Save on Children’s Clothing

Clothing can be expensive. Especially considering children grow like weeds. While we might be able to make some of our own clothing last for years, it’s near about impossible to do that with one child.

When Skye and Zowie were growing up, I had a multi-step method of acquiring the clothes they needed. And by clothes I also mean shoes and winter needs.

1. I received hand-me-downs from relatives and friends whose daughters were older than my own.
2. Family and friends bought some clothing items for the girls for their birthdays and Christmases.
3. Until my mother retired (early), she kept the girls in all different types of shoes and boots. I rarely ever bought any. And that was on top of hand-me-downs from others. The girls had so many pairs of shoes and boots!
4. All the clothes that Skye grew out of, that were still in good condition, were saved for when her sister could wear them.
5. I shopped yard and garage sales for many things. And I improvised. I let them pick out adult-size tee-shirts to wear as nighties at these sales, because they only cost a quarter each. These were also great for painting and doing messy crafts.
6. I shopped the church thrift store where I could fill a bag of clothes for a couple of dollars.
7. I shopped other thrift stores, and consignment shops.
8. I shopped clearance sales and could often find a dress or other item for less that $2.00
9. I shopped regular sales.
10. Then, if there was anything else they needed, would I pay full price.

I tried to always know what I had on hand.

Best Tips for Saving Money on Children’s Clothing

1. Create a system for hand-me downs and other items you buy. I always separated clothing into boxes according to size. Make an inventory list of how many of each item is in the box, and keep updating it as you add more. Ex. 4 nighties, 3 leggings, 2 jeans.
2. I always had a copy of those inventory lists in my purse for when I was visiting yard sales or stores.
3. No matter how I shopped, I always looked a few sizes ahead. This means for each child I had three or four size inventories I was working on at any given time.
4. When people would ask what the girls needed, I would look over my list and tell them.

More Tips for Saving Money on Children’s Clothing

1. My area has a Pay-it-Forward Facebook page. If yours does, pay attention to it. You might be able to glean some clothing that way. Pay attention though, you might have to give something away first. Read and follow the rules of the group.
2. The same is true for selling pages on Facebook. You may have to buy something in order to sell something. Read the rules carefully. But you can still save a huge amount of money on clothing by utilizing this venue.
3. Host a clothing swap with other families.
4. Get your older children involved by letting them go with you to thrift stores and other places to choose what they want. Set a budget for them, and tell them once the money is gone that is it. No more money for clothes. They can choose to buy that $50 pair of shoes, or buy three outfits for the same amount.
5. When my father passed away, he’d left each of the children some money. I managed to get big boxes of brand name clothing through Ebay. The girls were excited for that brand-name stuff, let me tell you. When all was said and done, I’d paid a dollar per article of clothing. The girls had so much fun trying on the clothes, and came away with near complete wardrobes. Anything that was too small, they gave to one of their closest friends, a girl that I was babysitting at the time who is now considered family. She, too, had fun trying things on. And whatever didn’t fit her went to her neighbor, a young girl who was wearing her mothers clothing because they had so little money. I think my father would be proud that I managed to clothe four teenagers on that money. I was. Skye and Zowie were proud that they had helped out a friend, and all three of the girls were proud that they had helped out her neighbor.

Another Tip: To help fund what you do have to buy, sell any clothing from the smallest child, if you won’t be having any more.

What tips do you have for saving money on children’s clothing? Let us know in the comments or email me at shannonlbuck@gmail.com.

~ Shannon

Will You be Going into Debt for Christmas?

Does this sound about right to you?

I was reading an article over on Lendedu.com, The Cost of Christmas in 2018, and some of these figures and stats jumped out at me. I do not spend that much on any given Christmas. I just don’t have that kind of money.

Talking to others, I’m aware that many people spend a couple of thousand – or even more – each year. To me this seems crazy, but then I think about my growing family and I know I’m going to have to be vigilant at keeping costs down or I’ll need a part-time job just to cover it all.

No thank you. I just don’t have the energy or inclination for that. I’ll have to figure out how to keep costs down with the ever rising costs we face.

Gifts were the biggest expenditure in this figure at 66.49%, then decorations at 12.69%, travel expenses at 11.81%, and then other expenses at 9.01%.

Does this sound about right to you? The percentages? That figure?

For me, gifts are the biggest expense, then food, then other things such as wrapping needs and decorations.

There is a good chance that, since you are on this site, you’re looking for ways to cut costs, and I have plenty of ideas for how to do this. If it’s too late to implement these ideas for Christmas the current year, then consider them for the next.

Have a Frugal Christmas

For me, saving money on Yule and Christmas – yes, that is two celebrations at this time of year along with two to four other get-togethers each year – means starting with a list I create while I decorate.

