I'm a total bargain shopper, are you?

So I LOVE clothes, shoes, handbags, and accessories. But, like most of us we live on a budget. We made the very consious decision that we would not put our babies in daycare even if that meant living on a tighter budget. We hope we can continue this until they are in school. So with my husband staying home that means not a lot of shipping for me.... Or does it? I shop every weekend. All the time. Now that doesn't mean I buy everything, or buy everything I want. I always try to find the best deal possible. Here are some of my shopping on a budget tips. Hope you find them useful. 

#1

Garage sales in the spring and summer. Check them out on Craig's list before you go. Always have a plan. On Thursday people usually post what they are selling and sometimes pictures of what they are selling on Craig's list. I will make a list of where I'm going to go based on what looks the best. Always go to the obes that look best to you first. Even if they are further away. The good stuff goes quick. I look for newer neighborhoods as they tend to have young children, and when I am garage saling 99% of what I am looking for is for my babies. Sometimes I find something for momma. Also look for sales in upper class neighborhoods they tend to have great housekold items, and decor, and usually are well priced. When you are garage saling always ask for a lower price. I know its tough at first, but once you do it a few times you'll get the hang of it, and no it's not rude. Every garage sale I've ever had people ask to lower the price, and you know what? I price it knowing that! So if you find a great sweater for your little one and it says $1 ask if they'll take .50. What's the worst they can do? Say no, so what! Always shop for seasons ahead of time, if it's summer start getting your children's winter wardrobe. My kids are always dressed in Gap, Carter's, old navy, Gymboree, and children's place, and 95% of it was from garage sales. 

# 2

Baby consignment shops

I know a lot of cities have these now, and let me tell you they are amazing! I have a few here in my town and I use each one for different things. The main one I use is other mothers. I use them to take in all my things we are not using anymore, they go through and take what they want and give me a credit to the store for what they buy. It's usually only a small percent of what I paid for it, but then I get credit for what I need. So I'll bring in outgrown clothes, shoes, and even baby gear and they give me credit in exchange. I have a routine when I go in there. Shoes first, then outfits, Jammie's, then accessories. Sometimes clothes, but often this is not my best spot to find clothes. Mainly it's good for Jammie's, toys, and shoes. Especially shoes! I get the babies footie Jammie's mostly from here. Usually Carter's footie Jammie's are between $2-3 a pair. Compared to the $20 for new. And I always make sure they are clean, free of stains, and the footie part looks new. For shoes it's hit and miss, but when it's hit its amazing!! I get lots of robeez, jack and Lilly, converse, and vans for less than $8 a pair. That's the mosh I've spent there on shoes and that's because they were $40 a pair normally. Sometimes I find them new in the box with a nordstrom price tag still on them. We also have another store called lollipop lemon drop. This is more of a boutique baby store with new and used things. Lots of handmade new things, and even woman's! I go here to look for myself a lot, and to look at shoes for the littles. They tend to get really high end baby shoes at about 40-50% of the retail price. 

#3

Clearance racks 

I can't say it enough! Why would you ever pay full price? The only time I pay film price is if I LOVE something. Like have to have it. Dream about it night have to have it. Other than that we try to never pay full price. When we walk in a store whether it be target, old navy, nordstrom rack, anywhere really we walk straight to the clearance racks. Target always has them and sometimes they are up to 70% off! Old navy has a ton of clearance and it's fairly priced too. If you like simething just wait a week or two. It will be on the clearance rack by then. Often times 50% off what you almost paid for it a week ago. 

#4

Email list/coupon list

I know it's annoying to get emails everyday from stores, but a lot of times you get deals you would never know existed if you didn't get those annoying emails. Some great ones I'm on is Carter's, the body shop, DSW, kmart, kohls, and old navy. Just got a spend $20 get $10 off at the body shop this morning! I got $3 off any purchase a kmart yesterday. I get a lot of beauty products there, sometimes I go and just use my $3 off on a few little things and get them for free! A lot of times on the weekend old navy will send a 50% off any one item that day coupon. DSW has rewards so sometimes I will get $10 off a $10 purchase. I'll go there, go straight to the clearance and get a pair of shoes for free or a few bucks. 

#5

CRAIGS LIST!

I use Craig's list for everything. I sell on there. And I buy on there. I look daily. I look in two places. The baby and kids section, and the clothing and accessory section. Here's a great example. I have been wanting a northface jacket forever, but refused to pay $200 for one. So I started looking daily on craigslist at the end of this summer. I saw some here and there but they were either priced to high or not the right size. Then one day there they were! Three from one seller, all in my size. We met up, I picked my favorite. Tried it on, and $30 later I got my northface jacket! I also get a lot of kids things from here. Shoes that are new in the box for $5-10. I bought almost all of Holden's baby gear here while I was on bed rest. His Boon high chair, his bouncer, his jumparoo, and then some. All for 50% of retail or less. 

Those are just a few of my tips. Hope they help you become a bargain shopper. I will say this is a lot of work, but I save a ton. Everything has to be washed, sanitized, and sometimes depending on the item it can take a while. But my kids are always dressed nicely, and in style and I get asked all the time where I get their clothes. When I respond "from a garage sale" you should see peoples faces. 

Let me know if you have any questions. Happy hunting!

Pictured outfits. 

Holden's chambray shirt from target, bought at a garage sale new with tags for .50. His H&M pants were bought off of an Instagram closet for $6. His shoes were robeez in the box from other mothers for $8. Elliot's sweater is Gymboree from other mothers for $5.99 and her leggings new from target for $4. 

Kirkland Jammie's from a garage sale for $1 like new with a cupcake pattern. 

Vest is from Carter's purchased at a garage sale for .50 and his onsie is from a pack of 5 bought on the clearance rack during summer at caters for $11 for 5!!

My $30 northface coat. 

Carter's Jammie's from other mothers $2.99