Kids clothing

Buying stylish clothes for kids can be an expensive habit, especially when you have to replace those clothes almost as soon as you buy them. However, there are ways to keep your kids' clothes stylish without breaking the bank. In fact, it's not that hard to do if you start early and learn about how kids' clothing works. For more information on this topic, check out the following article.

Shop at the end of the season

There’s nothing worse than having your child go through a growth spurt and not being able to replace outgrown clothing. If you're shopping for kids, it can be hard to know when items will fit or will go on sale at lower prices, especially if their age and size vary greatly from their peers. A good way around that issue is just waiting. Rather than going in search of sales midseason, wait until after back-to-school season is over before stocking up on clothes for your kids (and yourself). Then do what you can to hold onto things as long as possible.

Look for deals on previous seasons or last year's styles

Fashion goes in cycles, which means previous year's styles are often available at a discounted price. If you're in need of a wardrobe upgrade for your kids, it's often less expensive to buy clothes that are a year or two out of style than something current. You can find better deals during end-of-season sales as well. For example, many high-end retailers have 30% - 70% off sales twice per year (January and July) called year end clearance so keep an eye out for those! These sales also offer other discounts like buy one get one 50% off or even an extra 20% - 40% off already discounted merchandise when you join their email lists.

Buy them unique, trend-setting pieces that they won't find anywhere else

What kid wants to be dressed like every other 10-year-old? One surefire way to ensure your child has a wardrobe that sets them apart from their peers is buying them unique, trend-setting pieces that they won't find anywhere else. When choosing clothes for kids, try a small boutique or thrift store first and see what you can discover. You'll be surprised at how easy it is! Whenever possible, focus on sustainable materials and natural fabrics, like cotton and linen. Synthetic fibers are less durable, don't last as long and (in my humble opinion) don't look nearly as cute.

Keep a running list of favorite brands

While your kids may change their preferences every few weeks, you're unlikely to want to keep buying new clothing every month. That's why it's a good idea to keep a running list of favorite brands (and places you can find them). For example, if you know that J. Crew always has good deals on your child's size range, sign up for its email newsletter and bookmark its sale section—you'll get an alert when there are deep discounts that could cover several months of clothes in one fell swoop. Start following a few of your favorite brands on Instagram so you'll never miss an exclusive sale or discount code offer.

Avoid stores with built-in sales tax

Buying clothing for kids can be especially expensive if you're not careful. A $9 pair of jeans may seem like a great deal at first glance, but when you add in sales tax and shipping costs, it may end up being just as much—or more—than ordering online. To save money on kids' clothes, buy from stores that have low or no-sales tax rates. Depending on where you live, there are dozens of online stores that don't charge sales tax at all. This is one of many advantages of shopping online versus brick-and-mortar locations: without having to worry about additional taxes, you'll be able to keep your eyes on deal prices while comparison shopping.

Look at national sites first, then local ones if you have time

If you're going to shop for clothing for kids, make sure you schedule enough time (and energy) to try on a variety of outfits and avoid shopping in an empty stomach or after a long day. It can be tempting (and easy) to grab new clothes on your way out of the house before running errands and heading home, but if you do that too often, it will result in a closet full of clothes that just don't fit or are worn out from one trip after another. And if shopping with your kids is something you want them to enjoy doing with you—or something they need help with—then be sure to plan ahead so that they can participate and learn how shopping works. Their ability (and yours!) might surprise you!

Don't shop when you're hungry; try hard to avoid shopping in your pajamas

The human brain isn't designed for a full day of decision-making. The key is to shop with a clear head and an empty stomach. When we're hungry, we tend to buy high-calorie snack foods, which are often unhealthy and unsatisfying. In fact, researchers at Cornell University found that hungry people tend to make more indulgent purchases than those who've just eaten a big meal. Eat something healthy before you hit up Target or BuyBuy Baby so you don't find yourself buying a $19.99 baby onesie when you only need some Huggies wipes ($5). If possible, try dressing in regular clothes so you don't trick yourself into thinking your sweatpants give you carte blanche to buy more stuff!

Set a budget and stick to it; negotiate with your kids on prices and designs they love.

Negotiating is one of those skills that's often on your professional and personal radar. However, if you're not great at it, or if you'd like some tips on how to get better at it, check out these Negotiation Tactics That Will Bring You Better Deals. As far as your kids are concerned, remember that they aren't necessarily trying to take advantage of you—they just have little concept of money and what things cost! Plus, from an early age your kids should learn some basic principles about earning and spending money. So have a sit-down with them and explain what's expected in terms of their clothes allowance for each month (should they still need one) or how much they should pay when shopping with you.

How to Keep Your Kids' Clothes Stylish Without Breaking the Bank