Does anyone else feel like you are NEVER done shopping for your kids’ clothes? My kids are one and three, and every time I think I am set…boom–along comes another need. With the changing seasons and kids who never stop growing, we are constantly shopping, washing, and organizing their clothes. Since becoming a mama a few years ago, I have come across a few hacks to make things easier and save time and money.
MONEY SAVING HACKS
Shop Used!
Not only is this great for your wallet but also for the environment! See here for a list of all the local thrift stores our amazing community has to offer.
Shop from Facebook!
Search Facebook Marketplace for specific items and post an ISO if it isn’t there. Or complete an Ask on your local Buy Nothing Group.
Shop Clearance!
While you may not want to pick super specific items since trends come and go, you can always get your basic needs a season ahead of time and save a ton!
Sign up for email alerts!
I have these automatically routed to a special email folder, and when I need to shop for something online I can go to my folder and get a coupon code. You can also download Ebates and other money savings apps for cash back and coupon codes on your online orders.
Write it down!
I keep a rough inventory of what I have for each kid so I wont buy more of what I already have and I know exactly what I still need. Just because it is on sale doesn’t make it a great deal! It’s only a great deal if you actually need it.
I chose a set number of clothing items to have for each kid. So far, I have found that between 8-10outfits work out really well, and then add in seasonally appropriate things as needed. Another perk of keeping track of needs is that when people ask you, “What do your kids need?” you can answer, specifically!
LAUNDRY HACKS
Stain Remover:
I have a one- and three-year-old, so if you are there, you get it. If you have had them, you remember. They get so dirty! My daughter loves crawling around on the ground and my son lives to dig in dirt. When doing laundry I swear by this stain remover. It gets EVERYTHING out.
Color Sorting Hack:
Have these color safe sheets on hand when you can’t separate light and dark colors.
No more lost socks:
Wash kid socks in garment bags to keep them together.
Shoes:
Hose them off outside, then throw in your washing machine on the gentle cycle (confirm this with your owners manual) to get them looking brand new!
ORGANIZATION HACKS
Bins and Stacking:
Say goodbye to hangers and folding and hello to bins and stacking. For each of my kids’ three-drawer dresser, they are organized like so:
Top drawer: 2 bins–one for socks, one for underwear, and pjs rolled/paired together in the middle.
Middle Drawer: Two options here. 1) If you have an equal number of tops and bottoms, pair each together. All new laundry goes on the right as you put away to ensure everything is worn. If you don’t have an equal number or prefer to mix and match, lay out your tops and stack together. Place on one side of the drawer. Next, do the same for bottoms. As you wash and put away items, stack on the bottom.
Bottom Drawer: Extra sheets, kid towels, and random items like hats, sunglasses, swim gear, and things we will need in near future.
Somewhere in the bedroom:
Have a bin for outgrown or unused items for donations. Once it is full, store and label or donate/sell/purge! For cheap bins, head to your local Dollar Tree or find some boxes laying around.
Hand-me-downs:
AS SOON AS you are gifted these, go through them and purge anything you don’t like. I was gifted many things by many generous people. It was all great, but I had so many things gifted I had to narrow it down. I went through each item to make sure I loved it and it wasn’t stained or damaged, and if it didn’t make the cut, it was donated.
The remaining items were sorted into separate tubs by size, and in those tubs I placed like items together (like the dresser drawer idea above). REMEMBER: put these items on your inventory list so you know what you have, or you will have to truck down to the basement at 10 p.m. to confirm you don’t have all the things you have in your online shopping cart.
Disclaimer:
My kids are little (toddler and baby), so this may not work as kids get older. If you have ideas for older kids, please comment below and help other mamas out!
