Be careful not to buy kids clothes too soon - even with a great deal!
My sister always laughs at me but secretly tries to copy me when it comes to kids clothes. She called me the other day and said I would be proud of her that she paid $6 for an outfit for her daughter. I was. My dear sister also has the advantage of a Carter’s outlet near her house. I would probably get into a lot of trouble if I had one.
But I was reminded of what she told me one day when I was flea marketing last weekend. She said that after 2 kids, she learned her lesson the hard way about buying good deals ahead of time. She would come across a great deal on a summer outfit and think it would fit. And then when it came time to fit her son, it was winter. So I have taken that advice to heart and only bought in season.
But here is the one exception. Overalls and pants. You have to be careful about short sleeve and long sleeve tops for your kids as they might not be in season when your child is ready to wear it, but overalls and pants are always in season. I say all this to justify a pair of adorable pink, yes I bought pink for my daughter, overalls I got her last weekend at a flea market of sorts in town. They are a size 6 and right now she is in 24 months. So obviously, she won’t be wearing them anytime soon. But no matter the season, she will be able to fit in them when she is that size because they are perfect for a long sleeve shirt or a tank top. Why didn’t I just pass them up? I could have, but they were only $.50. Who leaves a brand new pair of overalls when they cost less than a dollar! Not me.
So the moral of the story is be smart with your money. Buy your kids clothes used but be careful if they are season specific because your kids might hit a growth spurt and pass them right by. But if you find a truly good deal for an every season outfit, jump into the frugal world. You will like it. I promise.
Tags: children\\\'s_clothing, shopping, yard-saleRelated Stories
POSTED IN: budget, clothes, financial matters, shopping
3 opinions for Be careful not to buy kids clothes too soon - even with a great deal!
Karen
Apr 28, 2007 at 7:34 am
I’m pretty careful with buying ahead. I’m usually good at guessing the sizes. I have made a few mistakes, but usually I get the item for such a good deal that it doesn’t matter. I can always resell the item in my yard sale, consignment store, or I can give it away. I’m excited about us finally having a thrift store in my area. There’s not too many places to shop on this side of town.
Meredith
Apr 28, 2007 at 10:23 am
I think my mom and I have bought my baby daughter clothes up to size 6 already! The little hand-smocked dresses are more forgiving in size than pants, and here in the mild South, are worn almost year-round with cardigans.
At yard sale prices, who can resist? Resell them later and it’s like renting a wardrobe.
Karen
Apr 28, 2007 at 11:23 am
I agree Meredith. Sometimes I buy my kid clothes on clearance or at yard sales and then get my money back out of them when I sell them.
Today I went to the new thrift store and I got my son about 3-4 pairs of shorts for 50 cents each. He’ll be able to wear them all summer and then I’ll probably end up getting most of my money back for them.
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