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How To Save A Ton of Money by Trading Your Kids’ Old Clothes

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trading kids clothing

Kids grow fast. The speed at which they grow often means they only get a handful of wear out of brand-new jeans before their ankles start making an appearance. Buying new clothes at a rapid case is a sure way to go broke. It’s also wasteful. The good news is that most moms are in the exact space you are. Trading your kids’ old clothes can save a ton of money. Here’s how to do it.

Three Ways To Save Money by Trading Your Kids’ Old Clothes

1. Host a Clothing Swap

A clothing swap is a great way to not only save money by finding new-to-you clothes for your children; it’s a great way to socialize and meet new people with similar interests.

Invite your friends with kids roughly the same age (or size) as yours. If your kids attend school, you can send an invite through their classroom. Ask everyone to bring a few gently used items of clothing for a swap. 

As everyone arrives, collect the donated items of clothes. Give everyone a ticket for the number of things they brought. As they browse the merchandise, they can turn in their tickets for new-to-them clothes. 

2. Consignment Shop

By swapping clothes at a consignment shop, you can not only save money, but you may also even make a little.  

Once a month, I take a bin of clothes to two consignment shops in my town. I’ve collected the clothes all month as I’ve done laundry and noticed things don’t quite fit anymore. I also strategically save holiday and seasonal items until a few months before, as the shops are more likely to purchase at that time.  

The consignment shop will sort through my bin based on what meets their qualifications. They’ll offer cash for the items they want, or a 20 percent bump if I choose store credit instead. Depending on if I need new clothes for my kids, I may choose the store credit and grab some items they may be lacking. What they don’t take, I’ll hit up at the next consignment shop, or take directly to goodwill.  

Occasionally, I’ll take the cash and apply it to whatever financial goal I’m currently working on.

3. Selling Online

Selling online has become much more sophisticated since the days eBay first came on the scene. It’s more convenient, especially if you tend to have higher-end clothes or clothes with tags.

Think about the clothes you receive for your kids from Grandma and Grandpa that never get worn because they’re already too small. Sell them online, then use that cash to subsidize the cost of new clothes. Better yet, make that cash go further buying gently used clothes either on the same site you sold to, or a consignment shop. 

Some of my favorite online resources for selling kids’ clothes are Kidizen, ThredUp, and Josies’ Friends.

Do you have a favorite method to save money on kids’ clothes? Share with us in the comments below.

Read more:

Here Are the Best Online Shopping Sites for Affordable Kids Clothes

Save Money And Host A Clothing Swap

Kid’s Clothing Consignment Sales: Are They Really Worth It?

Dress With Class and Style: 11 of the Best Preppy Brands for Clothes

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One simply doesn’t go to the country club without dressing the part. Preppy fashion is all about looking classic, chic, and conservative.

Although it started in the 1800s, this style is still alive and well.

If you’re interested in leveling up your wardrobe, the preppy trendy is the way to go. Not only does it look professional, but it uses more durable and high-quality fabrics. These are designs that will last a lifetime.

Not sure where to start shopping first? Here are the top 11 best preppy brands for men’s, women’s, and children’s fashion.

1. Coach

Starting with a bang, the top luxury preppy brand is Coach. Known for its signature monogrammed handbags, this brand has much more to offer.

Its runway couture sometimes strays from the crisp, clean preppy staples. But, by using collars, buttons, and high-neck lines, it nods to this historic fashion trend.

Notable items: The Kitt Messenger Bag in Jacquared Signature or the Soft Trifold Wallet in Black.

2. Vineyard Vines

When you want classic basics on a budget, head to Vineyard Vines. You can find every pastel and printed polo under the sun in this yacht-club approved brand.

This preppy store has captured the collared hearts of Americans everywhere. They sell casual day clothes and nightwear, as well as accessories and kids’ apparel.

Notable items: The Men’s 8-inch Performance Breaker Shorts in Lobster Reef or the 17-inch Scallop Skort in Deep Bay.

