new(er) moms may not realize just how much can be saved in a year. Multiply that savings times about 18 yrs per child and it is a significant amount.

crazymomof4

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

I wholeheartedly Agree with you! I do the same thing! In fact if I am at the GAP and see something very cheap and it's even 2-3 sizes bigger I buy it! I have some gap clothes that are 7 yrs old and they still look great!

 

[twinscandc]

I've always done this very thing...My DH thinks that I'm crazy sometimes for buying summer clothes at the end of the season!!

With twin DD's (who are clothes horses!!) the more money we save, the better!!

(I also agree with name brand clothes - you get what you pay for!!)

 

[MollyBelle]

I am the queen of this scheme as well! The DS CMs in my town make fun of me because I only buy at 75% off and my kids have one garment in every style when they do: summer and winter. Also, Dillards is excellent for this: they have AWESOME 75% sales, and Target is a great one to cruise for their 50% off stuff (and Target has brands that I think are as good as dept store quality) -- My kids have NEVER been bought clothes in the same season...I just go to the Rubbermaid bins that are kept in our storage areas and pull out the ones I've labeled for their next season, and put them into their drawers...In addition, a HUGE church in my city puts on "Little Lambs Closet" which is a big charity event. I think every mom in this city is a part of it. I resell their clothes after they've outgrown them and that is how I finance my Disney World trips....people pay a lot more for clothing here than they would at a garage sale. I make $500-$600 on every sale. I have two girls and they both wear the clothes. I have even bought things in boutiques for 75% off, both kids have worn it, and I've sold it for as much as I paid for it! It's a wonderful system. Anyway, it works for us...although my kids are not too rough on clothes and I wash everything in cold water and line-dry them ... most times they still look great - I know most moms of boys with knee-holes would scoff at me! ha

 

[kaseyC]

I get awesome prices on your more basic classic items at the end of the season for my three girls at Talbots Kids, Lands End and L.L. Bean. Also for catalog or internet bargains, end of the season markdowns at Hanna Andersson.com. Its a Swedish company that makes the best cotton and knit items that wear and wash well. In season the clothes can be quite expensive but off season you can get some wonderful deals.

 

[Samandmom]

I do this also. The only thing with that is I worry that the clothes won't fit next year. LOL Actually I just bought a bunch of stuff at The Childrens Place yesterday, they had and additional 30%off clearance. I bought this years size clothing for my DD. I feel like I am getting a great bargain since she can use summer clothes till the middle of September. I might get some larger stuff for our February vacation to WDW.

 

[wahoo776]

Now Here is our bonus in life,
Thanks to the military we have lived in warm weather climates the past 13 years, so I have been able to shop the end of summer sales for school clothes and supplement it with the stuff I picked up in February/March sales and get everything at really good prices. I think the only pieces of clothing I have paid full price for in this time are raincoats and that is only because they are used so infrequently that all the sudden they will pull them out and not fit! I'm working on this one....
Also, I have an Aunt who buys alot of good clothes for her grandchildren and then makes it a point to send them to me. My cousins kids where just here for a visit and we where laughing about how far some of the clothes had come from my son, to her son, back to my next son and back to them for the newest member of the family. I have a good friend in here who has sent me clothes since we lived next door to each other at Fort Bragg about 7 years ago who gets thrown into this mix too. Everybody pays there own shipping and everything works pretty much in a round. I get clothes from Teresa, Kim sends Teresa her clothes from her older girls and back and forth and around they go. Some of these things have been around for at least 7 or more years and still looks new. (We have become expert laundresses!)

 

[wdwpluto]

Heck, we don't have kids yet, but I do this for myself and DH as well. I just stick with classic pieces as we're not trendy folks and it works out quite well.

 

[crazymomof4]

Originally posted by MollyBelle
a HUGE church in my city puts on "Little Lambs Closet" which is a big charity event. I think every mom in this city is a part of it. I resell their clothes after they've outgrown them and that is how I finance my Disney World trips....people pay a lot more for clothing here than they would at a garage sale. I make $500-$600 on every sale.

WOW! I wish I could do that! I try selling them at yard sales and people want every thing for a quarter! I'm going to try to sell some of the nicer stuff on e-bay soon.

Originally posted by MollyBelle
Anyway, it works for us...although my kids are not too rough on clothes and I wash everything in cold water and line-dry them

I thought my 82 yo grandmom and I were the only women on the face of the earth who still put clothing on the line to dry! I wish you lived in my neighborhood so I wouldn't feel like such a relic.

Originally posted by MollyBelle
... most times they still look great - I know most moms of boys with knee-holes would scoff at me! ha

No scoffing here......'cause I just cut them and hem them into shorts. Gosh, I'm so cheap!

 

[Cindy B]

I've been doing this for years as well.. Since before my kids were born. ..

I've also gone and organized a clothing exchange.. a bring a bag, take a bag principle.

