Melissas Bargains

If you’ve got kids, then you know that clothing them can be a big piece of your budget, especially when they’re younger because they either outgrow things quickly or wear them out!

Here are a few tips for saving money on kid clothing:

RETAIL

*Sign up for mailing lists and “rewards” cards:  Many companies have links on their websites where you can join their mailing list.  When you do this, they will notify you by e-mail of upcoming sales and sometimes send you coupons, too!  Store “rewards” cards are not the same as credit cards.  They are usually free and allow you to earn points or cash back on your purchases.

Here are the links to join mailing lists for a few popular stores:
–Carter’s (lower left hand corner)
–Crazy 8 (lower left hand corner)
–Gap (lower right hand corner)
–Gymboree (lower right hand corner)
-JC Penney
-Kohl’s (you’ll get a coupon for $5 off your next in store purchase just for signing up!)
–Old Navy (lower right hand corner) – also “like” them on Facebook!
–Osh Kosh (lower left hand corner)
–Payless (lower left hand corner)
–The Children’s Place (lower right hand corner)

Here are links to sign up for free rewards cards:
-Gymboree Rewards:  Earn 1 point for every $1 spent (250 points = $5 rewards) plus get valuable coupons
–JCP Rewards:  Earn 1 point for every $1 spent (250 points = $10 reward) plus get valuable coupons (I get a coupon for $10 off any $10 purchase every few months)
–‘R Us Rewards:  Earn rewards for in store purchases (they accumulate in the form of a $ off coupon) plus earn free diapers, formula, and more!

*Shop at the end of the season – At the end of a “season” many stores will have major clearance sales where you can save 60-80% off of original prices.  I always try to stock up for the next year during these times.

*Always match coupons with sale prices – When buying clothing, I always try to wait for a good sale, use a coupon and the best case scenario for me is to also use a gift card, too, (earned from survey sites or from the Huggies instant win game) so that I minimize my out of pocket spending!

*If you’re shopping online, use cash back sites – If you’re shopping online, make sure you take advantage of cash back sites like Shop at Home or Ebates


GO GREEN!

*Check out children’s resale stores – You can sometimes find great deals on clothing by checking out children’s resale stores.  Bring your own clothing that your kids have outgrown in for store credit and to offset your out of pocket expenses.  Some popular resale chains include Children’s Orchard and Kid to Kid.

*Check out garage sales – Sometimes you can find name brand clothing in good condition for dirt cheap if you’re willing to spend the time hunting down deals at garage sales

*Check out Freecycle – Some people don’t want to mess with resale stores, garage sales, or Ebay, so they will just donate a box or bag of clothing on Freecycle. 

*Have a swap party – Have a swap party with friends or family members and swap clothing you no longer need!  This helps everyone save money.

*Check out Craigslist or Ebay – You can sometimes find great deals on name brand clothing on Craigslist or Ebay.  On Ebay, make sure you check the seller’s feedback rating first and also make sure you look at shipping prices.  With Craigslist, make sure you arrange to meet in a public place and don’t go alone!

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