3. Ralph Lauren

What started as a men’s tie fashion line in 1967 grew into a design empire. Ralph Lauren is a staple name in preppy fashion and mid-luxury range home goods.

The first full collection created was in honor of Lauren’s love of sports. He named it “Polo” which also coined the name of the infamous preppy collared casual tops.

Notable items: the Men’s Fair Isle Wool Sweater or the Women’s Glen Plaid Tweed Dress.

4. Kate Spade New York

Any woman who’s ever desired a designer handbag has heard of Kate Spade New York. This quirky yet sophisticated preppy brand is known for its classic handbags and garments.

If there’s a woman in your life with a birthday coming up, wow her with a Kate Spade gift. The jewelry is to die for, as are the matching blazer-cord sets. They even do customization and monogramming!

Notable items: the Taylor Large Diaper Bag in black or the Francois French Bulldog Earrings.

5. J. Crew

This store had its beginnings on the streets of Manhattan in the 1980s. Describing their garments as “classic with a twist”, J. Crew cornered the market of affordable, yet chic apparel.

Today, J. Crew is especially popular with college-aged consumers looking to stay sharp on campus. It’s also a popular brand for business wear and casual weekend clothes.

Notable items: the Girls’ Maxi Dress in Rugby Stripe or the Men’s 250 Skinny-fit Pant in Stretch Chino.

6. Lacoste

Few brands have such a memorable logo as Lacoste. Wear one of their polos with the green alligator and you get an immediate status boost.

That clout was hard-earned; it began in 1933 with tennis shirts designed by Rene Lacoste. The French designer wanted to make sportswear more fashionable. He basically created “athleisure”.

Notable items: the Men’s SPORT Print Breathable Stretch Jersey Golf Polo or the Men’s SPORT Mesh Panel Cotton Hat in red.

7. Tommy Hilfiger

Although this designer has been part of many controversies over the years, nothing can diminish the value of his classic garments. Tommy Hilfiger is an American-prep staple.

His signature red, blue, and white pieces became popular in the 1970s among the rich. Today, you can find TH garments in every department store and as well as many vintage consignment stores.

Notable items: the Women’s Flag LOGO V-Neck Sweater in sky captain blue or the Kids Reversible Hooded Jacket in black iris.

8. Brooks Brothers

This preppy brand is the oldest men’s clothier in the United States. Brooks Brothers is was a family-owned business founded in 1818.

While they design both men’s and women’s clothing today, they’re known for creating preppy staples for men. Customers rave about the dress shirts and classic tuxedos.

Notable items: the Regent Fit One-Button Navy Tuxedo or the Non-Iron Milano Fit Heathered Stripe Sport Shirt in ivy green.

9. Kent & Curwen

This British brand has taken the American fashion market by storm. Kent & Curwen, owned in part by David Beckham, brings English schoolboy prep to American ivy league kids.

One of their top sellers is their men’s messenger bags. Preppy students don’t need a tacky backpack when there are timeless bags from Kent & Curwen.

Notable items: the Canvas and Leather Messenger Bag in navy/black or the Cashmere Crewneck Sweater in red.

10. Country Club Prep

This brand is for anyone who values high-quality, well-made garments that never go out of style. Whether you’re hopping on the family yacht or heading to the derby, Country Club Prep has the perfect outfit for you.

These products range from derby dresses to men’s golf attire to home wear. You can get sophisticated handbags, dresses, and flasks all in the same place.

Notable items: the Piazza Jersey Corset Dress by Gretchen Scott Designs or the Cocktail Party Needlepoint Flask in Dark Navy by Smathers & Bronson.

11. L.L. Bean

The final preppy fashion brand on this list is an American classic. L.L. Bean was started in 1912 and only sold quality duck hunting boots. It grew to sell timeless outdoor attire for both genders.

Whether you’re going to the cottage in the Hamptons or on a hunting expedition, L.L. Bean has durable and affordable clothing for you.

Notable items: the Scotch Plaid Flannel Shirt in Lindsay or the women’s Sweater Fleece Full-Zip Jacket in evening blue.

