Buying Smarter Not Harder

Vintage is In

Who hasn't’ gone through the rush from our kids who have to have these sneakers or that jacket because everyone else does. It can be hard as a parent to say no sometimes. Trying to save money is never easy especially when we don’t want to scar our kids for life by making them wear clothing that makes them feel uncomfortable around their friends.

So what do you do? Well one thing I’ve found is checking on eBay. A lot of mom’s have started putting on the clothing their kids grow out of. Jeans sweatpants tops. Sometimes you can get a really great buy when you take the time to look. Its always better  if someone is selling several pieces together then going after the solo item. Lets face it our kids grow like weeds, and the only way to  keep up and not spend a fortune is to be a smarter shopper. Another way is to pick up items after the holidays. You can often find winter clothing marked down drastically after Christmas.

Another option for those picky teens is to introduce them to vintage. Not the vintage that sells off the rack and has been marked up 400% but real vintage. Make it a game and let them take their time. Girls in particular love to find great looking clothes, most of them want to wear it only a couple of times before there trying to stuff it in the goodwill bag.

You can also save by cleaning and putting the clothes your kids grow out of on eBay or craigslist. Its a great way to pay it forward and to make some money to replace the clothes they no longer want. A lot of times your local hospital, will have a thrift store, and they tend to get higher end items through donations. It isn’t always easy as a parent to save money, giving the clothing your kids don't fit into to a family member who may have a son or daughter who will fit into the clothes they grow out of is a good way to keep it in the family and help them save, as well.

I know there are some who might be horrified by this idea but being smart and thrifty at the same time can wind up saving you hundreds to thousands of dollars on clothing. Some of the nicer items I've added to my own wardrobe have come from sales, eBay, or thrift stores. Most second hand stores will inspect the clothing and re clean it prior to putting it out for sale so don't be afraid of koodies..

With a little thought and ingenuity you can save money and keep your family happy. Just remember its always better to be a fashion setter then a slave to fashion. Use your head and reuse clothing, you're not just saving money, but you're also helping the environment.