6 Places to Find Kids Clothes for Cheap

My husband I recently found out we are expecting–and it’s going to be a girl! We couldn’t be more excited! Unfortunately, however, with two boys and no girls already, this means I have a lot of clothes shopping to do before the little one gets here. And as much as I love picking out the sweetest, most adorable clothes for a newborn baby girl, there’s no way I want to buy them all at full price. I need to find kids clothes for cheap!

Whether you are expecting a little one or you simply need a few more pieces for an older child, there are tons of ways you can get the clothes you need for less. Here are the six places I’ll be deal hunting this summer–maybe one will be a goldmine for you too.

1. Garage Sales

Garage sales are my #1 favorite spot to find kids’ clothes–especially if you are shopping for little ones. Kids grow out of their clothes so quickly that you can usually find tons of great, like-new clothes for pennies on the dollar. Even if you only choose a small bag of your favorites at each sale, you can quickly stock up on almost everything you’ll need for a super low price. (Try Garage Sale Finder.)

2. Craiglist

If you don’t like the idea of wandering around garage sales *hoping* you’ll find something, looking on Craigslist for cheap kids’ clothes is another excellent option. If the sellers upload good pictures and descriptions, you can shop right from home–until you find something you have to have.

3. Consignment Shops

For specific pieces and size that are harder to find at garage sales, I love checking out our local consignment shop. The clothes are always in great condition and reasonably priced (though not as cheap as garage sales), and the boys love to play with the toys while I look through the racks and racks of clothes. Plus, you can sometimes score a coupon or trade in your old clothes for an even better deal. (Try ThriftShopper.com.)

4. Hand-me-Downs

Do you have friends or family with children slightly older than yours? If so, you may be able to borrow or even keep a friend’s child’s old hand-me-downs. If you like their style, you could get pretty much everything you need to dress your baby for free! Just be sure to return the clothes or pass on the favor when you are done.

5. Ebay

I’ve also had some good luck with Ebay in the past. Use the word “lot” and the size and type of clothing you are looking for in order to get a big batch for the best deals. (For example: lot of boys’ summer shirts size 5.) The biggest drawbacks to this method are that shipping can add up quickly and that if you don’t like all of the pieces in a lot, buying the entire lot may not be worth it. Still, if you find one you like, they are a great bargain.

6. Clearance Racks

Do you prefer your children’s clothes new? If so, you might have good luck with clearance racks, especially if you shop at the end of the season. Stores like Kohl’s and Target routinely have huge mark-downs, so it pays to check out their clearance racks every time you’re in to see what they have.

Clothing a child can be incredibly expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. You just have to know where to look.