I buy a lot of things used; my friends usually tease me if they know me well and ask if any new purchase came from "the thrift store"! All of Arden's shoes, pajamas, clothing, winter coat, etc. just came from a children's consignment sale. I just bought three twin sheet sets from garage sales ($3, $7, and $6 per set for super cute children's sheets). One was Ralph Lauren! I have bought used shoes for myself and the kids, if the brand is good, and they are in good condition.
However, I do splurge on items and buy some things new. I like name-brands, and I am not one of those people who wears clothing that is styled from the 1970's just because the whole outfit cost $3 at Goodwill. So, here are a few of my tips:
1. shop consignment and thrift stores regularly. The merchandise changes all the time. I find super cute home accessories from time to time. I always find good books for me and the kids (or my classroom) for .25 cents to a dollar for a hardcover. My favorite ones are Goodwill, The Salvation Army store on Walnut, and Helping Hands on 28th.
2. Consign and shop in large children's consignment sales like Rhea Lana to purchase a large amount of items for young children (and girls will have more in larger sizes than boys)
3. Ebay. This is where I go first when I want some particular brand or a particular shoe size. The per item price will be higher than consignment or thrift stores, but you can get a specific item. For example, I will do a search for "stride rite 10.5" to look for used shoes for Arden. With boys, I will typically have to buy new shoes at their ages now, but I can sometimes find NIB pairs on Ebay cheaper than the same item in the stores. Sheet sets are sold on Ebay for great prices (both new and used). Boutique brands like Matilda Jane, for example, resell well on Ebay, if you are willing to splurge for a special outfit for a photograph session, but it will still be about half of the new retail price. Every time I want to purchase a clothing/shoe/accessory item new, I search for it on Ebay first to see if it is available for less. I even order my salon hair products I love on Ebay for about 1/2 off, and they are new and sealed. I even bought my Delta kitchen faucet fixures from Ebay (new in box) for half of retail!
4. Discount Vouchers/websites: I get regular/daily emails to a variety of discount programs and buy vouchers for items that I would use, usually at 50% off retail. These sites are places like Groupon, Living Social, or NWA Piggy Deal. They have really good discounts on restaurants and services. Also, I shop at www.onekingslane.com for similar discounts. They hold sales each week that highlight certain high end brands, and you can find good deals on brands like Peacock Alley sheets etc. I have bought 6 items there in the past year at One Kings Lane, and I usually buy at least one voucher monthly for some service/restaurant from the other daily deal sites.
5. Stores that have good sales: I have to shop quickly and on sale when I do buy myself clothing. I like Belk a lot because it is smaller than a Dillards. I also love Ann Taylor Loft. They have wonderful promotions and sales. With the store credit card, I get extra promotions/discounts plus a teacher's discount, even on sale items. I always get everything there over half off the retail price. Since it is a small store, I can get in and out quickly, and I know what size I wear. They can order me sizes they don't have and get them shipped to my house for free! I also stay out of clothing stores, in general,unless I have a specific item that I am really needing to purchase. I don't have time to browse malls now that I am teaching full-time, but I also find that it stops me from making a lot of impulse purchases.
6. Coupon codes: before I order from any online retailer, I always do a search for valid coupon codes for that business. Routinely, I can find codes that get me 10-20% off at checkout or give me free shipping. I recently found a valid coupon code for $25 off at www.erincondren.com and purchased the popular life planner for half price by using the code.
7. Outlets: These are probably my least favorite because they really aren't any cheaper than regular stores with sales. However, I do love upscale handbag outlets like Coach because department stores won't have these bags on sale very often. I purchased two Coach purses last fall for only 1/3 each of the retail cost. The quality of the leather is worth the cost, and I got them for only a little more than leather purses from Target by going to the outlet. The closest outlet to me is in Branson, MO.
8. Friends: See if you can find a friend who has children older than yours in the same gender, then you can get free (or cheap) hand-me-downs. I have been blessed to have a friend who gives Arden a lot of her daughter's outgrown clothing. I know of other times I have "shopped" from friend's clothing, and they have let friends know they were selling clothing privately before they sent it to a consignment sale. They would price it more cheaply, and friends got the first picks of the nicer items.
My goal is always to decorate well, look nice, and find a bargain. I can't enjoy my home or my kids' clothing if I am worried about how much money I spent on them. Try a few tips, and see how it goes. Once you see the savings, you will be addicted!
Showing posts with label frugal living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label frugal living. Show all posts
Monday, September 5, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Rhea Lana Sale Exceeds Expectations!
The Northwest Arkansas Rhea Lana consignment sale is this week from August 22-27 at the Frisco Station Mall in Rogers right next to Hobby Lobby. It is now open to the public daily and charges no admission! The hours are 9 am - 7 pm Monday through Wednesday and 9 am - 3 pm on Thursday. The half-price sale days are Friday with hours of 9 am - 7 pm and Saturday from 8 am - 2 pm.
I shopped during the pre-sale on Saturday when consignors are able to get in early before the sale opens to the public. I bought 60 items this time, and I averaged around $6 per item. My purchases included my daughter's ENTIRE fall/winter wardrobe including tops, pants, jeans, smocked dresses, pajamas, a light jacket, a heavy winter coat, and multiple pairs of shoes! Everything I found was name brand with styles from Gap, Children's Place, Gymboree, Matilda Jane, Orient Expressed, Stride Rite, Geox, Sperry, Petunia Pickle Bottom, Abercrombie, ZaZa Couture, and Mini Boden!
If you haven't gotten to the sale before, you need to try it out this week! This is the largest Rhea Lana sale in our area yet, and there were over 87,000 items from 1,100 consignors!!
