Frugal Moms

Although I know it is usually cheaper to buy second hand, sometimes second hand just won’t do.  In my family we have a creative solution to keep all the kids clothed and with the occasional new out fit.  First off I make their clothes if they get anything new from us.  I am forever fixing buttons, zippers, and patches, but sometimes they want new stuff.  I don’t mean “new to them” I mean new.  It is virtually impossible to get each child an outfit brand new with out dropping a hundred at the cash register.  The first creative solution I use is to combine our “gift” budget with our “clothing” budget.  That means that any new clothing thing they get will be on one of the Major Sabbats as a holiday gift or their birthday.  The second thing I do is to hand sew or machine sew whatever it is new they get.  The third thing is to shop at bargain material outlets or yard sales for fabric.

For example; My children all have brand new summer dresses for Midsummer.  I did not go to Walmart and pick out brand new dresses.  I didn’t even go buy a pattern at Walmart.  I did find very very cheap, (on clearance) fabric for 3 dollars a yard.  This fabris wasn’t as cheap as the dollar a yard fabric, but it had mock smocking on it, so one seam and each had a dress.  I ended up buying extra intending to sell whatever over stock I made.  It has served me well.  I paid 50 dollars total for this fabric.  So far I have made 14 dresses for my four girls and still have TONS left over.  Those 14 dresses were given for birthdays and Middsummer.  For 50 dollars I have not only dressed 4 children well, but I also have gifts for each child on their birthday and a gift for each child on our holiday.  Most parents don’t think like this I bet!

If you want to stretch your budget dollars combine categories.   Then find ways to get an absolute advantage over buying.  Finally find the materials to make your gift even cheaper than most places.  If you combine these three stratgies to care for your kids, you will do fabulous.