Interested in Learning More About the Best Preppy Brands in America?

The preppy fashion trend is about wearing garments that can last forever. They’re durable and high-quality while never going out of style.

This style is perfect for the whole family. It especially makes your kiddos look clean and put-together. Start building your wardrobe by shopping at the best preppy brands in America.

To learn how to style different garments and tips for saving money on clothes, check out our shopping section!

Free Online Games to Teach Kids about the Environment

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If you’re a mom of kids under 12, you know that one of the best ways to teach kids so that they actually remember information is to play games.  Games are fun, so kids are eager to play, not knowing (or caring) that they’re actually learning something.  If you have science minded kids, there are many free online games to teach kids about the environment.

Free Online Games to Teach Kids about the Environment

Free Online Games to Teach Kids about the Environment

There are so many games and so many ways you can teach kids about the environment!

Games for Ages 4 to 7

Even your little children can learn about the environment with these fun games.

Environmental Protection Agency

Free Online Games to Teach Kids about the Environment

Choose one of three games for ages 4 to 7 to teach them about air pollution and what the various colors mean—green day, red day, etc.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

There are many, many games on the Kids Environment Kids Health page from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.  These games are for kids in 1st to 4th grade.  The free online games to teach kids about the environment include:

Climates of the World

Kids match children in a variety of clothes with the climate and country that they live in.

Matching Game

In one of the matching games, kids can match bird songs with the birds that make them.

Do check this site out as there is so much here young kids would like include many different games, jokes, riddles, and songs.

Energy Star

Calling all Dr. Seuss fans!  The Energy Star website has a fun game called Join the Lorax.  Games include coloring the Lorax characters, completing a word search, and a picture search for energy efficient items.

Games for Ages 8 to 12

SciJinks

Free Online Games to Teach Kids about the Environment

The SciJinks site has many different games for kids from grades 3 to 7.  This site has 23 games including a hurricane simulator and a tornado simulator (kids will probably enjoy seeing the flying cow spinning around when the tornado hits).  Game topics include:

  • Weather,
  • Hurricanes and Storms,
  • Clouds, Water, and Ice,
  • Tides and Oceans,
  • Atmosphere,
  • Seasons,
  • Satellites and Technology,
  • Space Weather

EPA

For those who prefer more scholarly free games to teach kids about the environment, the EPA has an ozone science crossword puzzle.  This puzzle would be perfect for 5th to 7th graders.  There are 17 clues and 17 answers to choose from.

Energy Kids

The U.S. Energy Information Administration has all sorts of activities for kids on the part of their website called Energy Kids.

They have fun energy-related riddles such as, “How do energy-conscious people feel about wind power?  Answer—they’re blown away.”  When my son was in 3rd grade, he would have loved riddles like this.

They also have energy slang terms as well as puzzles (Sudoko, slider puzzles, crosswords and word searches).

For students who love participating in science fairs, the site has science fair experiment ideas for all ages, K-12.

Lastly, the site has suggestions for energy-based field trips as well as a brief description of each site.

NASA Science

For your kids in grades 6-9, Nasa Science has a game to teach your kids about energy flow called Go with the Flow.  Kids get to experiment with how salt and heat affect the weather and the water currents.

If your child is interested in learning about space weather, there is also a game for that on the site called Shields Up!

Smithsonian Science Education Center

If you want to teach your kids about the environment, the Smithsonian Science Education Center site has games for kids in grades 3 to 6.

In the game Habitats, children are given a picture of a habitat (habitats range from desert, coral reef, jungle and marsh.)  They then can choose from images of three animals to decide what animal belongs in that particular habitat.

Similarly, they also have a game, Home on the Range, that corresponds with 2nd grade learning standards.  Kids try to find animals and plants that exist in certain habitats around the United States.  If they don’t know the answer, they can click on each animal or plant that is a possible answer and read more about that particular one.

Smokey for Kids

Teach your kids about the dangers of wild fires with the Smokey for Kids site.  Not only do kids learn how to prevent wildfires, but they also can play games to reinforce what they learn.  Kids might find it especially fun to play the Storymaker Game.  They first fill out quite a bit of information personalized to them, and then a story is created using that information.