I included pictures of some of my best deals above, and here are some more details:
1. Petunia Pickle Bottom toddler bag in mint condition - $8.00
2. Sperry Top Siders in mint condition - $10.00
3. Smocked dress by Orient Expressed - $15.00
4. Gap hooded heavy winter coat - $9.00
5. Pink Stride Rite tennis shoes in excellent condition - $3.50!!
6. Black mary jane Stride Rite shoes for $6.00
7. ZaZa Couture dress trimmed in faux fur - $10.00
8. Matilda Jane dress with minky dot ruffle pants (I am planning to use this outfit for a professional portrait this fall) - $20.00
I love the idea of recycling our used items at a consignment event because it is a form of living "green" plus it saves so much money in our family budget, even over sale shopping! So, get yourself to the Rhea Lana sale early this week to find all the good bargains that are still left! Don't forget to tell your friends! The sale also includes toys, bedding, and all sorts of baby equipment if you are needing those items. Happy shopping!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
What exactly is the Rhea Lana sale??
Have you heard of this sale? Do you wonder what Rhea Lana is or how to pronounce it? Do you want to know how I saved over $1100 this past spring in only one day by shopping this consignment event? I simply shop for my daughter's entire seasonal wardrobe at a consignment sale and sell my children's outgrown clothing in the process! See, it's that easy.
In northwest Arkansas the best consignment sale is called Rhea Lana after the original founder. The local NWA franchise is actually run by Rhea Lana's sister Ashley Shaver. This amazing, large consignment sale sells kids' clothing, toys, and baby equipment. Rhea Lana offers a good selection from thousands of consignors, so that it is realistic to purchase a large amount of your child's wardrobe with used clothing. If you are pregnant, you can also purchase baby furniture, jumparoos, high chairs, exersaucers, bouncy seats, etc. Since my children are no longer infants, I have pretty much stopped shopping for anything but shoes and clothing, and it is still very much worth my time and effort.
The NW Arkansas Rhea Lana sale will be at the Frisco Station Mall on Walnut in Rogers (by Hobby Lobby) from August 21-27. It is free of charge and open to the public during those days. However, the key (I think) to both making money and getting the best bargains is to become a consignor. This means you sign up to sell 15-150 of your children's gently used fall/winter items. The benefit to this is that you get paid to clean out your children's outgrown items PLUS you get to shop early before the general public and get the best pick of the clothing that is for sale! If it feels overwhelming for the first time, just try selling 25 items in the first sale to learn the routine. It really is very easy and all done online. I usually sell around 125 items and make a profit of $200-300 (and most of my items are play clothes; fancier clothing and boutique items will sell for much more). Consignors get to keep 70% of your profits for items which sell, and you can pick up anything that doesn't sell if you don't want it donated. Rhea Lana sales even guarantee they will pay for any lost items!
Here are the FAQ's for the next sale:
1. They will only take fall/winter clothes and toys, baby items, furniture, etc
2. You must consign a minimum of 15 items to a maximum of 150
3. They will take a consignor fee and 30% off your profits and give you a check for the rest on the final pick-up day
4. Go online to Rhea Lana website to get a consignment number
5. Enter your items online into their spreadsheet format (so easy)
6. Drop off your items for check in and to put on the labels between August 17-19. When you check in your items, you will get the special pass to shop early.
7. Arrive at 1:00 on Saturday, August 20, to shop at the pre-sale for consignors
During the last sale, I purchased 72 items at the pre-sale and then went back to the 1/2 price sale and bought 20 more items. My total purchases cost $415 which averages to $4.51 per item! This included two smocked dresses, 3 pairs of Stride Rite shoes, and mostly Gymboree/Children's Place/Gap clothes. I can't beat that in terms of time saved plus "one stop shopping." I would never be able to find shoes, coats, and smocked dresses for that price on any sale in a store!
Now, let's do the math for real savings. If I purchased 92 items at retail stores, even on "good" sales, I would probably spend at least $14/item on average to get that many items in the right sizes. That would total $1288. Then, let's subtract what I actually spent at the sale which was $420. That leaves a difference of $873 in SAVINGS for purchasing the same number of clothes! Better yet, let's add to that savings the profit that I earned from selling my clothing at the same event which was $250. So, my total "savings + profit" for the last sale was $1123! Pretty amazing, isn't it.
So, for those of you who think consignment shopping is just too much work, you ought to try it at least once. Here is the break-down of how much time it cost me to participate:
1) hanging old clothes and pricing them online - 3 hours (for 125 items)
2) putting on labels that I printed at home and pinning on the sales tags - 1 1/2 hours
3) checking in my items to sell at the sale - 1 1/2 hours
4) shopping at the sales - 4 hours (includes two trips)
TOTAL: 10 hours labor
If my "savings + profit" was $1123 divided by 10 hours of labor/shopping time, I just made $112 per hour for my time. Yes, I think it is worth the effort. Don't you?
In northwest Arkansas the best consignment sale is called Rhea Lana after the original founder. The local NWA franchise is actually run by Rhea Lana's sister Ashley Shaver. This amazing, large consignment sale sells kids' clothing, toys, and baby equipment. Rhea Lana offers a good selection from thousands of consignors, so that it is realistic to purchase a large amount of your child's wardrobe with used clothing. If you are pregnant, you can also purchase baby furniture, jumparoos, high chairs, exersaucers, bouncy seats, etc. Since my children are no longer infants, I have pretty much stopped shopping for anything but shoes and clothing, and it is still very much worth my time and effort.
The NW Arkansas Rhea Lana sale will be at the Frisco Station Mall on Walnut in Rogers (by Hobby Lobby) from August 21-27. It is free of charge and open to the public during those days. However, the key (I think) to both making money and getting the best bargains is to become a consignor. This means you sign up to sell 15-150 of your children's gently used fall/winter items. The benefit to this is that you get paid to clean out your children's outgrown items PLUS you get to shop early before the general public and get the best pick of the clothing that is for sale! If it feels overwhelming for the first time, just try selling 25 items in the first sale to learn the routine. It really is very easy and all done online. I usually sell around 125 items and make a profit of $200-300 (and most of my items are play clothes; fancier clothing and boutique items will sell for much more). Consignors get to keep 70% of your profits for items which sell, and you can pick up anything that doesn't sell if you don't want it donated. Rhea Lana sales even guarantee they will pay for any lost items!
