Simple Tips & Tricks On How To Save, Stock & Store Your Children's Clothing

As you have already figured out by now, I love to dress with style, not only for myself but I also enjoying buying clothes for my family and making sure my kids are well-dressed each day. This morning as my eldest daughter (who is six years old) and I were folding the laundry together in her room, said to me " Mama, you're right, I feel my best when I dress in pretty clothes." I was so pleased to hear her say that, but I told her it's equally important to take care of our clothes in order to look presentable, to avoid overspending and to keep your closet organized.

I have been asked many times by other moms;

• "How do you manage to always have your five kids well dressed?"

• " You must spend a lot of money on their clothes as they are always wearing different outfits."

• "Where do you keep the clothes for all those kids?"

• " You must be super stressed getting ready for special occasions having to shop for so many outfits for your large family!"

The list continues. These questions are what inspired me to sit down and write this article, so that I may give you some insight on how you and your family can always dress your best, keep your clothes organized while spending less.

Saving Time & Money

There are various ways I save money on my kid's clothing without compromising style. One thing I do regularly is when I see a dress for my daughters, or a nice outfit for my son that I know they will love and can wear multiple times at a sweet deal, I purchase it right away! I prefer to stock up on quality pieces of clothing a little at a time, building up a vast repertoire in order to be able to pull-out whatever fashion ensemble I need or would like for the day. This avoids overspending and stressing trying to find the right outfit last minute.

 Thrifting is always a fun and affordable shopping experience, but since there is no guarantee of what fashion styles you will find in a thrift store, shopping at regular stores during end-of- season sales will bring you more assurance of finding the particular article of clothing you are looking for at a good price.

I always prefer to buy 1-2 sizes up when I find a beautiful piece of clothing on sale. When they are being sold for much cheaper, it's a great time for me to stock up!

In the past, I've swapped kids clothes with other mom friends, which allowed me to not spend any money at all. As much as I appreciated the aspect of saving money, I didn't continue this exchange as I prefer choosing the styles of my kid's outfits, but it's a good option to have had.

Additionally, I save money by keeping my kids clothing in mint condition. 'Resolve Spray' stain remover really works wonders to remove all spots and marks off my children's clothing. Therefore, if I purchase more clothes it is a desire and not out of necessity. I always joke and say that Resolve Spray is my best friend!

Resolve Spray 'n Wash Pre-Treat Laundry Stain Remover Trigger Spray - 22 Fl Oz / 650 mL x 2 Pack : Amazon.ca: Health & Personal Care.

Lastly, due to the fact that my daughters are super close in age and that I keep their clothes in pristine condition, their clothes are passed down to the younger sister. My eldest daughters clothes are now worn by my youngest daughter, who is the forth girl, and they look brand new! Nobody would be able to tell that her three older sisters wore the same dress. ( I don't just rely on hand-me-downs for my younger children, they also get to enjoy the thrill of having me buy them a new dress I picked out just for them as well, but I am very pleased that I can reuse the same outfit many times over for each of my four girls).

Stocking & Storing Your Kids' Clothing

The way I store the clothes for my five children is by having two seasons available in the bedroom closet and the rest are packed in boxes in the storage room. This isn't unusual as it's what most people do. But, what do you do with all those clothes that you bought that don't fit your eldest child yet? The ones that you bought at a good deal for when they're older?

I have these bins labeled meticulously by age, season, and category, filled with clothing and accessories. I have organized everything from winter coats, summer dresses, holiday outfits and everyday wear, all carefully stored to maintain their condition. I don't worry about the styles becoming outdated, as we aren't a trendy family that follows the ever-changing whims of fashion. These boxes preserve memories and allow my children to have access to quality garments as they grow, and again, without the having to stress about finding a beautiful outfit last minute is always one of my top goals!

How to Store

The extra material you will need to store your kids clothes are:

• storage bins/totes

• a permanent marker

• labels

I have purchased large plastic bins/totes at various places. I like the bins at Costco best as they are more durable, but the downfall is that they are opaque. Whereas the other bins I have tried that are translucent are made out of softer plastic. It is easier to deal with the translucent boxes as you can visually see what's in them without having to really check inside. On the other hand, these boxes don't last as long as the heavy-duty opaque ones at Costco. The way I am able to find the size and style quickly with the opaque ones is to put the label on the side of the boxes which enables me to read what's inside without having to unstack every storage bin/tote.

I store my kid's shoes and coats the same way I store their clothes- in their rooms and the next size up stored away storage bins/totes. I put the everyday wear in the entrance of our home and the dress shoes and coats in their bedroom closet. The coats are hung up and pushed over and organized to one side and their dress shoes are tucked away in a designated drawer.

In the past, I had either a closet or a dresser but not both. Having both options to store your folded and hung clothes is ideal as it is easier to organize. In my girls closet, we have bought a thin and tall dresser which we placed in the middle of their closet, with their rods to hang up their dresses and tops on the sides. In my son's room he has a large wardrobe that has both shelves and places to hang his clothes.

Et Voila! It's not that difficult to find simple and practical ways to save money, stock and store your kids' clothing. It is essential to enhancing your kids' style while teaching them responsibility. This also allows your mama-brain to be put more at ease when running your busy household!