Water Sense

In the Water Sense game, created by the EPA, lead the water drop through a maze, being careful to avoid water wasters.  This game is great for late elementary and early middle school students.

Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute

In the Migration Game, students answer questions about migration.  Each question that they answer correctly gets Wanda the Wood Thrush closer to her summer home in Maryland from her winter home in Costa Rica.

Sample multiple choice questions include, “When do Wood Thrushes fly when they are migrating?” and “How long does it take a Wood Thrush to migrate from Costa Rica to Maryland?”

Recycle City

Another site created by the EPA, Recycle City offers two activities for kids.  First, there is the Recycle City Challenge, where kids can answer questions about actions people can take to reduce waste and energy use.  They can earn points and jump on the leader board.

They can also play the Dumptown Game.  The player is in charge of Dumptown and must start programs to reduce waste and encourage recycling.  Players will be able to see the financial differences based on the programs they implement.

Final Thoughts

Most kids love playing games, all the better if they’re electronic games.  Why not use these free online games to teach kids about the environment to both entertain and educate your children?  I’m guessing your kids, if they’re like mine, would be happy to try out these games and learn new jokes and riddles to add to their repertoire.

how to evaluate the cost of extracurricular activities

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the cost of extracurricular activities

As my children grow older, I’m beginning to explore the need to keep them busy while 1) allowing unstructured time for them to play and 2) providing them with moderate access to technology. It’s an art, and I’m often wondering if I’ve found the best recipe. What are the optimal measurements of each?

Part of this exploration also involves determining how much my budget allows for extracurricular activities.

Because – like kids, extracurricular activities ain’t cheap. And it continues to rise.

Choosing The Right Extracurricular Activity

My daughter takes to things reasonably easy. She’s a quick learner, prone to beginner luck with almost every activity I’ve signed her up for – ballet, soccer, gymnastics, cheerleading, karate, art, piano – to name a few. But once it gets hard and she has to make an effort, she doesn’t enjoy it, and it becomes a power tug of war between the two of us. It’s a juxtaposition of forcing her to stick to her commitments vs. allowing her to explore her real interests.

However, to my delight, riding horses has proven to be something special. It wasn’t love-at-first-sight, but I watcher her desire to learn blossom a little each day. 

The Cost of Extracurricular Activities

What was not to my delight, equestrian hobbies come at high expense. Between weekly riding lessons, show clothes, and show fees – I spend approximately $300 a month, on average. And we don’t even own (or lease) a horse. (yet)

I could buy a car for that. Not a Testa, but a reasonable car – something like a Honda Civic. 

Once I realized that riding horses was something she was going to stick with, I realized I needed to adjust my budget. But truth-be-told, I wasn’t sure how – our budget is pretty tight, and I would prefer to pour all my money into paying off our mortgage. 

Is the Cost Worth It? A Cost / Benefit Approach

At this point, I wrestled with whether the cost of riding horses was something I was willing to bear. What value was this adding to her life? The merits can be debated, but where I landed was that riding a horse requires caring for a horse. 

She has to groom her horse before she can ride. Horse camp involves mucking out stalls. Caring for an animal like a horse develops responsibility, as well as respect for an animal. She’s also building her confidence as she showcases her skills in front of her peers and judges. 

I hope that her relationship with horses continues to grow and as she enters junior high and high school, she chooses to spend her time at the barn, rather than out partying (as I did at that age).

Making Adjustments To My Budget – Now and in the Future

Ultimately, I decided the cost was worth it. I took on some additional writing assignments to offset the cost, and I cut back on the amount I was allocating to my mortgage-free fund.  

My son, on the other hand – he’s a different beast. He has little to no interest in extracurricular activities, and he’s an introvert. This combination is something I’m aware needs special attention in the current society we live in. I need to make sure he develops his social skills, but balance this need with respect for his personality. 

