Whether you do your shopping mostly in retail
stores, thrift stores, or at garage and yard
sales, there are some strategies that will
work for you and help you to find a bargain
every time!

If you have a child who is hard to fit for
whatever reason, you may find that you must
shop at retail stores, even though you’d rather
not.  Two things to remember: buy in the
off-season (this requires a little planning
ahead)and always head to the clearance racks
first.

Wherever you shop, be sure to carry a list of
sizes for everyone you’re shopping for.  It’s
helpful to also jot down measurements–waist
sizes, inseam and sleeve length, for instance. 
All sizes may not be the same, plus garments that
have been laundered may not be the same size
they were when new.

For shoes, make a cardboard cutout of feet and
slip it into shoes to see if it fits. 

Keep a tape measure in your purse or at least
in your vehicle all the time.

Carry a file of fabric samples from items you
already have that you might like to match.  You
can often snip a bit of fabric from a seam
allowance or some other spot that won’t show.
Just staple to a file card and carry in an
envelope in your wallet.

Always keep your receipts.  It might help to jot
a note on the back to make it plain just what
the receipt is for!

Here’s a benefit to taking children shopping at
thrift or resale shops instead of retail stores:
Sizes are grouped together instead of styles being
grouped together.  For instance, my granddaughter,
Ashley,is a size 7 and when she goes to a resale shop,
she can see all the tops in size 7 and pick out
what she likes.


In a retail store, she might pick out something
she likes, only to have Mom say it’s not available
in her size or in that particular color.  As a result,
Ashley would much rather shop at the resale shop
than at the mall!  And that has to be a good thing!

Find out when your local thrift store has its
"clearance" sales.  Just like retail stores, resale
shops try to clear out merchandise periodically,
typically when seasons change and really good buys
can be found.

Garage and yard sales are great sources for baby
and children’s clothing especially.

Instead of buying a newspaper just for the garage
sale ads, see if there is an online copy.

Keep in mind that sales that have multiple family
sales together in one place may have already been
pretty well picked over by one another.

While the selection may be best early in the day
at garage sales, sometimes by afternoon or by the
second day, everything will be marked down
substantially.

Develop the habit of "making an offer" at garage
sales.  If a price is more than you want to pay,
offer less.  All they can say is no. However, it’s
been my experience that people will usually accept
what you offer.

One last strategy:  If your child objects to
previously worn clothing, simply point out that
a garment is only new for one wearing.  After
being worn and laundered, everything is "previously
worn"!

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Cyndi Roberts is the editor of the "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another"
bi-weekly newsletter, featuring creative ideas and tips to help
you "live the good life…on a budget!"
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