I have always bought my kids clothes used, at yard sales. I used to go to individual sales, but it became tedious (I was a SAHM then.) I now go to a few church yard sales/consignment sales/mothers of multiples fundraisers a year. In about an hour, and with about $40 a kid, I purchase all they need for the whole season. Most items are between $3-$5, and most are brand name (some still have tags.) I buy coats, PJs, everything (except daily shoes, those are generally too worn even for me.) Also, most things have been worn and washed, so you are not surprised with shrinkage or fading. Its WYSIWIG! And the new stuff will look worn in a few weeks anyway….

I know this is not for everyone, but it does work for us. Also, it eliminates shopping and impulse buys–you already have everything, why shop?

In my city these sales are in the change of season–March and September. I found out about them through my local paper.

Since I never shop new for my crew I have no idea what kids clothes cost, so I really do not know my savings. I guess if every pair of pants cost $25 new, and I bought 7 pairs for $5, that would be a savings of $140 on trousers alone! For ONE child!

Who wouldn’t want an extra $140?

So much better to think it through in advance instead of “recreational” and impulse shopping.

Goodwill or not, a plan is the way to go.

I do a lot of secondhand shopping for my kids. Like Alison and SR say, it’s generally even less expensive than good online deals or clearance stuff.

Clearance deals and secondhand shopping both have the same degree of “happenstance”–you have to choose among what’s in front of you rather than being able to decide ahead of time exactly what you want and then getting that. Some things you can be sure you’ll find (jeans, khakis, t-shirts), other things not so much. Even so, you know after a kid’s had the garment on her body even once, it’s already good and used! Why not just let someone else give it the first few passes in the wash, and not pay for the expense of “driving it off the lot”, so to speak?

All that being said, I’ve found in the last year that my older kid (who’s 7) really does need to try things on to figure out if they work for her now. Used to be I could just bring home a bag or two full of clothes with the right size on the tag and they’d all work, but no more—she’s finally reached the point where kids’ body shaped diverge enough that not all size 7s are created equal, so to speak. So, the possibility of hit-or-miss catalog ordering for her is quickly coming to an end. Even if something is inexpensive, it’s not a bargain if my kid can’t or won’t wear it.

Right now the 7 year old still sees the logic in paying $3 for a pair of pants at the (huge, department-store-sized) local Goodwill rather than $15 on sale at Sears, and we can find clothes that suit her tastes at the Goodwill.

However, also I know that peer influence is going to get more important to her as time goes on–we’ll see when we hit the point that she MUST HAVE just the right pants/sneakers/whatever. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it…and then probably do much as Amanda did, with my daughter. Here’s your budget, you need to work within it, let’s figure out what choices we need to make to get enough clothes within that limit.

I just did a quick search on my local CL, and found 4-5 listings for free kids clothes, including one with good quality winter coats…

I found that most of his summer wardrobe lasted two seasons this way, and also his pants have lasted longer than expected.

I also usually buy at Old Navy and Target, using sales and coupons but in person.

You left out my favorite money saving tip - handmedowns from friends and family - all his PJs this winter were passed along - a little wash-worn but still absolutely fine! We also have some sweaters from another friend, and a whole bag of 4T pants waiting for him to grow a bit… we’re also sharing in the tradition, as I just gave a huge bin of baby clothes to my sister-in-law for my nephew. I just told my friends that we’re expecting a baby girl in the spring and already have offers of clothes - use your network - most people are happy to have others benefit from clothes that otherwise take up storage space!

Coupons are great but only if you already had a need for that item.