How to Buy Clothing for Your Children Without Spending a Fortune

School is soon to start, which means a hit to the pocket book for new clothes. It seems like my own children are growing by the feet every month. Over the years I've discovered ways to keep my costs down low on school clothing for my children, while still keeping them in the fashions and styles they love.

The first way to help save money on your child's clothes, is to sign up online for weekly newsletters from your favorite stores. Most of the time these newsletters offer printable coupons that really help out for those clothing items for last minute buys. You can also do a Google search for that store's name and coupon (i.e. "Old Navy coupon"). You may luck out and find coupons from groups that you were unaware of.

I've also found many, many wonderful articles of clothing from the thrift store. Many times I have found items that have never been worn that I purchase for pennies on the dollar, sometimes up to 90% off the ticketed price. Yes, many outfits I've bought still have the tags on them even. But even the gently used items I've bought from thrift stores look brand new. They offer the brand names you and your children love. They carry shoes, hats, bags, every article of clothing you can imagine. The thrift store has become one of my favorite places to shop for school clothes.

A few years ago when Wal-Mart discontinued their lay-a-way plan I was very upset. This was a wonderful way for me to purchase those items that my children needed without having to pay it all up front. Well, K-Mart still offers a lay-a-way plan. The good thing about K-Mart, too, is that even the clothing that is on sale can go on lay-a-way too. I don't ever remember being able to put sale items at Wal-Mart on lay-a-way.

Clearance sales on seasonal items are also another favorite ways of mine to save money. Except when they have a major growth spurt, my children typically grow at a rate that I can keep up with, on average, a size a year. So, at the end of fall, I buy fall clothes for the next autumn. Spring, summer, and winter clothes can also be found this way. Coats are especially nice to purchase this way.

Last, but not least, I like to have one or two special items for my children, an outfit that I know very few others will have to set them apart. I typically find these on Ebay. Sometimes I have to do a bit of searching, but I have always found something very special for a great deal.