How early do you shop for your children's clothes?

**MommyBliss** · 06-18-2009, 03:42 PM

I don't buy more than one season ahead for 3 of my 4 children, because they grow so fast. They tend to stay in one size for a season though. My youngest who is now 4 was able to stay in a normal size until this past birthday and he's already into sz 5 clothing. We have little giants for kiddos. My oldest dd has slowed down and hit puberty, so she's staying about the same size. I know fall is a long way off, but I try to stock up on jeans and pants for them now. Does anyone else do this? It seems to just make one less big expense when fall comes. We homeschool, so they can get away with more sweats at home.

**miss_cas** · 06-18-2009, 04:15 PM

My local Salvation Army (75% off 1 day a month) and Goodwill ($1.10 an item) have some nice sales frequently. Call and ask at your local stores. There's now telling how tall your daughter will get and at what rate. You may be wasting your money by buying ahead by ending up with the wrong clothing for the season.

**frugalwarrior** · 06-18-2009, 04:51 PM

We used to when they were little. I always kept 2 sizes for all year for each kid. Figuring hand me downs in because of unisex clothes. I used storage tubs w/ tape on the outside,inside was an inventry list. If I blew it, it was cheap and could always be sent to the resale or G.saled. I never got caught off guard w/ unexpected growth spurts.

**TigerGirl1226** · 06-18-2009, 05:21 PM

My DD is 21 months I have basic all the way up to size 5 for her already. I hit a boutique sale once that was doing smocked, high endish dresses for $5 because I got there as they were picking up the sale merchandise and didn't want to have to pick it up. I have Christmas dresses up to size 4 from a Macy's B1G1 free clearance 2 years ago.

The moral of the story is that I am buying ahead by quite a bit, but for the little I am spending on it, I am willing to risk it.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 06-19-2009, 06:32 PM

We buy the boys their clothes for at least two sizes when we buy them at the beginning of the school year. At Christmas, we use that time frame to buy them bigger clothes instead of toys (because they don't play with their toys as much as they wear their clothes). My DS10 is wearing 12/14 and 14/16, my DS5 is wearing 4 and 4/5. I usually gestimate them a size bigger and watch how much they grow each year. If anything, they'll grow into their shirts and belts can be used for most of their pants.

Come July/August, I'll be buying DS10 his clothes in size 14. He's extremely tall for his age. DS5 will get size 5 clothes because he's a size smaller than his age.

**craftypam** · 06-19-2009, 06:47 PM

I used to buy all clothes a size ahead and off season; buy summer clothes at the end of summer and winter clothes at the end of winter, you can sometimes get them as cheap as the thrift store.

**mommyoffive** · 06-19-2009, 07:51 PM

When I was more on top of things, I used to buy my kids' clothes a year ahead after doing an inventory of what they had coming up hand-me-down-wise. Then I would hit the outlet stores at the end of the season, so the discounts were usually 50-75% off outlet prices.

**monkeywrangler71** · 06-19-2009, 08:12 PM

I don't buy ahead at all. I just get what they need, when they need it. I find it much cheaper in the long run as I don't end up with clothes that fit in the wrong season or never, and I don't have more clothes than they need.

**craftypam** · 06-19-2009, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by miss_cas

My local Salvation Army (75% off 1 day a month) and Goodwill ($1.10 an item) have some nice sales frequently. Call and ask at your local stores. There's now telling how tall your daughter will get and at what rate. You may be wasting your money by buying ahead by ending up with the wrong clothing for the season.

I know all children grow different; but I found buying a size ahead for the next year always worked and I raised 3 sons.

**coup** · 06-21-2009, 07:17 PM

Let me start with this.....I hate to be unprepared! With that in mind.....

I try really hard to shop ahead. My kiddos are 5. They aren't yet picky about clothes. Or shoes. So I shop the 75% (or more!) sales. I keep a list in my purse of what I already have to try to avoid over-buying. I plan to do this for as long as possible.