Posts Tagged ‘kids clothes’
For a parent, late August typically means one thing: back to school. Oh yes, we wish it meant sitting by the pool, getting a massage while drinking a drink with an umbrella in it, but no, for millions of parents it means getting their children ready to go back to school, typically kicking and screaming. This means buying new kids clothes for your brood, something that, depending on where you shop, can also mean a near catastrophic hit to your pocket book. Stores seem to have two schools of thought on the prices of these clothes: high prices or high volume. While you would like to stick to small mom and pop stores, it only makes financial sense to go to those giant chain stores to save some money.
Being a parent means giving up on a lot of deep seeded beliefs to save money. While you might have marched against capitalism and consumerist ways in college, today you just find the cheapest price and go with it. Regardless, back to school times becomes kind of a game in the way as you try and find the cheapest prices possible to make sure your kids get everything they need without sending your family to the poor house. This is done by visiting different locations to get good prices on specific pieces of clothing until you have full wardrobes.
Unfortunately, it seems like the cheapest shirt and the cheapest pair of pants is never at the same location. This means a lot of driving around town. While some people without kids might say that you’re going a little too far to save a few dollars, unless you have kids you don’t get that those $3 can be spent on dozens of pens or pounds of paper. If you are going to do this buy and dash concept of buying back to school clothing, it is important not go into it blind. Go to Mapquest or Google Maps and come up with a plan of attack that will make sure that you don’t drive any further then you have to. You don’t want to give that money you’re saving on clothes back on gas.
One more thing to consider when getting back to school clothes: make sure they are good quality. It does no good buying a cheap pair of pants if they are going to simply fall apart after a month. Buy good quality and make sure that your kids like what you’re getting them.
Author Kimberly Green likes to save money on kids clothes.
There is a series of commercials that run on television for, I believe, a detergent company that talks about how your children’s clothing are a magnet for stains. While I’m usually quite wary of commercials and the messages they try and convey, I can flat out tell you, as a mother of two young boys, that that commercial is absolutely true. I would even go as far as to say that is the most truthful commercial I have ever seen.
I don’t know how kids do it. I really don’t. I have no idea how they get their clothes so dirty. It doesn’t matter if they are in class or on a trip or playing in a field, kids clothes always get dirty. It’s like magic. You could put them in a sterilized padded room and they would come out with a stain. Furthermore, the types of stains that children get on their clothes are some of the most complex things you’ll ever see. We all know that grape juice will spell the end of most clothing, but did you know that mac and cheese is almost impossible to get out (must be all those chemicals)?
This means that you really have to trust your purchase when you’re looking to buy clothes for your kids, especially if you want them to last. If you make a decision to purchase the cheap clothing than you’ll just have to accept the fact that they will need to be replaced constantly. And I don’t mean constantly as in occasionally, I mean “Wow, again? So soon?”
So what do you need to look for when purchasing children’s clothing that will last? First off you need to make sure that they can handle the wear and tear that kids like to put on their clothes. Remember, they aren’t sitting at their desk all day- they are running, stretching, jumping, skipping and just about any other action verb you can think of. Paying a little more for a better fiber isn’t a bad idea as long as they will last.
Secondly, as I mentioned above, you need to be sure your children’s clothing has some stain protection. There are certain fabrics that repel, and erase, stains better than others so do your research. If you have children you know that this step will most definitely pay off in the long run.
Finally, make sure the clothes are still stylish, along with being durable. Kids don’t want to be in clothes that aren’t current and frankly I don’t blame them. The key is to do your research and don’t spend a bundle. Oh, and stock up on some bleach and detergent, because you’ll need those too.
Author Kimberly Green hopes the kids clothes she buys last more than a few months.
Let’s play a word association game: when I say the words “kids clothes” what is the first thing that comes to your head?
Not cheap?
Quickly outgrown?
Waste of money?
Yeah, I would say all of those are good ways to describe children’s clothing. Unless you’re a yo-yo dieter there is no other type of clothing in your wardrobe that becomes irrelevant faster. You don’t buy children’s clothes for seasons as much as you buy them for the season. Chances are this year’s summer clothing will spend next summer in a box.
This is why finding a good deal is so important for parents looking for children’s clothing. With the summer season coming up parents will be hitting department stores in droves to find the perfect pair of shorts, dresses, t-shirts and swimsuits for their kids. And because kids grow so rapidly, they will be obsolete by the end of the summer. Unless you’re planning on hand me downs for your next little bundle of joy, it’s important to find a way to mix quality and price in your purchases.
The best thing you can do is scan the sales. Chances are in April and May stores will begin to roll out their big summer sales. With the economy still struggling, these years’ sales should be even more aggressive meaning that different stores will be fighting for your business. Be sure to check out the deals at different stores and don’t be afraid to shop around for the best bargain.