• As I’m decorating, I make a list of anything I notice I may need. This year, two sets of lights died. They are so old and well-used, they aren’t really fixable any longer. I put them on my shopping list, along with a few other items I needed. This list will go into my purse for the after-Christmas sales. If I can’t find those items during those clearance sales, they will be bought before the next holiday season when things are generally on sale to attract customers.
• Once the holiday cards were made out, I added a generous estimate to my clearance shopping list of how many cards I will need for next year.
• I cull my holiday card giving list each year as well. If I haven’t received a card from or hardly heard from someone in a few years, I take them off my card-giving list. This saves me postage.
• My family is aware that I reused items such as gift bags and boxes, tags, tissue and wrapping paper, and bows year-after-year, and they are more careful than normal not to completely ruin these items. They keep them looking nice for me. Sometimes people even give me good bags and such that they have received gifts from others in, knowing that I will reuse them.
• I also add these items to my clearance shopping list some years, in case I find any great deals and want more of a stock.
• I shop the after Christmas clearance sales, often with the bestest and sometimes with my daughters. I find that, if I keep checking back, prices will generally drop more, but the selection isn’t as good. So I start right after Christmas, but then check back a couple of times over a couple of week period.
• I shop thrift stores when my grandson needs clothing, and also find baskets, decorations, and other things I can use in those establishments. I can get him an entire wardrobe for under $30.00, and it is all in good condition. Also, my daughter and son-in-law don’t have to worry about the cost when I do that, saving them money in the long run as well.
• I shop yard sales for mugs, gift baskets, decorations, and other things. If it is still in good condition, it is fair game.
• I sometimes make things. I’m a crafty person, and like to make things for people. I can make holiday candles for people by reusing the jars and the utilizing the candle ends. All I need to buy are the wicks, and the stickers to make labels with.
• I’ve also been known to make my own draw-string gift bags for gift wrapping.
• I shop clearance sales year round.
• I do not have a specific list of what I am buying, but I do have a list of favorite items each recipient likes. Their favorite candies, colors, scents; anything I can come up with that will help me with my shopping.
• I do re-gift, though it isn’t often that I receive something I don’t like or cannot use. I think it has happened twice in a five year time period.

Holiday Food Ideas from Frugal Recipes

• Homemade Food Gifts: Baked Goods
• Gifts Made with Love
• Food Gifts for Yule and Christmas
• Candy-Filled Ornaments or Gift Tags
• A Frugal Christmas or Yule Potluck
• A Frugal Christmas or Yule Buffet

I have noticed that even clearance prices for items aren’t as good a lot of the time as they were when my children were young, and this means that they’ll be more costly as my family grows. I’m going to come up with more creative ways to keep costs down. When I do, I’ll mention what I’m doing here on the blog.

Warmest Wishes for this Yule and Christmas.

Shannon

Is it Okay to Pick up Gifts at Yard Sales, Thrift Stores, Etc.?

I love yard sales, thrift shops, clearance sales, and flea markets. I always find gems when I visit, and save so much over the price of new-bought items. I am a frugalista at heart. How about you?

When buying from places such thrift shops and flea markets, you’re reusing other people’s stuff. This means that it is not going into a landfill, and someone local is earning money. Both are worthy reasons to buy items from these places.

But, should you buy gifts for other people at these places?

There are some that would say this is cheap. Maybe even tacky. They don’t want to receive something that was acquired this way, not even during a clearance sale.

I disagree. Especially when money is very tight. And no one has ever held it against me that their gift at least partly came from a yard sale.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not telling anyone to go out and buy just any gifts at these venues. Make sure the stuff is of good value, and well-kept. No one wants a ‘new’ comforter with holes or a huge stain. That would be wrong.

What I’m saying is that you check an item out real well and, if it is a quality item, get it. The stuff I get looks new, for the most part. Unless I’m specifically looking for items that are slightly worn because I’m doing theme gifts.

When my daughters were young we made a lot of food gifts for people, so certain things were bought at these venues each year including:

• Baskets of various sizes.
• Tins of various sizes.
• Tissue paper, ribbons, bows.
• Coffee mugs.
• Assorted gift tags, and cards with envelopes.

One year, when Skye and Zowie were not very old, I bought most of their Christmas gifts at the local church thrift store. I was able to get them the most adorable clothes, and they loved each item. They didn’t care where the clothes came from, or how much was spent on them. The clothing looked almost new.

I bought so many books for them over the years from yard sales and flea markets; they hardly cost a thing. Games and puzzles, as well as stuffed animals and dolls.

So I’m going to say yes, it is okay to buy gifts at these venues if you need to. Or even if you don’t actually need to.

And clearance sales? Yup. Great buys right in the store. Far better than regular sale prices.

What do you think? Have you ever bought a gift for someone from one of these places? Tell us about it in the comments, or email me at shannonlbuck@gmail.com. I always reply!

Happy Shopping!

Shannon

(Originally published to frugalisfabulous.wordpress.com on 2/27/16. Still applies today.)

