I think we can all agree that having a baby changes some things in your budget.  That said, there are several ways that you can tweak things in your budget and find ways to spend less,  and yes, even save money when buying things for baby.  Today, I’m sharing details from a recent shopping trip as well as tips that you can use when trying to save money on kids’ clothes.

We buy almost all of Little’s clothes via consignment.  Consignment stores are different than thrift stores in that the store owners choose to purchase all of their inventory rather than having it donated without discretion.  That means that the items have been through some sort of quality control before making it to the sales racks.  (This is not to say that there are not also awesome things at thrift stores – we certainly do our share of shopping there as well.)

My favorite store to shop for Little is Once Upon a Child (this is not a sponsored post, I just really like shopping there).  They buy gently used children’s clothes, toys, and other gear and resell it for a fraction of retail.  There are several other stores, but I’ve always found that I can easily get into OUAC and find what I’m looking for.  To see if there is a OUAC near you – see here.

Twice a year, OUAC has a “bag sale” where they provide customers with a shopping bag that you can fill with as many clearance clothing items as you can for just $15.  Little has enough clothes this year and so I took the time this year to buy things in the next size up, which I think will be perfect for him for the fall and next winter.  Last year at this sale, I bought him some 12-18 month items, which he could fit last year and he’s wearing many of them again this year.  This year, I purchased 24 month and 2T sized items that are too big currently.  I even picked up a few baby girl things for a good friend whose little girl was born the day after Little’s first birthday.

Here was my bag before I checked out:

Here’s what Little got:

And here are the girl things.  I am swooning over the little bows on those jeans:

I got 40 items in total to fit in my bag, again for just $15.  You really can’t beat it.

 5 Tips for Buying Consignment Clothes for Children

But maybe you don’t live close to a Once Upon a Child.  Have no fear!  There are still lots of ways to go about finding great secondhand clothes for your kids.  Below are my top tips for saving money on kids’ clothes.

Keep track of what items you already have

Before you do any shopping, take inventory of what items you already have.  Does your child need more long sleeve shirts?  Bottoms?  Pajamas?  What about any specialty pieces – a new jacket perhaps?  Does the clothing already in the closet still fit?  Knowing what you have and what you might need to replace or add will help keep you focused and knowing what to look for.  You want to build a cohesive wardrobe for your kids – regardless of style so it’s good to think about how any new pieces will work with existing pieces before you shop.

Find out which consignment stores are near you and when they have their sale events

As I shared today, my OUAC has their bag sale twice per year.  I keep a look out in the winter and summer months to be sure to find out the dates for this sale since it is the biggest sale I’ve found.  Also pay attention though to other clearance events throughout the year because kids grow like crazy and you can’t always predict what they’ll be wearing at bi-annual sales.  There are often smaller sales throughout the year that provide great deals as well.

Join Facebook resell groups

There are SO many resell groups on Facebook.  I see people selling gently used clothes and gear for kids almost everyday and so much of it is in great shape.  You can also use these groups to post if you are looking for something specific.  This can be a huge time saver as inventory is constantly changing in consignment and thrift stores so you are not guaranteed to find what you’re looking for if you need a specific item or if you are in a time crunch.

Find out about local consignment sales hosted by organizations throughout the year

I recommend Facebook for this one, too.  Many local organizations will host pop-up consignment sales throughout the year.  These sales usually run for a few days and often have a 1/2 off or more sale near the last day of the sale.  I know lots of people who have gotten major deals on all sorts of clothes, toys, gear, etc. with these sales.

Don’t forget about thrift stores

Finally, don’t forget about thrift stores.  In my experience, thrift stores don’t always carry items for newborns, but for toddlers up, you can find lots of great items here.  As a bonus, many thrift stores help support great local organizations that are providing a helping hand to others in your community.

Now it’s your turn.  I would love to hear your tips for clothing your kids on a budget.  Where do you shop and find the best deals?  Leave a comment below and let me know!