Jonah JacobsEven if kids never grew, their clothes would be costly. But since they do grow (and quite quickly), the cost of kids’ clothes can seem astronomical.
Unlike other expenses in your monthly budget, your children’s clothes are an absolute necessity. You can’t cut them completely as with other costs, like dining out, for example. As such, you’ll need to figure out ways to make their clothes more affordable. But don’t think too hard, as we’ll discuss some of those ways now.
Tips for Finding Cheap Kids’ Clothes
1. Find them for free
You may not have to spend a penny on your kids’ clothes if you can find them for free. Where is this possible? For starters, you can look online in the Craigslist free section, the Freecycle website, or the Facebook Marketplace. People sometimes list children’s clothes there at no cost.
If you have no luck there, don’t forget to ask your friends and family if they have any clothes their kids no longer use. Since kids grow so quickly, they may say yes.
2. Buy used kids’ clothes online.
You can find kids’ clothes at a deep discount online if you don’t mind buying them used. Sites like Poshmark, ThredUp, and Kidizen are just a few examples of where you can find secondhand clothes at deep discounts.
3. Go to garage sales.
You’re likely to find almost-free kids’ clothes at garage sales. Be sure to show up early, or you may miss out.
4. Visit thrift shops.
Beyond garage sales, thrift shops are the best local spots to find kids’ clothes on the cheap. If you don’t know of any, search the Internet for “thrift stores near me” and should see at least one pop up.
5. Shop at discount retailers.
Will your kids want the newest Nike clothes or the latest Jordan shoes? Possibly, but your budget may not allow for such splurging. Instead of paying a premium for children’s clothes, visit discount retailers like Walmart, Target, Ross, Marshalls, and T.J. Maxx. You can also find deals at liquidation stores like Big Lots.
6. Hit the clearance rack.
Head to the back of most clothing stores, and what will you find? Clearance racks that often have the biggest discounts on clothes.
You don’t have to rely on store sales when clearance racks can offer even better deals. And if a store has a sale that also applies to the clearance section, you can get a massive discount with double the savings.
7. Avoid outfits.
Are kids’ outfits adorable? Yes, and retailers know this, which is why they often place their best-dressed mannequins at the front of the store. Avoid the temptation to buy those cute kids’ outfits, and you can save a ton by buying pieces instead.
You’ll get much more flexibility buying pieces versus outfits. The cost will be lower, and you can mix and match the pieces to get more bang for your buck.
8. Buy out of season.
Just because clothes are out of season doesn’t mean you should overlook them. Provided you get a bigger size to account for your children’s growth, you can save a nice chunk of change by purchasing out of season clothes when they go on sale.
Mark Luigi Dacumos