Prepare for the Next Holiday Season

Now is the time to prepare for next Yule and Christmas. Yes, it may seem too early to bother but it really isn’t. My cousin actually bought the first gift for the holidays before the new year even began.

Many times, the bestest and I would take Skye and Zowie shopping before the new year. They bought what they wanted with their Christmas money, and we took advantage of all the wonderful sales for the next years’ needs.

It used to be a lot of fun. Things used to be sold for a lot less back then.

Tips on saving money for the next holiday season.

To begin, you’ll want to make some lists. Keep them in your purse or wallet at all times. You’ll need to refer to them throughout the year.

1. First, make a list of any decorations and like items you need for next year. Perhaps you dropped a few bulbs and need to replace them. Or the cat chewed on some ornaments, or broke off tree branches! Make a list of what will be needed for next year.
2. Next make a list of items you’d like to have. You may or may not get these, depending on finances, but at least you’ll be clear on what you want.
3. Then make a list of regular things that need to be replaced, such as greeting cards, tissue paper, gift wrap, the platter that was broken on Christmas day, and tape.
4. And make a list of gift ideas for next year. Some examples from my own list: Skye and Zowie both like colorful socks. Zowie’s husband likes long black socks. I want to pick up a few toys for Little Man; perhaps a wooden puzzle, number magnets, and a Tonka truck, and some things for Little Miss like dresses and dressup clothes. Mom likes anything having to do with her family, so she would like a calendar, mug, or other item with family pictures. And Sheila quilts and knits, so something along those lines would be perfect. There are obviously going to be things you wait to pick up, such as favorite candies. (Though some of these may keep in the freezer. Find out and pick up what you can while on sale.)

Now that your lists are made out, you’ll be able to see what you need at a glance.

Tips for saving money on purchases:

1. Set a budget. On overall one, or a per item one.
2. Shop the after Christmas sales.
3. Shop clearance sales throughout the year.
4. Check out thrift stores for items such as baskets, wrapping odds and ends, cards, envelopes, decorations, fashionable scarves, cookie cutters, fabric scraps, and canning jars. You’d be surprised what you might find that is still in good condition.
5. Shop junk stores. I’d be tickled pink if someone went to a junk store and bought me an old-fashioned tea-cup and saucer for my collection.
6. Visit yard and garage sales. I once bought brand new looking mugs and filled each with a small stuffed animal and small treats, to give as gifts. The stuffed animals also came from these venues. I just brought everything home and washed them.
7. Flea markets are another option. Think old stuff. Freshen the items up and use them as gifts. For example, anyone with a spoon collection would love spoons from other states. And old suitcases make for great storage. Refresh them to give to a friend looking for vintage ideas for their place, or use them for your own storage needs.
8. When possible, use coupons combined with sales to get some of the items needed.
9. Are you a member of MyPoints, SwagBucks, or another points program? Use the points you earn from emails, shopping, surveys, and more toward gift cards that can be used to buy gifts and other needs for next year. (Just be sure that you’re using points before they expire.) (These links are referral links. I’m a member of MyPoints and SwagBucks, so you’re helping me out when you join through my links. Thanks! I really appreciate it.)
10. Some apps also give gift cards for activities completed. Again, pay attention to expiration dates. My sister introduced me to ShopKick recently, and I’ve been getting used to it. The other day she showed me a couple of ways to use the app. (This one is also a referral link. Anyone following through will be helping me out. Thanks!) Use these gift cards to buy gifts and other holiday needs.
11. If you have enough of a balance on MyPoints, SwagBucks, ShopKick, or another venue, you might consider requesting the gift cards now and using them toward these purchases. But be sure to check the points needed for different denominations. It may be more worth your while to wait for a bigger pay out. Though this is not the case with every program, so do the math before deciding. You want to make every point count.
12. Don’t forget about the craft stores while shopping. They also have clearance sales, and you can get your crafting needs for the holidays at reasonable prices.
13. Use Kohl’s cash to get free stuff. For even more savings, buy clearance items with the cash.
14. Some stores have rewards programs. Use the points to buy gifts and other holiday needs.

Planning and shopping aren’t the only considerations when planning for the next holiday season.

Other useful tips:

1. Check items off your lists as you get them, so you don’t waste money on repeats.
2. Set up a big box in a closet to hold all the items you’ll buy over the coming months.
3. If anything will be staying with you and has a place, put them away as you get them. Christmas decorations go with your existing ones; platters, cookie cutters, etc., would go there as well, unless you have a specific cupboard for them. And the holiday scented soaps, shampoos, body washes, and other items you stocked up on go in the bathroom.
4. Do your research. Will the item you want to be more affordable at a physical store or online? Think about other things you may need if a deal will be best online providing you buy $50.00 worth of stuff. For instance, sales on toys at Walmart.com might be coupled with the new pants you’re going to need for work in order to realize good savings.

Do you have any tips about saving for the next holiday season? Please share!

~ Shannon