Here are the FAQ's for the next sale:
1. They will only take fall/winter clothes and toys, baby items, furniture, etc
2. You must consign a minimum of 15 items to a maximum of 150
3. They will take a consignor fee and 30% off your profits and give you a check for the rest on the final pick-up day
4. Go online to Rhea Lana website to get a consignment number
5. Enter your items online into their spreadsheet format (so easy)
6. Drop off your items for check in and to put on the labels between August 17-19. When you check in your items, you will get the special pass to shop early.
7. Arrive at 1:00 on Saturday, August 20, to shop at the pre-sale for consignors
During the last sale, I purchased 72 items at the pre-sale and then went back to the 1/2 price sale and bought 20 more items. My total purchases cost $415 which averages to $4.51 per item! This included two smocked dresses, 3 pairs of Stride Rite shoes, and mostly Gymboree/Children's Place/Gap clothes. I can't beat that in terms of time saved plus "one stop shopping." I would never be able to find shoes, coats, and smocked dresses for that price on any sale in a store!
Now, let's do the math for real savings. If I purchased 92 items at retail stores, even on "good" sales, I would probably spend at least $14/item on average to get that many items in the right sizes. That would total $1288. Then, let's subtract what I actually spent at the sale which was $420. That leaves a difference of $873 in SAVINGS for purchasing the same number of clothes! Better yet, let's add to that savings the profit that I earned from selling my clothing at the same event which was $250. So, my total "savings + profit" for the last sale was $1123! Pretty amazing, isn't it.
So, for those of you who think consignment shopping is just too much work, you ought to try it at least once. Here is the break-down of how much time it cost me to participate:
1) hanging old clothes and pricing them online - 3 hours (for 125 items)
2) putting on labels that I printed at home and pinning on the sales tags - 1 1/2 hours
3) checking in my items to sell at the sale - 1 1/2 hours
4) shopping at the sales - 4 hours (includes two trips)
TOTAL: 10 hours labor
If my "savings + profit" was $1123 divided by 10 hours of labor/shopping time, I just made $112 per hour for my time. Yes, I think it is worth the effort. Don't you?
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Do you want to save $1100 in one day?
Are you interested? Do you want to know how I saved over $1100 in only one day? It doesn't require that you sell a new product, invest in anything, or do anything illegal! I simply shopped for my daughter's entire spring/summer wardrobe at a consignment sale and sold my children's outgrown clothing in the process! See, it's that easy.
In central and northwest Arkansas there are sales called Rhea Lana or Duck, Duck, Goose (central AR only) that are these amazing, large consignment sales for kids' clothing, toys, and baby equipment. They offer a good selection, so that it is realistic to purchase a large amount of your child's wardrobe with used clothing. Although other items are sold, I have pretty much stopped shopping for anything but shoes and clothing since we have plenty of toys, and it already takes me three hours just to shop for the clothing, and that is all I can do after teaching all day!
The NW Arkansas Rhea Lana sale was this week. I entered in 100 items of Hudson's and Arden's outgrown clothing to sell. As of this morning, my share of the profits (consignors get 70%) was $250. Yea!
Since I consigned clothing to sell, I got to shop at the presale event which is before the sale opens to the general public. Yes, it is tiring, crowded, and hot, but the dollar savings make a couple of hours and a headache well worth it. You won't be able to find as many good items if you wait until the sale opens publically since a lot will already be picked over. Unfortunately, the consignment sales are really only that lucrative for girls up to around size 7 or boys up to size 4. Once boys start school, their clothes are really not able to be resold well due to wear and tear. I am easily able to buy Arden's entire wardrobe at the two Rhea Lana sales held each year in my area. I stick to name brands for the most part, and then I look to make sure the item is free of stains or a lot of wash wear. However, I'm not too picky about colors, patterns, or trying to find certain lines from Gymboree. I'm about practical (ie: what can she wear to daycare every day?).
This sale I purchased 72 items at the presale and then went back this morning to the 1/2 price sale and bought 20 more items. My total purchases cost $415 which totals to $4.51 average per item! This included two smocked dresses, 3 pairs of Stride Rite shoes, and mostly Gymboree/Children's Place/Gap clothes.
Now, let's do the math for real savings. If I purchased 92 items at retail stores, even on "good" sales, I would probably spend at least $14/item on average to get that many items in the right sizes. That would total $1288. Then, let's subtract what I actually spent at the sale which was $420. That leaves a difference of $873 in SAVINGS for purchasing the same number of clothes! Better yet, let's add to that savings the profit that I earned from selling my clothing at the same event which was $250. So, my total "savings + profit" for this weekend was $1123! Pretty amazing, isn't it.
So, for those of you who think consignment shopping is just too much work, you ought to try it at least once. Here is the break-down of how much time it cost me to participate:
1) hanging old clothes and pricing them online - 3 hours (for 100 items)
2) putting on labels that I printed at home and pinning on the sales tags - 1 1/2 hours
3) checking in my items to sell at the sale - 1 1/2 hours
4) shopping at the sales - 4 hours (includes two trips)
TOTAL: 10 hours labor
If my "savings + profit" was $1123 divided by 10 hours of labor/shopping time, I just made $112 per hour for my time. Yes, I think it is worth the effort. Don't you?
