A penny saved…

When your family is comprised of growing kids, clothing and shoe budgets can soon become astronomical. It’s a two-fold issue: children grow quickly and you need them to have clothes that fit properly; also, most parents want their kids to look cared for. Depending on the age and personality of the children involved, there might also be a desire to dress to their own idea of style.

So you have a budget and at least one child that is growing like a weed - what to do? Sometimes it’s a little easier to clothe a bigger family using that tool called hand-me-downs. The second of three girls, I had an equal number of new-to-me clothes mingling with my older sister’s things. I don’t remember being bothered at all by the fact that some of my things weren’t new. In fact, getting to wear things my older sister wore previously served to mark the passage of time. I knew I was getting older when I could finally wear the red velvet Christmas dress.

Even if you have only one little one, with a little ingenuity you can duplicate the benefits of a large family (without all the noise). Make connections with other parents at day-care, school, dance classes, league baseball, religious groups -you get the idea- and create a clothing exchange group. When establishing the group, be as clear as you can in regards to your child’s current size and build. If your little one is slender, creating an exchange with a younger but plumper child isn’t going to work. Likewise if you child is very tall, partnering with an older but shorter child will also be frustrating more than anything.

Try to budget allowing for a few new things - even if they’re only from a thrift store. Being able to pick out some favorite clothes should be a part of anyone’s wardrobe. To get the most mileage from the clothes your child currently has, try to find pieces that can be layered to adapt for more seasons or changes in weather. In order to maximize interchangeability of outfits, try to limit your child to a few dominant colours to allow you to mix and match more pieces.

I’ve made myself miserable about clothing for the sake of a few bucks. I bought clothing that I hated, that didn’t flatter my body at all and made me feel ugly every time I wore them. Spend a little more to make sure your kids feel proud of themselves and happy with their appearance. Looking good is not about beauty but is part of self-confidence. Don’t make my mistake at sacrificing self-confidence for a few bucks. Buy fewer pieces of clothes if it means your kid can have a few more items they love.

I know some parents might view second-hand clothing as being beneath their child but it’s never to early to learn the value of being thrifty. I think that there’s no time like the present to teach your child that a price-tag doesn’t indicate quality. For me, living frugal is about sacrificing small things to make room for the big things I really want; prioritization at its best.

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