He’s also extremely bright. Over the next few years, I believe I will find myself becoming a chess or Mathlete parent. I’m okay with that. Time will tell. And when it does, I’ll need to adjust my budget again.

 

How do you approach the cost of extracurricular activities for your children? Have you found them to be more expensive than you initially expected?

Read more:

Paying for Extracurriculars Without Breaking the Bank

Teaching Kids the Value of Hard Work

Four Money Habits You Need To Teach Your Children

7 of the Best Ways to Make Money on the Side With a Full Time Job

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Short on cash? Even when working the 9 to 5 grind, saving money is difficult. With bills and a calendar full of plans, the monthly income is spent so quickly!

Luckily, today there are various side gigs to boost your income — many of them being as flexible as you’d like. You can set your schedule based on how much time you want to spend on your side job and can appreciate the extra cash.

Want to discover some of the best? Here are seven ways to make money on the side with a full-time job.

1. Rideshare Driver

Do you own a reliable vehicle? Know your way around town? If so, then being a part-time rideshare driver for a company like Lyft may be one of the best side jobs for you.

You’re able to work around your schedule and can use your car to earn extra cash. Turn something you do every day into a part-time job! The best part about it is that you can decide when to work and how many hours you put in.

While one week you may only have time to work a couple of hours, another you may have a free week where you can earn a fair bit of extra cash. It’s all up to you!

Here’s a top tip: Drive passengers around premium hour rates, such as nights, weekends, and during major events like concerts or football games to earn a higher amount of cash.

If you’re interested in becoming a rideshare driver, check out the Lyft driver requirements here.

2. Pet Sitter

Prefer pets to people? We don’t blame you.

One of the fun side jobs out there, pet sitting is the purr-fect way to make extra cash.

Not only do you get to play and look after cute animals, but you also get paid for it. It’s a win-win situation!

You could work at a doggy daycare or boarding facility, or for more flexibility, you can go self-employed. If you opt for the latter, one way to get started is to ask friends, family, and neighbors if their pets need looking after. It’s also a great way to gain pet sitting referrals.

Likewise, websites and apps like Wag make it easy to market your pet sitting services. Whether you’re thinking about dog-walking, grooming, or simply watching pets while their owners are away, you’re sure to have a ball with this side gig.

3. Freelancer

If you’ve got a set of skills, then putting them to use as a freelancer is one of the best side jobs that pay well.

Freelance jobs are varied, so whatever skills you have, it’s likely that there’s a market for them. And the best part about freelancing is that you can work around your schedule, putting in as much or as little effort as you’d like. Just make sure you stick to those deadlines!

Whether you possess top-notch writing skills or you’re a whizz at graphic design, there’s a saturated marketplace for freelancers. If your work is online, just make sure you have a kick-ass portfolio so you can display your work to gain clients.

Who knows, maybe you’ll even consider making freelancing a full-time job!

4. Rent Your Space

If you own property, the easiest way to earn extra cash is to rent it out through websites such as Airbnb.

Whether you have a spare room, garage, or storage space, someone out there will be happy to part with their cash in exchange for renting it out. If you’re heading on holiday, you can even rent out your whole place, which is likely to pay well.

It’s up to you on how much you’ll charge and how long you’ll rent your space for — meaning you can earn a little cash or a lot. And the best part is that apart from a bit of light cleaning and changing of bed sheets, you don’t need to do much at all.

5. Sell Your Stuff

Are you a hoarder? If you have a storage space full of unused furniture and a closet full of unworn clothes, shoes, and bags, it may be time to consider selling some of them. Not only can you earn cash, but you’ll also de-clutter your home and free up some space.

Use eBay to sell those items you’ve never used, and you’ll be surprised how much money you can earn from your cast-offs. After all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!

6. Work at a Festival or Event

During the summer months especially, many one-off festivals or events hire casual staff. This can be on the bars, or stewarding, for example.

If you’re available weekends and weekday evenings, this is one of the best part-time jobs for you.

Many companies supply staff for a variety of different events, meaning you can sign up to several events depending on your schedule. As staff turnover is so high, most of these companies don’t mind if you’re select with the events and festivals you’d like to work.

