Mom’s Money

Consignment Shopping Could Save You A Bundle

When you look at your budget, do you find a big gaping hole looking back at you?  Kids can consume an awful lot during their young lives.  Not only food, but clothing seems to be a never ending source of stress, and expense.  How, when, and where you shop for your family’s clothes can either make or break a budget.

Our family has tried many different ways to shop for clothes.  We’ve gone to the Big Stores for their Big Sales, we’ve driven around to yard sales, and we’ve been to the thrift shops like GoodWill, but none have yielded the kind of results like a consignment sale.

We’re fortunate in our community to have several good consignment shops that feature children’s clothing. Granted, the prices may be just a bit higher than you might find at a yard sale, but that’s just it… you’ve got to find the yard sales and hope they have a nice selection.  That could be a tremendous waste in gas and time if you’re not lucky.  At a consignment store, you have a certain destination and the likelihood that you will find some very good articles of clothing. 

Consignment shops are picky about their product.  You won’t find torn, stained, or otherwise damaged clothing at a good consignment shop.  Oftentimes, you will find clothes with the tags still on!  Parents often get too many clothes for gifts and, especially with babies, some of those little outfits are outgrown before they even get a chance to wear them.

Introduce yourself to the owner of the consignment shop and you will be on your way to creating almost a “personal shopper” for your family.  If you maintain a friendly relationship, the owner will be more than happy to give you a call when she sees clothing come in that would suit your family’s needs. 

Also, consider consignment shops as a way for you to make a bit of extra cash.  They all have their own rules and percentages, so look around a little if you can.  Then, when it comes time to clean out your closets, you’ll be ready to take your unneeded items in to be sold.  This eliminates suffering through a yard sale of your own! 

Are you going to pay more when you shop the consignment sales?  Probably a little bit more.  Is it worth it?  Definitely, it’s worth it.  Once you find a good consignment shop, stick with it and you’ll be amazed at the quality and value you get for your money.  Quality and value never go out of style!