In central and northwest Arkansas there are sales called Rhea Lana or Duck, Duck, Goose (central AR only) that are these amazing, large consignment sales for kids' clothing, toys, and baby equipment. They offer a good selection, so that it is realistic to purchase a large amount of your child's wardrobe with used clothing. Although other items are sold, I have pretty much stopped shopping for anything but shoes and clothing since we have plenty of toys, and it already takes me three hours just to shop for the clothing, and that is all I can do after teaching all day!
The NW Arkansas Rhea Lana sale was this week. I entered in 100 items of Hudson's and Arden's outgrown clothing to sell. As of this morning, my share of the profits (consignors get 70%) was $250. Yea!
Since I consigned clothing to sell, I got to shop at the presale event which is before the sale opens to the general public. Yes, it is tiring, crowded, and hot, but the dollar savings make a couple of hours and a headache well worth it. You won't be able to find as many good items if you wait until the sale opens publically since a lot will already be picked over. Unfortunately, the consignment sales are really only that lucrative for girls up to around size 7 or boys up to size 4. Once boys start school, their clothes are really not able to be resold well due to wear and tear. I am easily able to buy Arden's entire wardrobe at the two Rhea Lana sales held each year in my area. I stick to name brands for the most part, and then I look to make sure the item is free of stains or a lot of wash wear. However, I'm not too picky about colors, patterns, or trying to find certain lines from Gymboree. I'm about practical (ie: what can she wear to daycare every day?).
This sale I purchased 72 items at the presale and then went back this morning to the 1/2 price sale and bought 20 more items. My total purchases cost $415 which totals to $4.51 average per item! This included two smocked dresses, 3 pairs of Stride Rite shoes, and mostly Gymboree/Children's Place/Gap clothes.
Now, let's do the math for real savings. If I purchased 92 items at retail stores, even on "good" sales, I would probably spend at least $14/item on average to get that many items in the right sizes. That would total $1288. Then, let's subtract what I actually spent at the sale which was $420. That leaves a difference of $873 in SAVINGS for purchasing the same number of clothes! Better yet, let's add to that savings the profit that I earned from selling my clothing at the same event which was $250. So, my total "savings + profit" for this weekend was $1123! Pretty amazing, isn't it.
So, for those of you who think consignment shopping is just too much work, you ought to try it at least once. Here is the break-down of how much time it cost me to participate:
1) hanging old clothes and pricing them online - 3 hours (for 100 items)
2) putting on labels that I printed at home and pinning on the sales tags - 1 1/2 hours
3) checking in my items to sell at the sale - 1 1/2 hours
4) shopping at the sales - 4 hours (includes two trips)
TOTAL: 10 hours labor
If my "savings + profit" was $1123 divided by 10 hours of labor/shopping time, I just made $112 per hour for my time. Yes, I think it is worth the effort. Don't you?
Friday, January 8, 2010
Search List 2010
This list is mainly for me since I want to keep a running list of what I am looking for used this year. I will add to it as more things come up that I realize I need/want, and I will update when I've found the items on the list. Since I plan to print my blog as a book each year, this is a fun way for me to remember what I search for during each year!
Search list for used items in 2010:
1. twin mattress and boxsprings for Arden
2. side table/nightstand for Arden
3. Fisher Price Loving People dollhouse furniture and people for Arden's house
4. Leap Frog grocery cart replacement food
*1/28/10: I found a complete used set on Ebay with a good Buy-it-Now price of $20.00. These were discontinued items and hard to find. I had been outbid on many previous auctions for more than this!
5. Custom bedding for master bedroom (queen size)
6. Entertainment center with side bookcases for bonus room (maybe this year, but might be in 2011 due to other house projects)
I found another great deal on Craigslist this week and stumbled upon a like-new Radio Flyer Canopy Wagon that has folding seats and a removable canopy. The owners said they used it twice. It retails at Walmart and Target between $120-$140, and I got it for $40! However, I had to go out in 8 degree weather to test it out in an ice-covered parking lot when I met the lady for pick-up, but it was worth it! It will be wonderful to use to transport all our pool items to our neighborhood pool this summer, plus it will be great at Silver Dollar City and the Tulsa Zoo which I hope to visit this year. Last summer, I realized that all my neighbors used wagons at the pool to haul all the gear and snacks, and I looked for one all summer to purchase. Luckily, most people probably weren't out on the hunt for a wagon in January, so I was able to bargain down the original price. :)
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Best 2009 Thrift Store Treasures!
So . . . I'm a compulsive thrift-store, Craigslist, garage sale, Ebaying shopper! I can't help but think that when I pay for something new that I could have saved so much money had I found it used! Not everything can be found used, but I have had a lot of good luck finding some deals this year. My rule of thumb is to look for several months for certain furniture items used before considering a furniture store, if I still haven't found something. Most of my decorative accessories in my home are repainted, recycled thrift store items that I've found on my many treasure hunts. That's part of the fun of it -- there's no telling what you will find!
Here are a few of my favorite finds from 2009!
Glass hurricane, $2.00, and pewter silver platter which I painted with chalkboard paint, $7.00
Handcarved wooden bird, signed on the bottom from an art gallery, $1.00 (Stuart hates this bird!)
Primigi girl's shoes, .75 cents!!
Stride Rite mary jane shoes, $2.00
Willow Tree wooden figurine, this one is over 14 inches tall, $8.00
Gail Pittman, handpainted platter with iron stand, $8.00
Black and Decker coffee maker with timer, everything works! $2.50
This year, I did have some success finding larger furniture pieces which are mainly on Craigslist. I use thrift stores for clothing, decorative home items, toys, and books. Craigslist is good for larger items like furniture, electronics, or baby furniture. I search Ebay when I'm in need of something specific and don't have time to search for months in thrift stores to hope I find it, like if I want to buy Arden a pair of used Stride Rite shoes in size 7. This year, I've found the following by using Craigslist:
- television
- 9 foot tall silk tree in large decorative planter
- La-Z-Boy chair with matching ottoman (down filled cushions)
- wooden kitchen playset for Arden's room
- cream sleigh bed (twin) for Arden when we move her out of the crib
- two leather bar stools
- full mattress set for guestroom
I can't wait to see what I stumble across in 2010! Happy bargain shopping!