When you finally find a store that is to your liking, make sure you go at a time when they will have the most clothes available on sale. If it’s a weekend sale don’t wait till the last second. Yes, there will be a lot of people in store on Friday morning, but you’ll have a better chance finding what you came in for. Also, keep your eyes open for in-store only sales of special bargains. A lot of department stores will only advertise part of their sales items in advertisements. You might find seconds full of stuff you had no idea were on sale.
Another thing to look out for is off-season sale items. Many stores will be trying to get rid of their winter gear along with moving their summer supply. This means that you could get amazing deals on sweatshirts of pants for next winter. Now, this can be tricky since your child will grow, so be sure to plan ahead and buy for how big they will be in six months. Trust me, it’s easier than it sounds and you’ll save a lot of money in the mean time.
Author Kim Green spends time researching the best quality kids clothes for her nieces, nephews and her own children.
Kids clothing costs money. Sometimes, it seems, too much money. So why would you go for the cheaper option when buying kids clothing that can be reused is the much smarter option.
I heard a joke the other day from one of my friends: What do you call something that costs a lot, gets used for about a month, and then sits in a box for a few years? Kids clothes and baby clothes. Hahaha.
Ok, well, it’s not a funny joke, but I don’t think she meant it to be funny. I think she just needed an outlet for the fact that she had just spent hundreds of dollars on new designer baby clothes only to box them up two months later. I could tell by the look of subtle desperation in her eyes.
Anyway, any parent knows that baby clothes can be a pain to pick out. There are lots of cute designs and cute colors, but you have to also temper this designer need with the fact that a baby is only going to wear a certain outfit for around a month before it gets thrown in the closet until the next baby comes along. And while there are plenty of options for finding great baby clothes, the thing to remember is that all the baby cares about is comfort. It’s you that cares about design.
What many parents don’t think enough about in baby clothes is durability. Most parents who are buying clothes for their first baby have a tendency to think short term instead of long. Most families have 2.5 children, some even more. That means that while baby clothes initially only need to last for a few months, unless you’re made of money and you’re planning to have multiple children you are going to want to use them over again. You want them to be able to survive not only multiple babies but also multiple storages. You want to be sure that they will be ready for use again after sitting in a labeled box for a year or two.
This multiple use makes baby and children’s clothes more of an investment then a onetime money pit. Like with most clothing you get what you pay for. If you buy cheap one time use baby clothes then you will have to purchase all new ones for your next child. This is why spending a little more on durable, name brand children’s clothing might be a smart investment. It’s the equivalent to buying a cheap brand of silverware instead of a brand name trusted brand. After a while, you’re going to wear them out and buy a new pair. This means that your cheap investment becomes an expensive investment over time. Just another thing to think about when buying baby and children’s clothing.
Author Kimberly Green always buys her kids clothing from reputable places such as Naartjie.com
Parents know that kids clothing can be expensive. What they don’t know, though, is that by buying their kids seasonal clothes out of season the can save some very much needed money.
Let’s face it, purchasing kids clothes can be a stressful and expensive endeavor. Any parent can relate stories of going into a chain store of specialty shop and being shocked by the prices they find. Of course, since kids have a tendency to grow out of clothes faster then you can buy them; most parents are also powerless to resist these clothing prices. Who has the time to comparison shop when your trips to the clothing store occur between school getting out at 3 and soccer practice beginning at 4.
For those looking for a way to cut their kids clothing costs, there is something that they can do: plan ahead. Buying clothes out of season is the best way to find good deals. To clear out their inventory, most clothing companies will have monster sales to make way for new “seasonal product”. This means that sweaters will be up to 75% less in June as they are in December. Visa versa for summer garb: want a great price on a child’s swimsuit? Check out the prices in November.
This of course means a lot of planning ahead. To get the best deals, you’re probably going to buy clothing about six months before your kids will need them (note: this may not apply to the southern states where shorts and t-shirts can be utilized year round). This means looking ahead to see how much your child is going to grow in that time. For those whose kids are older might have a little bit easier time then those who kids are babies. Kids will have growth spurts, but nowhere near what babies have. If you have friends with kids ask them how much they grew from a certain age. You can also check the internet or books for typical child growth charts.
When purchasing out of season clothes, it is always pertinent to pay attention to style as well as price. Since kids can be picky, make sure you purchase something that they will actually wear. What good is saving $5 on a sweatshirt if your child has a tantrum every time they have to wear it? Make sure they accompany you during the sale so that they can pick designs that they like. Also, try and pick more neutral colors and designs as kids will be more willing to wear these. You can always fill out an ensemble later in the year when the more contemporary seasonal designs are out, this is all about getting the major shopping out of the way (this is where you will spend most of your money anyway).
By following these simple steps you will be able to save a good amount of money on your child’s clothes. Be sure to check chain and big box stores in season as sometimes they might have overbought and are looking to get rid of some of their product, including trendy kids clothes. This way you can get current product for sales prices that are usually reserved for off season.
Author Kimberly Green considers herself an expert when it comes to finding deals on kids clothes
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