Thrifty Thursday: Clothing your kids on a budget

It’s amazing how quickly kids grow and how fast they outgrow their clothing!  Buying clothing could easily be a budget buster.  Here are a few things that I do to help cut down on our out of pocket clothing expenses:

*Sign up for mailing lists and “rewards” cards ~ Most companies have links right on their website where you can join their mailing list and then they will notify you by e-mail of upcoming sales and sometimes send you coupons, too!  When companies offer “rewards” cards, it is typically free and you can often earn cash back on your purchases.  JC Penney, Gymboree, and Babies ‘R Us all offer free rewards cards!

*Match coupons with sale prices ~ I almost never buy anything without a coupon and I usually use a coupon and then a gift card that I’ve earned from a rewards or survey site such as MyPoints or Epoll.  When I shop online, I also use Ebates to earn cash back!

Here are a few examples:

*Target currently has a printable coupon for $5 off a kid apparel purchase of $30 or more.  Target has mix and match separates for infants and toddlers (0-6 months through 5T) on sale for $3 each and mix and match separates for “big” kids (sizes 4-14) for $4 each.

If you have an infant or toddler, buy 10 of the mix and match separates priced at $3 each and use the $5 off $30 coupon.  You end up spending $25 out of pocket, or $2.50 per item!

If you have a bigger kid, buy 8 of the mix and match items and use the $5 off $30 coupon.  You end up spending $27 out of pocket, or $3.37 per item!

I lowered my out of pocket even more by using gift cards that I had on hand from various promotional offers (buy X item, get a gift card and from filling prescriptions).

Last week, I bought each of my kids a pair of sandals online because they were buy one, get one 50% off.  I also bought my daughter two pairs of shorts and two shirts because I had a 20% off online code, they were offering free shipping, I had an e-gift card I had earned from Swagbucks, and I shopped through Ebates, so I got cash back, too!

*Crazy 8 – their Friends & Family sale started today – you get an additional 25% off everything in store and online.  Buy items that are already marked down and you end up saving even more!

*Gymboree has Spring Break Deals where items are priced at $10 and $12 each.  In some cases, this is already 50% off the retail price.  You can use a 20% off coupon (from the April Parents Magazine or from home mailers) and save even more!

*Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic – their Give, Get, and Give sale started today – if you are subscribed to their e-mail list, you should have received a code for 30% off your online purchase (this is a one time use code).  Everyone else can print a coupon for 30% off your in store purchases through Sunday, March 21st.  This is a multiple use code and they will donate 5% of the amount you spend to the Leukemia and Lymphona Society.  If you shop online, don’t forget to shop through a cash back site such as Ebates to get 2% cash back!  Also, use your coupon to buy items that are already on sale, so you save even more!

*JC Penney – They are having a huge sale, plus you can use the code BREEZY7 to save $15 off your purchase of $75 of more or $10 off your purchase of $50 or more online (if you are shopping online, don’t forget to use a cash back site such as Ebates to get 3% cash back) or print coupons for $15 off a $75 purchase or $10 off a $50 purchase in store.

*Kohls – Take an additional 15% off online using the code SHOP15 (plus get 2% cash back from Ebates) or print a coupon for 15% off in store.

*Payless – If your kids need shoes, you can print a coupon to save 15% off your entire in store purchase or get $10 off a $50 online purchase using the code EASTER at check-out.  If you are shopping onling, you can also take an additional 15% off using the code 30576 at check-out (shopping through a cash back site such as Ebates will get you an additional 3% cash back)

*The Children’s Place – They are currently offering $5 tees and $10 shorts during their Spring Break sale.  Save 15% off your online purchase using the code C99AA at check-out (get an additional 3% cash back if you shop through Ebates) or print a coupon to save 15% off your in store purchase.

*Carters – save 20% off your purchase of $50 or more using this printable coupon.

Do you know of any other great sales or printable coupons?  Please comment and share!  Do you have another money-saving tip to share?  Feel free to link up below!

For more Thrifty Thursday ideas, check out Coupon Teacher, Madame Deals, and Life as a Mom.