Not only will you earn extra cash, but you’ll gain free entry to the event and may have some free time to explore and enjoy yourself.

7. Participate in Research Studies

Depending on where you live, you might be able to participate in paid research studies or focus groups. If you live near a hospital or university, your chances of finding such work are higher.

To find opportunities in your area, search Google for ‘research studies near me,’ or simply ask around in local hospitals or universities.

Ways to Make Money on the Side with a Full-Time Job

Whether it’s adding a part-time job, a weekend job, or a second job to your schedule, these seven ways to make money on the side with a full-time job will help you earn extra money. Before you know it, the extra cash will come rolling in!

Did you enjoy this article? For more ways to earn extra cash, feel free to browse our blog!

What Do You Do if You Can’t Pay Your Bills?

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There are a variety of reasons why someone might fall behind on their bills. But it happens. People who find themselves in this situation need to seek out a solution. So, here are some tips on what to do if you can’t pay your bills.

Set Your Priorities

When you’re swimming in debt and can’t pay your bills, you need to really set your priorities. Of course, you should cut back on luxury and recreational items whenever possible. But there’s more to this than just eating out less and avoiding the purchase of fancy clothes.

Think about what things you absolutely need in order to live and work. Pay those things first so your home, transportation, and basic livelihood stay intact. Just about all other things can be put on the back burner for the time being.

Mentally Prepare Yourself

Being unable to pay your bills doesn’t feel good. This is something that drains your mental and emotional energy. Not knowing if you’re going to be able to make things work can really take a toll.

But you also need to prepare yourself for a potential barrage of calls from collectors. When your bills go to collections, you’ll no longer be dealing with your creditor directly, but whoever they sold the debt to for less than its original value. These people will employ all kinds of tactics to try to wear you down. It’s important you know your rights so you can protect yourself from harassment and undue stress.

Try to Get More Time to Pay

When you can’t pay your bills, it’s possible you can find ways to get more time on your side. There are a few ways to go about this. One option is to simply contact the companies where you owe money. This might be a utility, credit card provider, or your mortgage lender. Simply explaining your situation and coming up with a different plan can sometimes buy you time. However, lenders aren’t always going to go for that.

You can also try to perform a balance transfer in order to reduce the amount you owe on some of your credit card balances. This works by taking what you owe on high-interest cards and moving that balance to a different card with a low introductory rate. This can give you some leeway to pay down the debt without accumulating interest. It’s important to note that you’ll usually be charged a balance transfer fee when you do this.

Seek Out Help

It’s never a bad idea to look for help when you’re struggling to pay your bills. You can begin by talking to relatives or friends. It’s possible they can help you out in some way. Just make sure you don’t do anything that will strain your relationship when you take this route.

You should also consider debt relief to see if this option makes sense in your situation. There are lots of programs out there; the challenge is finding a legitimate one with a strong track record of helping consumers.

Some people find debt consolidation to be helpful in simplifying repayment. This involves taking out a loan to pay off all your outstanding balances. Then you’re only responsible for one payment a month rather than a handful or more.

Some debt relief agencies, like Freedom Debt Relief, offer qualified consumers the opportunity to combine settlement and consolidation. Enrollees are able to take out a consolidation loan through the Consolidation Plus program, then use it to fast-track the settlement process—in which negotiators contact creditors, trying to reach a lower settlement. After settlements have been reached, consumers are then responsible for paying back that loan in installments.

Make More Money or Sell Items

Generating more money is one of the best ways to improve your quality of life when you’re struggling to pay your bills. It’s a good idea to start at your current job to see if you can get a raise or take on more responsibilities. If that doesn’t end up being an option, you can generate more income to pay bills by taking on another side job.

Some people will also benefit from downsizing or selling some of their possessions. This can produce some immediate cash flow useful for paying bills.

No one wants to be in a situation where they can’t pay their bills. But this is something that can really happen to anyone. Implementing these ideas can help you get by in this tough situation.