How to Find Cheap Kids Clothes

I can almost see a classified ad saying, "Wanted: A source for cheap kids clothes. My kid is growing out of his clothes faster than I can replace them." If you are like many other parents (and even store owners), you may be trying to develop a strategy to get more for your dollar.

When I say "cheap," I'm not talking about "cheap quality." I use the word "cheap," since as I write this, frankly, I'm feeling a little bit like a cheapskate right now when it comes to buying clothes. But, I'm not the only one tightening my belt. We're looking for bargains. We want to get more for our dollar.

And there's nothing wrong with that. The economy may be feeling a little shaky these days for some, but with a little ingenuity, we can still dress our kids quite well. Perhaps not to the standards of a Beverly Hills boutique, but then again... who really wants his or her kid running around playing in a $200 outfit that will be worth one dollar at the next yard sale (complete with the grass and mud stains)?
But you also don't want your son or daughter to believe that he or she is merely wearing someone else's old clothes that they didn't like or want. This is where learning how to buy cheap kids clothes becomes an art.

So, with that in mind, here are a few ideas for shopping wisely for your child's clothes without needing to take out a second mortgage.

We all know about yard sales and thrift stores by now. But, unless your child is something really special, he or she may not relish waltzing around with you on a Saturday morning from yard sale to yard sale or thrift store to thrift store. I'm guessing that it might be a bit less stressful if you could shop without having the children with you, but I realize that this is not always an option.

One way around this is to do something that I learned from a very wise parent a few years ago.

While her kids were still in the stage where they were all growing out of their clothes faster than she could buy them, she told them that their journeys to thrift stores and yard sales were "treasure hunting."

In other words, she found ways to make it fun. The kids could find small items that they liked while she was concentrating more on getting her hands on some cheap kids clothes.

Another idea is to put out a notice on a community bulletin board or CraigsList that you are willing to swap children's clothing for some items you might not be using any longer. For example, maybe someone wants that waffle iron and is willing to swap a few of her son's outfits for it. Again, be creative.

Or, let's say your pre-teen is about to enter a growth spurt. Why not have a yard sale of your own to clear out a lot of the "stuff" that Junior isn't using anymore? You can earmark the money for new clothes that way.

How about this: What if, instead of just buying at the consigment store, see if the owners would consider a trade? Then, you could take your child's older clothes and trade them in for newer items that will be more useful.

Search online using terms like "discount kids clothes" so that you don't wind up at a pricey online store that won't save you any money. In fact, have some friends shop with you so you can make a bulk order and save money on shipping!

Again, the reality is that many of today's parents are looking for bargains. Cheap kids clothes. If you are in this category, remember: You are not alone! This article just outlined a couple of small ideas.

Why not get together with a few other parents and brainstorm some more ideas over your kids' play dates or over coffee? You may be impressed by the ideas that spring up!