Here are a few of my favorite finds from 2009!
Glass hurricane, $2.00, and pewter silver platter which I painted with chalkboard paint, $7.00
Handcarved wooden bird, signed on the bottom from an art gallery, $1.00 (Stuart hates this bird!)
Primigi girl's shoes, .75 cents!!
Stride Rite mary jane shoes, $2.00
Willow Tree wooden figurine, this one is over 14 inches tall, $8.00
Gail Pittman, handpainted platter with iron stand, $8.00
Black and Decker coffee maker with timer, everything works! $2.50
This year, I did have some success finding larger furniture pieces which are mainly on Craigslist. I use thrift stores for clothing, decorative home items, toys, and books. Craigslist is good for larger items like furniture, electronics, or baby furniture. I search Ebay when I'm in need of something specific and don't have time to search for months in thrift stores to hope I find it, like if I want to buy Arden a pair of used Stride Rite shoes in size 7. This year, I've found the following by using Craigslist:
- television
- 9 foot tall silk tree in large decorative planter
- La-Z-Boy chair with matching ottoman (down filled cushions)
- wooden kitchen playset for Arden's room
- cream sleigh bed (twin) for Arden when we move her out of the crib
- two leather bar stools
- full mattress set for guestroom
I can't wait to see what I stumble across in 2010! Happy bargain shopping!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Score!
After four months of checking Craigslist almost daily for a used, wooden kitchen for Arden, I finally found one to buy! It's a bit bigger than what I was originally looking for, but I figured a way to move around things in her room to make the space. It is so cute!
It has some scratches on the "burner" area of the stove from kids pushing around pots and pans, but it doesn't bother me. I was able to negotiate the owner down to less than 1/2 price of the exact model new, and this one was already assembled.
I love having a van because I have loaded many Craigslist finds into the back cargo area since the seats fold down! I survived another appointment to pick up a Craigslist item from a stranger without being murdered, and now this kitchen is in my garage under two blankets, just awaiting Christmas Day when we move it into Arden's bedroom for her! (Seriously, do take precautions and let someone know where you are going, take a phone, and never enter a stranger's house alone when buying from a stranger).
I love buying used! It's a thrill to save money; it relieves me of stress because I don't worry about my kids damaging items as much, and it is better for the environment.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Bargain Shopping for Kids' Clothes
I'm always on the lookout for a good bargain for kids' clothing, and I have found a few ways that have really helped me to shop more affordably. First, let me say that all of this is just my opinion, so not everyone will agree with it. Also, there are probably a lot of ways to find bargains on kids' clothing, so this is not an exhaustive list.
Before I share how I shop for my kids' clothes, I want to mention that in order to save money on clothing, you also have to understand a couple of my philosophies:
1. Cheaper up front isn't always better down the road for resale value as well as how well clothing holds up and can be passed down to multiple children (as the case is with my two boys).
2. More is not the goal. Many children have so many clothes that the child can only wear each item a handful of times before it is outgrown; these kids have more clothing than my entire adult wardrobe. Ironically, most kids don't even care about what they are wearing, but as parents, we want them to look cute and well dressed. I guess we all want our children to look good, so that it reflects well on us. However, I think it will ultimately mean more to our kids if we invest our resources in items that last longer than clothing, like their college fund or savings accounts. My personal philosophy to save money is that I try to limit the quantity to around 8-10 pairs of pants, 20-25 shirts, a couple sweaters or dresses, 1 coat, and a couple pairs of shoes for boys (maybe around 4 -5 pairs for my daughter). That gives them several weeks before they have to wear the same thing again, but it doesn't require a lot of closet space to store. I try to shop only when clothes are needed for size changes or when seasons change; I never just "browse" (it will make you buy things you don't need). Boys, especially, usually don't care what they are wearing until they are older (mine don't care at all), so ask yourself if you are dressing your kids to please them or to please yourself. That's a tough one . . .
3. You will have to limit the "extras" and the accessories. I didn't have this issue at all until I had a girl. Now, I see where the budget can be destroyed. There are Gymboree hairbows to match every outfit in the store, there are belts, there are sunglasses in every color, there are socks that have a design to coordinate with each dress. I draw the line at spending my money on those items. I buy solid color Gymboree socks that can go with all the outfits. I buy solid color hairbows that aren't Gymboree that can match anything. I completely skip the hats, belts, ponchos, etc. (unless they came in a lot I won from Ebay, more on that below). My daughter rips all that stuff off anyway. It looks cute, and I might splurge on some special accessories for a professional photo session, but I can't afford them for daily life.
4. Everyone can't match. I, too, like the whole look of all the kids coordinating in "matching" shirts or outfits. I know lots of people who have all the children coordinated for most daily wear, and sometimes the entire family for Sundays. However, I can't afford to do this. I have found a good balance that I am happy with; I buy two "matching" outfits per year -- Christmas and Easter. I usually get the boys Christmas and Easter shirts on sale with Gymbucks at the end of the season and buy them in a larger size. Then, the boys wear them the following year. Obviously, buying matching clothing on sale requires some planning! I'm happy with a couple of matching outfits a year, and I know it is saving money over doing it more frequently.
5. You need to be open to buying things used, and that includes shoes and pajamas. I draw the line at undergarments, unless they are passed down from friends or relatives whom I know.
6. Have a set limit on what dollar amount you will routinely pay for items. I average out all my sales by the number of items to get a "price per item" amount. I routinely only pay $6 per shirt (new Gymboree) and $12 per pants (new Gymboree). Resale items average around $5 per item for name brands. I will pay more for a couple "specialty" items like a smocked dress for a photograph (I got one used on Ebay for $20). However, if you want to save money, you can't expect to spend hundreds of dollars on a single outfit on a regular basis.
