5 Tips for Saving Money on Kids Clothes this Fall

Keeping up with your growing kids can be expensive. You’re already clipping coupons and scouring the sales, but what else can you do to save money? Here are a few ideas to go school shopping without spending a fortune.
1. Join members-only shopping sites. Members-only shopping sites are popular online shopping destinations for all ages, offering flash sales and seriously discounted name-brand items. Depending on the site shoppers can pay a membership fee, a monthly credit or access the sales just by creating an account. Sites like Zulily and FabKids specialize in children’s clothes.
2. Shop virtual yard sales. Join a virtual yard sale group on sites like Facebook and Yahoo Groups. Members post a variety of items for sale, and local group members comment if they’d like to purchase the item. Group rules differ but they rely on community regulation — for example, allowing new members by invitation only. You could score gently used (and sometimes new) clothing plus a variety of other goods. It’s also a great way to earn some cash by reselling your kids’ clothes once they’ve outgrown them.
3. Organize a clothing swap. Gather other parents together for a play date and clothing swap. The more variety, the better: if everyone has kids the same age, it may not work as well. Set ground rules for which types of items are accepted and in what condition, and keep a collection for items to donate.
4. Buy ahead of time. If you see a smart deal on a staple item, buy it in your child’s current size plus  one or two sizes ahead. Look for clothes during the off-season, like jackets in the summer. There are some basics your child will always need so if you see a great end-of-season sale, snag those items now.
5. Learn to love the sewing machine. Buying larger clothing then taking it in is a classic way to make clothes last longer. This is especially helpful for hemming long pants. There are some helpful tutorials online for how to hem pants so it looks like the original hem is attached. It also helps to know how to sew knee and elbow patches to keep clothes lasting longer.
For more money-saving tips, contact the team at Money Mastery today!