Children's Clothing Stash and Thrift Store Find

I finally found a Christmas dress for my daughter at our local Goodwill, a like new burgundy velour at only $2.00. I had found an Easter dress earlier this year, but was hoping to find a nice Christmas dress as well. I can cross this off my list now.

I've got a stock pile of dresses and coats in her closet organized by size. It's easier for me to hang them and periodically take a visual inventory rather than storing them away in containers. This way I don't purchase too many clothes in any one particular size. Many of them are thrifted, but I also take advantage of off-season sales. Today I got a children's bathing suit for the year after next at Dollar General for only $3.00. A few weeks ago, I purchased some casual summer Garanimal skirts and tops on clearance for $1.00 at Walmart.

I do have some plastic containers for storing shoes, socks, night clothes, and casual clothing. These I have sorted by season. There are all different sizes in these bins, but it's not too difficult to sort.  I try to keep her clothing to a minimum, just enough to get through a week.

For casual clothing, I tend toward mix and match Garanimals(Walmart) and Fisher Price(Dollar General) outfits. It makes life much easier, and these outfits can be extended through to cooler seasons with Fisher Price leggings under the summer Garanimal skirts. Sometimes the Dollar Store has some decent clothing as well. I got T-shirts and shorts there this year, and when my daughter was a baby, leggings. I do try to find thrifted casual clothing, but in our area, the pool of second hand casual preschool clothing tends be very worn and faded.

I haven't had too much trouble with these less expensive brands of children's clothing wearing out before their time. It may be because I wash in cold water, and line dry my clothing. This extends the color and fabric quite a bit. 

My son is getting easier to dress. He is a tween, so he can get away with jeans and T-shirts. I just taught him how to pair his summer T's under thrifted long sleeved plaid button down shirts, an easy way to extend summer clothing into cooler months. He has one pair of tan pants for church, one light weight jacket, and one heavy coat. Wardrobes are so much easier for boys.