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As the mother of three and the grandmother of 8 I have had my share of experience purchasing children's clothing. It starts with newborn infants and doesn't end until they go off on their own. We have a brand new grandchild due in September so I am back in the infants department looking at all the tempting choices.

Getting your money's worth with kids fashions is often more about quality than quantity. Sturdy well made clothes and shoes last longer and get passed down better than cheaper items. Having said that none of us is going to spend retail to get that good quality clothing. If you are going to win this war you are going to have to be an educated consumer. You have to know your products, you have to know your prices and you have to know where to make your dollar work for you.

Lets start with shoes. This is one of the biggest investments we make. Shoes don't really work very well as hand me downs unless one child suddenly had a growth spurt, which does happen, and out grows their new shoes before they had barely put a scuff on them. This as all mothers know is the exception , not the rule.

When it comes to shoes they need to be durable, they need to be able to survive walks through puddles, dragging along the streets when used as bicycle brakes, kicking soccer balls, stones and just about anything else that can be kicked. Cheap cardboard soled shoes are never going to do. This is one area where more is better. My strategy is to wait for the 2 for one sale at the outlet store and pick up four pairs, two in the current size and two in the next size. This way they always have one pair that hasn't been mangled yet.

I also prowl the shoe department at Marshalls and TJ Maxx. I have found some great buys there on very good quality shoes. I am a firm believer in happy feet.

The next big expense is the outer wear. Winter coats can be very expensive. I always buy them a year ahead and yes I just guess about the size. So far I haven't been too far off. I have four grandsons who are not too far apart in age, what doesn't fit one usually fits another. I have to admit that this strategy only works up to a certain point. As they get closer to their teen years they need to be with me when I buy their coats because they have very specific tastes. It makes me long for the days when as long as it fit and was new they loved it.

I always shop the discount racks at major retailers especially as the seasons are changing. The best time to buy summer clothes is August and winter in April. It takes time to really find bargains but as gas and oil skyrocket our budgets need to be adjusted somewhere and if we can save 50 or 60% on the children's clothing , well maybe we can afford to drive to work!

Our area is blessed with a lot of very fine consignment shops. It is not unheard of to be able to purchase almost new dress clothes for very reduced prices. The problem is of course that most play clothes are not in good enough condition after even one child wears them to be sold at consignment.

When it comes to jeans and tee shirts we usually head to Kohls when they are having one of their sales. Prices are reduced to about 50% of retail and this week for every $50 you spend you get a $10 certificate that can be used next week, What I do is buy what I need to buy and then use the gift certificates to buy birthday gifts or little splurges or baby clothes for the newest grandchild. This is a win win as far as I am concerned. I call it guilt free shopping.

The way to get the most for your fashion dollar is to shop smart, to buy quality at discount prices and to make sure every dollar counts. Buying the clothes with your reward credit card is just the frosting on the cake.

Learn more about this author, Belle Starr.
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