CHOOSE BRANDS WISELY
When shopping for kids' clothing, I usually rely upon name brands that I like, that are stylish, and that hold up well to multiple children wearing them. I want my kids to look in fashion, just like everyone else! I don't really shop at Walmart or Target, even though some of their clothes are very cute. I buy a few sandals or casual clothes at Target from time to time, but that's about it. My reason is that they just don't wash and wear as well as Gymboree. All of Owen's clothing is passed down to Hudson since they are the same season. Most of the shorts and tee shirts I have bought at cheaper stores in brands such as Cherokee, Circo, Faded Glory, etc. become pilled, faded, or stitching tears before they can be passed down. After throwing away multiple items for this reason, I finally decided to pony up a bit more money on the front-end in order to pass clothing down to multiple children. Additionally, I resell almost all of the clothing that is in good shape after Hudson and Arden are done with it. Gymboree and other brands will get a much better resale price than cheaper store brands, so I recoup a lot of my money there.
I do have some favorite brands. These are my "tried and true" brands that wear well, are stylish, and the stores usually offer good sales and discounts. My first choice is Gymboree! Clothing is well made, cute, and the tee shirts are a softer, higher quality cotton. I have soaked most of the clothes many times in OxyClean for stains, and they can withstand it without much fading. I also like Children's Place, Old Navy, Polo, Tommy Hilfiger, and Baby Gap/Gap Kids. I would say that 85% of my children's clothing are those brands, but I never buy new or full price. How, do you ask? That is the next point.
SHOP CONSIGNMENT SALES
In order to buy clothing and save money, I limit the number of items each child owns, and I buy good brands in fewer items. However, I only buy consignment or on sale. There are large consignment sales in most major cities in fall and spring (usually September and February). In central Arkansas, the biggest ones are Duck Duck Goose and Rhea Lana. I sell around 100-150 items in each sale which allows me to shop early and get the first pick of the consignment clothing for the season. It's a lot of work, don't get me wrong! You have to label all the clothing, put it on hangers, drag it to check in which can take over an hour, and then you have to go back out to shop for 4-5 hours during the sale. At the last sale I just went to in September, I stood in line for 1 hour and 40 minutes to check out at the presale shopping event to buy some clothing! I still feel it's worth it when I leave with 7 pairs of shoes in Stride Rite, Robeez, and Nike brands that totaled under $40! Just realize that you will pay for some of the discounted price with your time. When selling my children's old items, I usually get back around $250 profit from the consignment sale which I put towards the cost of the items I bought.
As boys get older, it is harder to shop consignment. I have begun to see that with Owen who wears a size 7/8. Now, I can only find him 5-6 items at the consignment sales, which is not near enough to complete his wardrobe. That means that the younger kids will get mainly consignment items, and I will have to buy most of Owen's items on sale at local stores with the intent of passing them down to Hudson. There are always twice as many girl items at consignment sales, so you might be able to plan to spend more of your budget for the girls' clothing from used items.
GYMBUCKS and SALES
If you do shop at Gymboree, you need to work the system to get items affordably. I can't walk in and pay full price and get a tee shirt for $19.50 and a pair of pants for $28.50. One thing I do is only look at the clearance rack. This store has great sales, they rotate items frequently, and they mark down prices up to 75% off. I never buy full price, even if the item is "to die for" cute. I don't even look at the full-price racks! It take a lot of self-control, but I make myself shop in my price limits per item. I also shop using Gymbucks which is the famous Gymboree coupon system. If you shop at certain times, you can earn Gymbucks coupons to redeem later. Usually they are given for every $50 spent, you can earn a $25 coupon to redeem later. Then, during Gymbucks redemption, if you spend $50 you can redeem your $25 coupon, so everything is half off. The best part is that you can do this with sale/clearance items. When I shop on clearance and then apply Gymbucks, I usually average $6.00 per item. The key to success is to buy what your kids need (I often buy bigger sizes and put them back for the next season since those items are on clearance) and shop clearance items only. You won't save much just using Gymbucks on full price merchandise. You can also shop Gymbore online which helps me since I live 20-40 minutes away from the two store locations. Usually online inventory has a better selection of sale items than my local store, and I end up paying the same in shipping as I would have spent on gas to drive to the mall. Plus, you can't beat the convenience of shopping from home.
SHOP EBAY
Besides shopping consignment, using Gymbucks, or using other store clearance sales, I also use Ebay . . . a lot. This online auction format is not intimidating once you've done it a few times. I sell some of my better items on Ebay instead of selling them in consignment, since the consignment sales take a 30% cut of your profit. I also look regularly for Gymboree clothing, especially for older boys, as I have lucked out on some lots for Owen of 25 items for $75 (average of $3 /item!). Most sellers are reputable, and they have a feedback score listed. I only bid if the score is 99% positive or higher. I also ask if items are from a smoke-free home, which is important for leather goods/shoes. It is hard to find shoes at consignment sales, especially for boys. Ebay is a place where I look for shoes. Owen is wearing a pair of gently used Merrell shoes right now that I won for $13 (including shipping)! They are great! I buy all my Robeez used on Ebay and then resell them. I found some consignment shoes for Arden at the Rhea Lana sale, but then I got a few other ones she needed on Ebay. Stride Rite, Merrell, Ecco, Nike, Born, and Robeez are all brands of shoes that I have bought used on Ebay. I also found Arden's custom made crib bedding, lampshade, and child chair slipcover in an auction on Ebay last year. It was in immaculate condition, and I saved 70% over what it would have cost to buy fabric and hire someone to sew all the pieces. Then, I was able to locate the same fabric through fabric wholesale outlets and make additional items to complete her nursery.
