by Jennifer Powers

Created on: March 14, 2009

As a mother of twin boys, I was prepared to buy twice as many clothes. However, my budget for all this clothes shopping was very limited so I had to get creative with how to dress my kids up on a budget. After my baby showers, I had a decent wardrobe start, but I also needed to add some of my own character into the clothes my boys would wear. I visited our Outlet Mall down the road, but found their prices were not discounted enough to fit into my budget. That is when I knew I would have to get creative to dress up my kids on my tiny budget.

My first stop are consignment sales for childrens' clothing. Many people go to yard sales, but consignment sales are multiple families under one roof. Since my twins are in tote, this is a much better use of my time and it takes up much less gas money. At a typical consignment sale, I pick up sleepers from $1-$2 per piece and never pay over $5 for name-brand outfits. Some clothes might be gently used while others have the original sales tag. To get the best deals, I recommend buying an Early Shopping Pass so you can get in on the deals before the general public does!

The next most popular place I find my kids' clothing is Ebay and Craigslist. I have found on Ebay that the prices are very reasonable if sold in bulk, but the quality might not be as great as smaller bulk lots or individal pieces. Most Craigslist ads do not put pictures and are very generic with the types of clothing they have so I will send an email to inquire if there are pictures before driving around. Finally, Freecycle is a great place as many people in my area give away lots of kids' clothing or specific pieces of clothing that can help with my sparse twins' clothes closet.

If you only want to dress your kids in brand-new clothing, the best place to go hands-down is Kohls. They always have the clothes on sale as well as give you additional 10-20% savings if you have their credit card. While I might go to Babies R Us if they have a spectacular sale, Kohls has a great selection for less. What I love about Kohls is their 70-80% clearance rack because I can pick up name-brand Chaps outfits for $5-$8! Otherwise discount clothing stores such as Ross, Marshalls and T.J. Maxx are great avenues for stretching my kids' clothing budget. Just make sure to check for any defective clothing before purchasing.

Last but not least, look to your friends and family for help. Chances are someone in your family can give you some hand-me-downs. This helps clear out their closets and helps fill yours. If your family is not local, offer to pay shipping and handling charges. Whether it is free or a small fee, this is your greatest uptapped source for dressing up your kids on a budget.

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