Money-Saving Tips To Manage Kids’ Shopping Cravings
Your kids may have gotten used to enjoying gifts, toys, and clothing from you during the year, but it might be time to buckle down on your budget and on your kids’ shopping cravings. Since kids grow like weeds, you need to make sure you aren’t over-investing in something that they’ll just grow out of in six months. From more affordable products to downcycling old pieces, it’s time to take a look at some tips that will save you money in the short term and in the long run.
1. Shop Off-Season Items
Your kid may be crying for a particular item or begging for a new accessory for their hobby, but you shouldn’t give in right away. Wait until the offseason or until the item goes on sale before you buy.
Need new clothes for back to school? Shop for everything at the end of the school year instead of waiting until September. Buy slightly larger, so they can grow into their clothes over the summer. You might be looking for holiday candies and treats. You can buy candy the day after the holiday the year before to prep for the coming year. If your kid is into stargazing and there’s an eclipse coming up, don’t wait until the last minute to find shades and viewers. You can chart special events years in advance to prepare for what they might need.
2. Go to The Back First
Most of the time, store deals and clearance items are placed at the back of the shop. Bypass everything in the front, as these are the newest items that probably won’t go on sale for months. Look for yellow and red tags that usually mean an item is discounted to find exactly what you need right away. Lingering in a part of the store where everything is full price gives your kid time to explore and find an expensive piece they really like. Instead of telling them you can’t afford that one, don’t even let them have the time to see it. Take them to the sale selection and have them pick out items from there.
3. Sell Old Clothes
You’re trying to get a handle on your budget and pick up a few bucks everywhere you can. Selling old clothes your kids have grown out of is a great way to make money back on things they’ll never use any more. As long as you and they took decent care of these items, you should be able to sell them in secondhand shops for a portion of what you paid. You can often get a better price if you opt to receive in-store credit. Now you can shop with your kids at a store with clothes that look new, but cost much less.
4. Compare Prices Online
Shopping online is a lifesaver for many parents trying to take care of their kids, work a full-time job, and run a household. In addition to quickly comparing prices without having to run from store to store, you can also find unique coupons and deals that you can’t use in-store. With sizing charts clearly labeled and quick shipping to nearly anywhere in the United States, online shopping has become a convenient option for busy parents everywhere.
5. Hand Me Downs
You’re probably already buying your children’s clothes a little big, so they can grow into them and you can spend less money, but you can also reuse clothes and pass them down from child to child. Even if you don’t immediately pass down a sweater, dress, or pair of pants, you can save it in a hand me down drawer until the next kid is the right size. It’s probably best if they don’t get the clothing item right away, as they’ll have a chance to forget that it already belonged to an older brother or sister and accept it as new.
6. Embellish Old Clothes
If you’re worried about your kids rejecting hand me downs because they’re used, you can have fun bonding over a craft project to update a reused item. Give them something to do when they’re bored and allow them to personalize their clothing by managing easy modifications. From gluing on rhinestones to drawing with fabric markers, your kid is far more likely to wear a hand me down item when they get to make it their own.
Teach Your Kids
When you use these tactics to save money, you’re also encountering teachable moments to ensure your kids understand the value of money and learn to control their own spending. If they’re old enough, you can help them shop with their allowance and let them experience what it means to spend money from their pocket (even though it’s still technically yours). Talk to them about smart spending and let them make mistakes, so that they know better in the future.