Hopefully, some of these tips will work for you. It still takes discipline to walk past a cute kids' outfit and choose not to buy it because your child doesn't really need it. However, it will pay off when you are routinely saving money on their clothing and can fund a vacation or college fund instead. I think my kids always look cute, and they get compliments on their clothing. But I smile because I know that the sweater was $4, the pants $3, and the Robeez were $8 . . . but she looks like a million bucks!
Before I share how I shop for my kids' clothes, I want to mention that in order to save money on clothing, you also have to understand a couple of my philosophies:
1. Cheaper up front isn't always better down the road for resale value as well as how well clothing holds up and can be passed down to multiple children (as the case is with my two boys).
2. More is not the goal. Many children have so many clothes that the child can only wear each item a handful of times before it is outgrown; these kids have more clothing than my entire adult wardrobe. Ironically, most kids don't even care about what they are wearing, but as parents, we want them to look cute and well dressed. I guess we all want our children to look good, so that it reflects well on us. However, I think it will ultimately mean more to our kids if we invest our resources in items that last longer than clothing, like their college fund or savings accounts. My personal philosophy to save money is that I try to limit the quantity to around 8-10 pairs of pants, 20-25 shirts, a couple sweaters or dresses, 1 coat, and a couple pairs of shoes for boys (maybe around 4 -5 pairs for my daughter). That gives them several weeks before they have to wear the same thing again, but it doesn't require a lot of closet space to store. I try to shop only when clothes are needed for size changes or when seasons change; I never just "browse" (it will make you buy things you don't need). Boys, especially, usually don't care what they are wearing until they are older (mine don't care at all), so ask yourself if you are dressing your kids to please them or to please yourself. That's a tough one . . .
3. You will have to limit the "extras" and the accessories. I didn't have this issue at all until I had a girl. Now, I see where the budget can be destroyed. There are Gymboree hairbows to match every outfit in the store, there are belts, there are sunglasses in every color, there are socks that have a design to coordinate with each dress. I draw the line at spending my money on those items. I buy solid color Gymboree socks that can go with all the outfits. I buy solid color hairbows that aren't Gymboree that can match anything. I completely skip the hats, belts, ponchos, etc. (unless they came in a lot I won from Ebay, more on that below). My daughter rips all that stuff off anyway. It looks cute, and I might splurge on some special accessories for a professional photo session, but I can't afford them for daily life.
4. Everyone can't match. I, too, like the whole look of all the kids coordinating in "matching" shirts or outfits. I know lots of people who have all the children coordinated for most daily wear, and sometimes the entire family for Sundays. However, I can't afford to do this. I have found a good balance that I am happy with; I buy two "matching" outfits per year -- Christmas and Easter. I usually get the boys Christmas and Easter shirts on sale with Gymbucks at the end of the season and buy them in a larger size. Then, the boys wear them the following year. Obviously, buying matching clothing on sale requires some planning! I'm happy with a couple of matching outfits a year, and I know it is saving money over doing it more frequently.
5. You need to be open to buying things used, and that includes shoes and pajamas. I draw the line at undergarments, unless they are passed down from friends or relatives whom I know.
6. Have a set limit on what dollar amount you will routinely pay for items. I average out all my sales by the number of items to get a "price per item" amount. I routinely only pay $6 per shirt (new Gymboree) and $12 per pants (new Gymboree). Resale items average around $5 per item for name brands. I will pay more for a couple "specialty" items like a smocked dress for a photograph (I got one used on Ebay for $20). However, if you want to save money, you can't expect to spend hundreds of dollars on a single outfit on a regular basis.
CHOOSE BRANDS WISELY
When shopping for kids' clothing, I usually rely upon name brands that I like, that are stylish, and that hold up well to multiple children wearing them. I want my kids to look in fashion, just like everyone else! I don't really shop at Walmart or Target, even though some of their clothes are very cute. I buy a few sandals or casual clothes at Target from time to time, but that's about it. My reason is that they just don't wash and wear as well as Gymboree. All of Owen's clothing is passed down to Hudson since they are the same season. Most of the shorts and tee shirts I have bought at cheaper stores in brands such as Cherokee, Circo, Faded Glory, etc. become pilled, faded, or stitching tears before they can be passed down. After throwing away multiple items for this reason, I finally decided to pony up a bit more money on the front-end in order to pass clothing down to multiple children. Additionally, I resell almost all of the clothing that is in good shape after Hudson and Arden are done with it. Gymboree and other brands will get a much better resale price than cheaper store brands, so I recoup a lot of my money there.
I do have some favorite brands. These are my "tried and true" brands that wear well, are stylish, and the stores usually offer good sales and discounts. My first choice is Gymboree! Clothing is well made, cute, and the tee shirts are a softer, higher quality cotton. I have soaked most of the clothes many times in OxyClean for stains, and they can withstand it without much fading. I also like Children's Place, Old Navy, Polo, Tommy Hilfiger, and Baby Gap/Gap Kids. I would say that 85% of my children's clothing are those brands, but I never buy new or full price. How, do you ask? That is the next point.
SHOP CONSIGNMENT SALES
In order to buy clothing and save money, I limit the number of items each child owns, and I buy good brands in fewer items. However, I only buy consignment or on sale. There are large consignment sales in most major cities in fall and spring (usually September and February). In central Arkansas, the biggest ones are Duck Duck Goose and Rhea Lana. I sell around 100-150 items in each sale which allows me to shop early and get the first pick of the consignment clothing for the season. It's a lot of work, don't get me wrong! You have to label all the clothing, put it on hangers, drag it to check in which can take over an hour, and then you have to go back out to shop for 4-5 hours during the sale. At the last sale I just went to in September, I stood in line for 1 hour and 40 minutes to check out at the presale shopping event to buy some clothing! I still feel it's worth it when I leave with 7 pairs of shoes in Stride Rite, Robeez, and Nike brands that totaled under $40! Just realize that you will pay for some of the discounted price with your time. When selling my children's old items, I usually get back around $250 profit from the consignment sale which I put towards the cost of the items I bought.
