Dressing children can be so incredibly expensive. Especially if you have more than one. I do shop garage sales and thrift stores when I can, but I really find the best deals when brick-and-mortar stores and online stores have their clearances at the end of a season. I never pay full, in-season price for clothing for my kids. The clothes they have been wearing this fall and winter are the items I bought last year for pennies on the dollar on clearance.

Online sites can be especially easy on the bank account if they don't have a store in your state. Then you don't pay taxes. Also, if you hunt around on the internet, you can usually find promotion codes for free shipping, so you end up paying less for your items than if you had to get in the car and drive to a mall/store, pay state taxes, and drive home.

My children already have clothes in storage for them for the next couple years due to my end of season shopping. If you buy basic items like jeans, sweaters, and tee shirts, then they won't even go out of style.

PS....the outfit on my daughter in the picture was bought on clearance at Penney's when she was 6 months old. I paid $1.96 for the top and $2.48 for the skirt.

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I'm like that with my clothes. I don't remember a time that I have bought something that wasn't on sale or clearance. It pains me to touch something that's not lol.

I do the same!!!! I love it.. I have to calculate how old my son will be around that time of year the following years, but heck if you only shop for the "staples" of clothing you cant go wrong!! I do the same thing for myself. Life one post before me, I cant stand to pay full price for a item. I would rather have a good deal!!!! target and old navy i have found are the best places for clearance items!!!

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Tara, wife to Jason, mama to Jayden 12/23/06 PG with #2 EDD 8/3/08 ~ non vaxing, co sleeping, cding, bfing,AP family.

What I mean is . . . buy things that will last from one season into the next. For instance, I buy sundresses in prints and styles at the end of summer in a size large enough that they can be worn with tights and turtlenecks or long sleeve tops through fall and winter and then with t-shirts in the spring and as sundresses the following summer. Sometimes, t-shirts work great as sleepshirts for a season or two (until they are grown into) and then as t-shirts for play the following season. Belts can make bottoms (shorts, pants, skirts) wearable a season or two earlier than normal. Lace added to the bottoms of shorts, skirts and pants can prolong them a season or more. Capes and ponchos last longer than coats for girls. Jerseys are expected to be big on boys, and usually buy an extra season or so. I always ask myself things like, "Can the sleeves or legs be rolled up for this year (or season) and unrolled for next?" or "Can this be layered or unlayered for next season?"

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"Fostering Excellence in Intellect & Character"

I just put this to practice again Saturday and yesterday when I hit JCPenney's clearance sale. I even bought Christmas gifts for 7 people, and now I'm finished with them. Can't beat it!!!!

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My DH thinks I'm a hoarder if I buy a little ahead. I always get rid of things as soon as we're done with them so I don't think that is being a hoarder. One example: My daughter will be 4 in March but I already bought her lunch bag & backpack for kindergarten because it was on clearance.

I do the same thing. I love getting the deals at the end of the season and put them in storage boxes. It almost feels like Christmas when I open the box the next season. I will forget what I bought and it makes me happy to see the new clothes.

I have never had a problem with sizing--I will just buy the next larger size and it always works. My philosophy is if it doesn't work the next year then I can always put it on ebay!

Julie