Pregnancy is a wonderful time for soon-to-be parents, and rarely one where they worry about things like kids clothing. The woman dreams of her bouncing baby's arrival and her husband looks forward to the sense of worth that comes with being a dad. As her stomach grows, both feel a sense of excitement for what lies ahead, and the adventure of giving birth and raising a child through their parenthood.
For all parents, babies are a promise of joy and love. However, there is some naivet that comes with the excitement. Until their child is born, many don't really consider just what raising their son or daughter will cost. The additional expenses take many by surprise and their lack of knowledge in being able to handle them only makes the situation worse.
Of the many new things there are to pay for, clothes are one of the most significant. When they are infants, children will need to wear pricy diapers and soon enough they will move on to even more pricy regular clothes. Very few parents have the money to get their kids all sorts of clothes. If that describes you, you might want to try some of these tips.
First, you have to set a budget to know how much you can spend. You will need to adjust this amount around such things as your income, the number of kids you have, at what you can realistically set aside for each one. Your budget will also need to be flexible in case of emergencies, as unexpected issues come up a lot, especially when you have kids.
Start saving money with where you go to get clothes. Discount stores offer items that are typically as good as the ones found elsewhere, but at 45% to 75% off. There might be a slightly more noticeable difference from new items over those at second-hand stores, but it isn't much and you will pay even less. You can also get by for free in doing what most other families do - having older siblings hand old clothes down to younger ones as they outgrow them.
You don't have to limit yourself from department stores completely. Try shopping during closeout sales, where you can find overstocked items or those from struggling factories at great prices. Similar discounts, typically applying to items in bulk, aren't always as well advertised but are just as good.
Like shopping during sales, timing can also get you discounts when you shop online. Several retailers offer coupons good for a certain period of time. Certain months bring about lots of discounts and should be set in your datebook as the best times to shop. In the United States, September, November, and December typically offer deals on kids' clothing.
One last thing is that you really do have to stand up against your kids when they try to get you to buy the latest fads. These items are always expensive and nearly every time, they will be forgotten as quickly as the styles that came before them. Within months, those things you spent so much on will be sitting in the corner of a closet and forgotten.
For all parents, babies are a promise of joy and love. However, there is some naivet that comes with the excitement. Until their child is born, many don't really consider just what raising their son or daughter will cost. The additional expenses take many by surprise and their lack of knowledge in being able to handle them only makes the situation worse.
Of the many new things there are to pay for, clothes are one of the most significant. When they are infants, children will need to wear pricy diapers and soon enough they will move on to even more pricy regular clothes. Very few parents have the money to get their kids all sorts of clothes. If that describes you, you might want to try some of these tips.
First, you have to set a budget to know how much you can spend. You will need to adjust this amount around such things as your income, the number of kids you have, at what you can realistically set aside for each one. Your budget will also need to be flexible in case of emergencies, as unexpected issues come up a lot, especially when you have kids.
Start saving money with where you go to get clothes. Discount stores offer items that are typically as good as the ones found elsewhere, but at 45% to 75% off. There might be a slightly more noticeable difference from new items over those at second-hand stores, but it isn't much and you will pay even less. You can also get by for free in doing what most other families do - having older siblings hand old clothes down to younger ones as they outgrow them.
You don't have to limit yourself from department stores completely. Try shopping during closeout sales, where you can find overstocked items or those from struggling factories at great prices. Similar discounts, typically applying to items in bulk, aren't always as well advertised but are just as good.
Like shopping during sales, timing can also get you discounts when you shop online. Several retailers offer coupons good for a certain period of time. Certain months bring about lots of discounts and should be set in your datebook as the best times to shop. In the United States, September, November, and December typically offer deals on kids' clothing.
One last thing is that you really do have to stand up against your kids when they try to get you to buy the latest fads. These items are always expensive and nearly every time, they will be forgotten as quickly as the styles that came before them. Within months, those things you spent so much on will be sitting in the corner of a closet and forgotten.
About the Author:
The Author Jennifer Hess is a mom of 2 energetic children and she identifies with a parent's need to find affordable clothing. If you are looking for new brand name kids clothing at discounted prices she recommends visiting Growing Growing Gone. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service