I've also gone to affulent neighborhoods and gotten things for nothing... (in a neighborhood organized exchange a thon)

 

[Abra Cat]

Count me in, too! I usually buy my kids' clothes from Lands' End Overstocks at least half a year in advance. In fact, I just bought my daughter some dresses for the beginning of NEXT school year— my new record. My daughter is a dress-wearer, and I've found that I can get away with buying most of her dresses a size bigger, and she usually gets two and sometimes three years' wear out of them. For my son, I usually buy his shirts a size bigger, but his shorts and pants at regular size (unless they have an elastic waist) so they don't fall down. Things like coats, mittens, turtlenecks and t-shirts I typically buy in unisex styles and colors so they can be passed from kid to kid regardless of gender. My son is almost 4 and is getting his first brand new coat this year— only because his sister is still wearing the one a size up from the coat he just outgrew! Another thing I've found helpful is to keep a computer list of what clothes my kids have, so I can tell at a glance what they need when it's time to shop. Also, I buy a lot of their basics in colors that will match anything— coats in navy or red, my daughter's tights and shoes in navy, etc.

 

[kaseyC]

I also buy coats and Jackets in darker colors such as red, blue and green. I accessorize the the girls coats with bright hats and mittens. I always buy coats in a size or two larger. I have a Parka from LL Bean that my 7 year old wore when she was 2 & 3 and my 2 yr old wore it last winter and will probably be able to wear this winter. It still looks really good and I am thinking our infant dd may be able to wear it when she is 3.

Samandmom - I just went to the Children's Place and got some great stuff too. My mom went to her store in MD and stocked up on some things for the girls too.

 

[LIFERBABE]

My 6 year old is in the last size at Gymboree and I am distraught! This system has worked for our family for years! Gymboree always has excellent sales and their styles turn over quickly and they never have the same style twice (at least not in 7 years) although they will match, so my boys are always well dressed at cheaper than Wal-Mart prices.

I purchased a leather button-up coat at Gymboree for my oldest when he was 2 for 1/2 off ($60) he wore it for 2 years and my youngest has worn it for 2 going on 3 years and he still gets compliments on it. None of the buttons are even loose. Not to mention the resale value!

I found raincoats and boots and umbrellas at the DS for 75% off last week so Im set for the handful of rainy days we have here.

 

[ceecee]

I with you about Gymboree, my DD is 3XL too after that it's no more cute clothes. I bought everything Gymboree this year. I sold last years on Ebay and did really well. I thought I had bought some stuff to put away but couldn't find any so I bought tons of stuff, then I found a big bag of stuff!!! 6 pair of shorts, swimsuit, 8 tops, capris and even shoes! My DD will never be able to wear all of it. So just remember where you put it!

 

[summerrluvv]

Just a heads up on a sale Sears is having on Lands End clothes right now (yes they carry Lands End). All the kids summer clothes are on clearance and another 50% off that AND there are coupons in the store for $5.00 off ANY lands end purchase. I got like 18 things for less than 10 dollars!!! They have rugby shirts for 2.99 each, so get two and use the coupon and pay $1.00!! They had sooo many cute girls clothes, infants, toddlers, and big girls too. (not as big of a selection for the boys, but still managed to get a lot and swim trunks too!) Definately a great sale to stock up on for next year! I had the cashier ring up my purchases separately so I could use many coupons. The coupons are located in a Lands End rack in the men's dept or ask the cashiers for them.

 

[crazymomof4]

I'm going to check our Sears tomorrow! Thanks for posting this summerrluvv.

 

[Janell Ebert]

I have done the same thing with thrift store clothes. Buy shorts in winter and sweatshirts in the summer. I do this for adult clothes as well. We have a really good store that gets lots of good stuff also shop garage sales. Sometimes you find things sometimes you don't. Rummage sales have also produced lots of good buys. One good friend only buys name brands and her whole family is well dressed. We bought clothes for my nephews wedding on a holiday at thrift stores for half price. Sports jacket and dress shoes for my son who is growing like a weed. Even found a jacket for my husband. We all looked really nice at a fraction of the cost.

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by summerrluvv
Just a heads up on a sale Sears is having on Lands End clothes right now (yes they carry Lands End). All the kids summer clothes are on clearance and another 50% off that AND there are coupons in the store for $5.00 off ANY lands end purchase. I got like 18 things for less than 10 dollars!!! They have rugby shirts for 2.99 each, so get two and use the coupon and pay $1.00!! They had sooo many cute girls clothes, infants, toddlers, and big girls too. (not as big of a selection for the boys, but still managed to get a lot and swim trunks too!) Definately a great sale to stock up on for next year! I had the cashier ring up my purchases separately so I could use many coupons. The coupons are located in a Lands End rack in the men's dept or ask the cashiers for them.

Thanks for reminding me... I went and bought some things before, and now I will go again! Off to Sears in an hour or so

 

[crazymomof4]

Originally posted by Cindy B
Off to Sears in an hour or so

WOW you're off to an early start. I'm still sitting here in my PJ's. All the kids are still asleep and I'm really enjoying the peace & quiet........the calm before the storm. LOL

 

[Buzzsgramma]

there are other folks like me.....the drawers and closets are full of clothes and other things....my motto is 75% off.....buy all the 5 gr. kids clothes..i shop TDS,JCP and some of my best finds are at Marshall Fields...I shop for my fam and friends also....my DH aunt just picked up $350 worth of clothes for her G- GKs for $50 ..(.she is able to get out to the stores like i am.....the mall is 1 mi away.).hey this money saving tip supports my Disney habit.....I also do 2-3 garage sales a yr. BUT thats another story......