Whats one of the best feelings ever? You might be thinking, The moment I see my babys face for the first time, or, The warm sun on my face, but what Im thinking is, A package waiting for me on my doorstep after a day at work. Dont deny that you are in love with your Fex-Ex or UPS driver because they bring you gifts. Gifts, yes, that you pay for, but gifts nonetheless. Now with six kids, a big chunk of change is spent on clothing. Im lucky that my boys share clothes and that lots of my girls clothes get handed down, but this last baby is proving to be a bit chunkier than her older sisters and those hand-me downs are the wrong season. If this sounds like rambling and you arent getting the point, the point is that I have to buy a new spring and summer wardrobe for my kids this year. It makes me a little cranky (I mean, whats wrong with swimsuits all day everyday?) but its a necessity. I dont want to spend $45 on a GAP shirt or $50 on a dress from Zara, though, so Im being really careful. I want good deals, but I dont want my love of fashion and cute kid looks to slide. Yes, Im incredibly superficial at times. If you can relate, check out these places for great deals on new or like-new kids clothes:
ThredUp -- this is an online second hand shop. You can filter through sizes, styles, items, and condition of clothing to get exactly what you want. The prices are much lower than what youd pay retail, but dont expect yard sale prices here. GAP dresses in new condition usually go for half of retail price. You can also have them mail you a bag so you can sell your clothes to them. This is something I dont recommend because you get such a horrible deal on this end of it. Youre better off having a yard sale. Hansel and Gretel -- This Moscow consignment shop for children is incredible. My kids clothes (they carry up to size six) often come from here. The store is picky about what they consign, so buyers know that what they buy is good quality, clean and worth the money. The durable brands found here -- including GAP, Old Navy, Peek, Boden, Zara, Nordstrom and Tea Collection -- ensure years worth of wear if clothes are destined to be handed down. Again, these arent yard sale prices, but theyre fair. The store also carries baby gear, shoes, books and maternity clothes. Bonus: across the street is a sister store for adults: The Storm Cellar. My life will be complete if they open up a consignment shop for tweens.Swap.com -- Swap claims to be the largest online consignment and thrift store, and carries sizes for infants on up, plus clothes for men and expectant mothers. The prices seem legit, but Ive never tried them personally, so I cant vouch for the quality. I will say that sorting through this sites clothes gets old fast. I dont want to be looking at sweater dresses and fur-lined coats in April. If youre a shop ahead kind of person, this might be a non-issue for you.
Dessie -- Dessiekids.com is an online consignment store that was new to me but Im so happy I tried it out. Downsides: The site doesnt have a ton to choose from and it shows sold items alongside clothing that is still available. Prices, though, are spot on and featured brands include Matilda Jane, J.Crew, Gymboree, GAP -- you get the picture. It was voted one of the best online consignment stores by Red Tricycle which gives it some cred as well.
Schoola -- Schoola.com has a wide range of sizes, and each purchase goes towards a good cause. Right now, 40 percent of profits go towards kids art programs. The prices arent a huge draw, but they arent highway robbery either. One great feature is shoppers can filter by brand, so if you know what style youre looking for, the clothes are easier to weed through.
Many of these sites offer coupon codes or a percentage off a first purchase making it extra sweet. As youre watching the weather shift from frosty to sunny, consider swapping out your kids clothes with new-to-you and shopping consignment. Make some money yourself and save big. Happy shopping!