Calling all cheapskates and paupers!!!

Are there people out there who don't buy your baby's clothes at Hanna Andersson, Gymboree, Baby Gap & Old Navy? Where do you go to get clothes at good (i.e. better!) prices?

I'll admit I've taken advantage of the recent sales on Gymboree and OshKosh for a couple of things...but generally speaking, those things just cost way too much for me to regularly outfit a child in them, even on principle alone. $15 for an outfit that'll be outgrown in three months...yikes!

I know it's all relative; a $9 onesie at OshKosh is a great deal. But, if you'll excuse me, where are the hardcore penny-pinchers? Where are the moms and dads who don't want to buy brand-name stuff, for whatever reason? Are you out there? Any tips, advice, direction?

I've found good deals on basic Carter's stuff at my local BJ's, but other than that, ebay (where I'm buying the bulk of my baby's clothing) and thrift shops, I'm all out of ideas. Yard sales don't start up around here for quite some time.

Just wondering whether there are other people like me out there...I don't even buy MYSELF brand-name clothing! *laugh*

Best,
Jude

I like shopping the clearance racks at Kohl's, Marshalls, T.J. Maxx, but honestly I stock up on Hanna sale items (through the outlet mainly) because I know I'll just sell the stuff on Ebay for an almost guaranteed higher price than what I paid for it - same goes for all the Lands end stuff on clearance at Sears.

HTH

I find that if you buy stuff on sale at Gymbo, Hanna, Gap, etc, things are the same price or cheaper than places like Sears, Target, etc. I get Gymboree and Hanna dresses for $10-12 and to me that's a deal!!!

~Heidi
Mom to Kailey Ashlin
4/27/03

[lisams]

I like Target, but I can get sale items at Gymboree and Gap for the regular price at Target. For example, a pair of leggings at regular price will run for about $7 at Target. That is the price at Gymboree on sale (and the resale value of Gymboree is good - so I can turn around and get money back after DD has worn them - can't do that with Target stuff). So when I buy at Target, I wait for the sales or clearance rack. I'd love to hear where others get good deals though!

Lisa

[shishamo]

Hi,

I also buy tons of Hanna's, wear them for 2-3 seasons per child, and we really do wear them all the time. and after we are done I sell them on ebay. you really do get your money back.
The other thing is I do a lot of garage sale in the summer. It's the cheapest way, most stuff is 25 cents-2 dollars. I ONLY buy brand names at the garage sales (hanna's and baby gap, gymboree, and other boutique-y stuff ) and I resell them on ebay after I'm done. You actually make money that way (minus your trouble of listing the stuff plus ebay fee).
I do admit that I really like nice clothes for my kids and this is the only way for me to make the ends meet.

[Momof3Labs]

I'm a huge cheapskate!! But when I can get Baby Gap, Hanna and Lands End clothes at Wal-Mart prices, I buy them. Marshall's and TJ Maxx are great places for cute kids clothes too; you can easily get an entire outfit for $9.99. Value City is another source, though that usually requires more patience than I have when I'm there.

I've also done well at consignment stores, but lately it seems like everything around here is more expensive and more worn-out. I refuse to pay $6 for a worn-out Carter's sleeper - I'd MUCH rather pay $13 for a Hanna zipper on clearance, knowing that I'll get my money back from the Hanna when we are done with it, whereas the already worn-out Carter's will probably end up in the garbage.

You said that you don't want to buy brand names. I don't have anything against brand names, I just don't want to pay anywhere near brand name prices!

[stillplayswithbarbies]

I'm a cheapskate. That's why I shop at Gymboree and Hanna. Especially Hanna. At the sales, I am paying less than clothes from Target, and these clothes will last for more than one season and I'll sell them for more than I paid for them afterwards.

It's much cheaper to shop Gymboree, Hanna, Gap, etc from the sale racks than to shop Target etc. Even if I shop the clearance rack at Target, the outfit is not going to last and is not going to have any resale value.

...Karen
Jacob Nathaniel Feb 91
Logan Elizabeth Mar 03

[heytootsy]

I think I might be the biggest cheapskate of them all. I usually buy from garage sales. Most of the stuff is current styles, lots of Gymboree, Gap, etc...

Other than that, I check out the sale racks (and only stuff on sale). Maya has lots of really nice clothes, and it was all dirt cheap.

I used to be much cheaper with clothes when my kids were wearing 4 different wardrobes in a year. Once Amy stabilized into 2 a year (and they're seasonal, she's only going up one size) I felt better about spending a bit more on clothes.

I still think that Gymboree is somewhat expensive, so I only shop there when they have COF AND Gymbucks. But during those times for $50 or $100 you can get a lot. I also jump all over the LE Overstocks/Sears sales.

Before I bought 'designer' I bought a lot at Target and the Carter's outlet. If you have time to search the racks you can also get good stuff at Ross, TJ Maxx and Marshall's on clearance. The Healthtex web site also seems to have good sales on a regular basis.

Edited to add:

I almost forgot The Children's Place! Their stores are okay but the real deals are at their outlets. I was there today and picked up some winter shirts for Amy for $2.89 apiece (after 15% discount card was applied). Much of the outlet stuff is so cheap you can afford to guess at the child's size for next year. When I was pg with Andrew I got a bunch of things for him there for about $5 total. This was for about 12 items. Can't beat that!

[Melanie]

I like Ross, Kohl's, Mervyn's, TJ Maxx and Marshall's for less-expensive. They seem pretty skimpy in the toddler boys area, though, when it comes to my taste. I still maintain that my favorite pair of Ds' jeans which fit him the best are Mervyn's...too bad no one there has a clue about anything including picking up merchandise from the floor and making stroller room in the department, or I *might* try to find him another pair.

Of course, I don't buy MYSELF the expensive brand-name stuff either. I always think people are going to wonder who Ds belongs to, surely not the woman in her 5 year old fading Levi's, white Payless sneakers and 10 year old Hard Rock Cafe Sweatshirt. LOL. Although, I'm 'trying' to save my special money aside to buy at least a couple of things for myself instead of spending it all on his clothing.