As boys get older, it is harder to shop consignment. I have begun to see that with Owen who wears a size 7/8. Now, I can only find him 5-6 items at the consignment sales, which is not near enough to complete his wardrobe. That means that the younger kids will get mainly consignment items, and I will have to buy most of Owen's items on sale at local stores with the intent of passing them down to Hudson. There are always twice as many girl items at consignment sales, so you might be able to plan to spend more of your budget for the girls' clothing from used items.
GYMBUCKS and SALES
If you do shop at Gymboree, you need to work the system to get items affordably. I can't walk in and pay full price and get a tee shirt for $19.50 and a pair of pants for $28.50. One thing I do is only look at the clearance rack. This store has great sales, they rotate items frequently, and they mark down prices up to 75% off. I never buy full price, even if the item is "to die for" cute. I don't even look at the full-price racks! It take a lot of self-control, but I make myself shop in my price limits per item. I also shop using Gymbucks which is the famous Gymboree coupon system. If you shop at certain times, you can earn Gymbucks coupons to redeem later. Usually they are given for every $50 spent, you can earn a $25 coupon to redeem later. Then, during Gymbucks redemption, if you spend $50 you can redeem your $25 coupon, so everything is half off. The best part is that you can do this with sale/clearance items. When I shop on clearance and then apply Gymbucks, I usually average $6.00 per item. The key to success is to buy what your kids need (I often buy bigger sizes and put them back for the next season since those items are on clearance) and shop clearance items only. You won't save much just using Gymbucks on full price merchandise. You can also shop Gymbore online which helps me since I live 20-40 minutes away from the two store locations. Usually online inventory has a better selection of sale items than my local store, and I end up paying the same in shipping as I would have spent on gas to drive to the mall. Plus, you can't beat the convenience of shopping from home.
SHOP EBAY
Besides shopping consignment, using Gymbucks, or using other store clearance sales, I also use Ebay . . . a lot. This online auction format is not intimidating once you've done it a few times. I sell some of my better items on Ebay instead of selling them in consignment, since the consignment sales take a 30% cut of your profit. I also look regularly for Gymboree clothing, especially for older boys, as I have lucked out on some lots for Owen of 25 items for $75 (average of $3 /item!). Most sellers are reputable, and they have a feedback score listed. I only bid if the score is 99% positive or higher. I also ask if items are from a smoke-free home, which is important for leather goods/shoes. It is hard to find shoes at consignment sales, especially for boys. Ebay is a place where I look for shoes. Owen is wearing a pair of gently used Merrell shoes right now that I won for $13 (including shipping)! They are great! I buy all my Robeez used on Ebay and then resell them. I found some consignment shoes for Arden at the Rhea Lana sale, but then I got a few other ones she needed on Ebay. Stride Rite, Merrell, Ecco, Nike, Born, and Robeez are all brands of shoes that I have bought used on Ebay. I also found Arden's custom made crib bedding, lampshade, and child chair slipcover in an auction on Ebay last year. It was in immaculate condition, and I saved 70% over what it would have cost to buy fabric and hire someone to sew all the pieces. Then, I was able to locate the same fabric through fabric wholesale outlets and make additional items to complete her nursery.
Hopefully, some of these tips will work for you. It still takes discipline to walk past a cute kids' outfit and choose not to buy it because your child doesn't really need it. However, it will pay off when you are routinely saving money on their clothing and can fund a vacation or college fund instead. I think my kids always look cute, and they get compliments on their clothing. But I smile because I know that the sweater was $4, the pants $3, and the Robeez were $8 . . . but she looks like a million bucks!
Recipe for Homemade Foaming Handsoap
In my neverending quest to save money, I decided to try this recipe for homemade foaming handsoap. My kids have loved the Kandoo brand in their bathroom, as the foaming dispenser makes it easy for young kids to get their own soap out to wash their hands. However, the Kandoo soap is over $3.50 per bottle, and it only lasts about 6 weeks in my house with several dirty boys. That cost adds up!
This week on Good Morning America, there was a segment on saving money, and this recipe was shared. I decided to give it a try. We were just about out of Kandoo soap, so I just rinsed and reused that dispenser.
Results: wonderful, foaming handsoap that is just as good as Kandoo for a fraction of the price! If you use a good soap product (like Bath and Body Works), you can still enjoy the great fragrance too.
You will need:
1 foaming type pump dispenser (you can buy them in many brands and then just refill it yourself when empty, or Pampered Chef sells a plain one for about $2.00)
2 TBS concentrated handsoap (I used some antibacterial soap from Bath and Body Works that I already had from a previous sale; use the kind in a NON-FOAMING dispenser)
1 cup water
Pour soap into dispenser and add water. Shake.
I intend to make my own for each bathroom from now on!
This week on Good Morning America, there was a segment on saving money, and this recipe was shared. I decided to give it a try. We were just about out of Kandoo soap, so I just rinsed and reused that dispenser.
Results: wonderful, foaming handsoap that is just as good as Kandoo for a fraction of the price! If you use a good soap product (like Bath and Body Works), you can still enjoy the great fragrance too.
You will need:
1 foaming type pump dispenser (you can buy them in many brands and then just refill it yourself when empty, or Pampered Chef sells a plain one for about $2.00)
2 TBS concentrated handsoap (I used some antibacterial soap from Bath and Body Works that I already had from a previous sale; use the kind in a NON-FOAMING dispenser)
1 cup water
Pour soap into dispenser and add water. Shake.
I intend to make my own for each bathroom from now on!
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