How to Have the Best Dressed Child Without Going Broke

Shopping for clothes for your children can be a hassle.

Your kids already hate shopping, especially for clothes. Kids’ clothes aren’t cheap, especially considering the fact that your child is one growth spurt away from every clothing item they own being rendered completely useless.

But what if we told you that there are ways to have the best dressed child in school, all while saving money in the process?

Sounds too good to be true, right? Wrong!

In this article, we’ll give you a few tips and tricks on how you can dress your kid in style for less. With these handy tips, shopping for your child’s clothes will be one less thing you have to worry about!

Now then, let’s get started!

1. Keep It Thrifty

Yes, believe it or not, thrift shops are still a great place to find trendy clothing items for your child.

Most of the time, people get rid of clothing items not because they’re old or tattered, but because they no longer fit their child. That means you can find some almost-new, name-brand clothing items for ridiculously cheap prices.

Sure, you’ll have to do a bit of digging in order to find something worthwhile. But getting a really nice coat, or some new dress shirts, for next to nothing is most definitely worth the time it takes to find them.

Plus, spending a Saturday thrift shopping with the kids can be a good time if you make it a game! Give each of your children a few items to look for and make it a treasure hunt!

2. Online Shopping is Your Friend

Shopping online is a great way to find deals on name-brand clothes for your child. Just like thrift shopping, you’ll have to do some searching to find the best deals, but it’s absolutely worth it in the long run.

You can find deals on just about every item from every brand imaginable online using online retailers such as Overstock and Gilt. Also, be on the lookout for coupons and various sales directly from name-brand websites. Another good trick is to follow your child’s favorite brands on social media, as they’ll often share any specials, coupons, and discount codes across their platforms.

Make sure where you choose to shop has good deals on shipping, as sometimes you can accidentally spend more than you intended to due to high shipping costs. Also, confirm that there’s a solid return policy in place, in case your child doesn’t like an item or it doesn’t fit properly.

You’d be surprised at how low some of the prices are online, and you’ll see options that your kids are sure to love!

3. Sales Are Vital to Having the Best Dressed Child

Online sales are great but don’t forget about in-store sales, too. Most stores will be more than happy to sign you up for e-mail updates, which will alert you of any specials, and sometimes even include coupons and discount codes.

Worried about your main e-mail account getting crowded with e-mails from various stores? Create an e-mail account just for this purpose so it’s easier to keep track of your coupons and doesn’t interfere with your work or personal life.

If receiving coupons to your e-mail inbox sounds unappealing, just keep an eye on your regular mailbox! Tons of sales and coupons come in the mail each week, but we often deem it “junk mail” and throw it away. Take a second to look through the items you’ve been sent before you toss them, because there may be something worth keeping in there!

4. Swap Clothes with Friends or Neighbors

One of the best ways to get your hands on trendy clothes without breaking the bank is swapping clothes with friends. For instance, if someone you know has a child that has outgrown clothes that will now fit yours, see if you can trade for or purchase those items.

Kids grow so fast, and like thrift shopping, this is a great way to find stylish clothes that are lightly used. This also works in reverse; if your children’s closets are overflowing with clothes that no longer fit them, but might fit someone else’s, this is a convenient way to get rid of those items and send them to a good home.

If you live in a neighborhood with a lot of kids, there’s probably even a Facebook group, or something similar, designed with this exact thing in mind. Ask other parents if they know anything about an exchange group, and if you find one, join it!

5. Repair Old Clothes

If your problem is not that your child has outgrown their clothes, but simply that they play rough and have worn or damaged them, you may be able to bring them back to life. There are countless clothing repair hacks available online that can help you get the stains out of that shirt or make those shoes look brand new again.

You’d be surprised what you can do with a little effort and some common household products!

What’s Next?

Now that you’re caught up on these tips for having the best dressed child at school, you’re ready to take your child’s closet to the next level!

Remember, you don’t have to spend loads of money on clothes that aren’t going to fit for more than a few months to have a child who looks like a million bucks. Be smart and creative, and look for sales, and you can have a runway-ready kid!

Be sure to check out our blog, where you’ll find more helpful parenting hints that can help you save in the process!