Dressing Kids on a Budget

 Dressing kids on a budget isn’t hard when you need to save on expenses, so don’t panic. Kids don’t have to have brand names. If they insist, take them to a thrift store and look for the brand names. Thrift stores have perfectly good clothing at a low price, you can find clothing lightly worn and some with price tags still attached. It’s nothing to be ashamed of many people who don’t have to budget shop at thrift stores. Try to shop only when they really need new clothing.  Buy clothing that can expand. Look for deep cuffs and hems, adjustable straps, and elastic waistbands. If you sew it’s easy to let out a cuff or hem as needed. If you can’t sew, it’s easy to take a needle and thread and learn. 

Men Shopping for Clothing Accessories (Photo credit: epSos.de)

Buy shoes a half size too big. Kids feet grow fast, and they can use a little extra toe room. Athletic clothes with team names are appreciated by kids and can be found at sportswear overuns at bargian prices.

Winter coats, snow suits, woolens and party outfits are worth saving for the next child. These items don’t get heavy wear and will look good for years. If not for your child, then another child. Childrens consignment stores are popping up everywhere.  This is where you will reap rewards for taking good care of your kids clothes. You can trade in your kids good outgrown clothes for replacements at a very low price.

Create fun repairs for your kids clothes by sewing bows or patches over small tears and holes, painting designs over stains. Turn pants with torn knees into short pants. Paint dirty canvas sneakers with acrylic or fabric paint to make them look like new. Wash them first.  You can find all sorts of ways to keep your kids looking stylish on a small budget.

Proper care extends the life of clothes and that means savings. Sew on buttons and examine clothes for stains. take them out quickly, the longer stains sits, the harder they are to remove.  Read care labels carefully and follow the instructions if they make any sense. Silks usually say to dryclean, but they can and should be washed by hand and air dried. Don’t iron more than you have to. Remove clothing from the dryer quickly and hang. Never iron over a stain. That will set the stain.