Cooler weather is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to pull out the fall/winter clothes!
My husband and I have 3 main ways of providing clothes for our girls:
- through gifts/hand-me-downs from family/friends
- by shopping the end-of-season clearance racks (mostly at Kohls and Target), and
- seasonal consignment sales!
Image by Thoursie
I am not a shopper, but I love getting a good deal when I do shop.
But, sometimes, I later realize I over-buy.
It doesn’t matter how cheap something is: If you shell out money for it and you don’t need it, you are NOT saving money.
Honestly? This year I’ve been overwhelmed with laundry. And I’ve realized: My girls have far, far too many clothes.
Image by linder6580
So, a few weeks ago, I decided that at the beginning of every season (and before the consignment sales!), I will do an inventory of my kids’ stuff–especially their clothes, but also their toys.
The other day, I pulled out all the clothes we already have for the girls for the fall.
I’ve decided not to buy Baby Girl anything unless it happens to be an extremely good deal on matching outfits for her and her sister.
When she is older, I may try to buy her some new outfits, but, really, she has more than enough clothes from her big sister.
I’m going shopping with a very specific list of things we actually need for Little Girl (who is 3). At this point, it looks like we will need some pairs of shoes and socks, a couple pairs of pajamas and maybe a few play clothes.
I’m hoping having an inventory of what I already have will help me make wiser decisions on what else to purchase.
A few days ago, Stephanie at Keeper of the Home wrote about the concept of really limiting her childrens’ wardrobes. She laid out a plan for how many outfits each child would have, and she’s currently doing a test run. She packed away outfits she didn’t think her children would need.
I think it’s a great idea, and, armed with my inventory list of what I already have–and the few things we still need–I hope to get my daughters’ “stuff” in better order.
I’m also hoping that having less clothes will help me better manage the laundry pile. I really, really struggle with keeping up with the laundry (I know, I know–I only have 2 kids and 1 husband…but still!).
My thoughts are: If I have less to manage, I will be forced to keep on top of the laundry, and clothes will be less likely to pile up. At least that’s my theory.
Image by ColinBroug
My husband has mentioned lately: You are always on top of the diaper laundry, but our clothes pile up.
Ouch! But he’s right. And I think it’s because I truly need the diapers to be clean every day. I cannot afford for them to not be clean!
And I want to start looking at clothes the same way.
Do you ever do a “stuff” inventory at your house? Do you try to limit the amount of clothes and toys your family owns? Why or why not?
Want to learn how I simplified my laundry routine? Check out this post!
Margaret
We recently moved from an apartment to a house and in the apartment it certainly felt like we had a lot of stuff and some things we did (and I did a major detox of stuff) but I’m finding our house a lot more roomier and we have a shed and garage to store roller blades/ bikes/ hockey equipment/stroller etc. and it is sooo nice. I feel as if I can clean up. Before it got discouraging and I often felt like it didn’t help. As for clothing, I only have one son but as soon as he grows out of clothes I put away the stuff that’s in excellent condition and I don’t really buy him much because his grandma loves to spoil him!
Chgomom79
My little ones are 4 & 5. Every change of season from fall/winter to spring/summer, I do an inventory of clothes, shoes, and toys. Because I do a lot off season buying, I often buy clothes a size bigger and store away. So when it comes to pulling out the current season’s clothes, I sometimes find that I have too much of something. I like the idea of writing down what they’ll need. I think I can implement that in my case. Another thing I wanted to mention is that I have both people that hand me down things, but also people that I hand off to. As soon as they outgrow clothing, I keep it in a hamper until my big inventory day then shoes, toys, and clothes get collected and given away. My kids like knowing that we aren’t just getting rid of their stuff, but that someone is going to use it. It makes it easy to give up the things that they “love so much”. Because I think we all know that they only love it when I suggest we give it up.
Annie
This has been majorly on mine and my husbands mind lately. We’ve been thinking of majorly downsizing on clothes and dishes, down to the bare minimum. I have 2 girls and a hubby, laundry is our toughest chore to keep up with, and I do keep up with the diaper laundry better! You have to keep the diaper laundry clean or it will get gross quickly. Maybe the idea of it needing to happen if you have less is workable!
YoHockeyMom
I have four boys and a husband. I just assumed that laundry was an 12 hour a day job/7 days a week. Clothes still on floor and in hamper despite my brave and valiant efforts to battle polyester/cotton blended piles of clothes with Tide Pods. Every day I climb the mountain of laundry while noticing the same shirt I washed yesterday but didn’t see anyone wearing it laying on the summit.
This article brought awareness that the boys have too much clothing. I do as well. There are things in the closet that have not seen bare skin in years. I’m going to surrender my flag and make up outfits as suggested for the entire family and get rid of the rest!
Donna
I just recently downsized my girls clothing. I have three girls so I do save clothes. My mom suggested 8 complete outfits, 1-2 play clothes outfits, and 2 dresses. I didn’t quite stick to that but pretty close! It can be tricky because each girl has a different style and body type! For instance, my oldest has a thin but somewhat curvy frame, my middle child is “petite” and built like my side of the family, tiny in every way except in length, and my youngest is built like her daddy’s side and is tall and just heavier. He seriously looks like a Viking. So when I save clothes now, I have to think, will the next child down wear this, and can swear it, will it fit the youngest, and if no to either it goes to the consignment shop or donated. I let my two big girls, 11 and 7 help choose what stays and goes-for them. I make the decisions for the youngest, she’s only 1! So far, clothing wise, it’s made laundry so much easier, way less daunting, and no more scary laundry piles! I can keep up on the clothes as much as the diapers now. And, my big girls have started helping more because it doesn’t overwhelm them either! But now I’ve realized I have too many towels! 😉
Erin
I think I need to cut back on the towels and now that Christmas has passed–with new clothes from the grandparents–I need to take another stuff inventory! It never ends!
Grammyprepper
DD and grandson recently moved out, so I am in the process of inventory and downsizing…DH has WAY more clothes than I do, as I’ve worked from home the past several years…But he has an obsession with buying jeans (we only shop the local thrift store for clothes, except underwear and socks), so I am instituting an one in/one out policy for him…I always have a box/bag for donations to the same thrift store, I throw items in as I come across and figure it’s something we really don’t need…For my grandson, I do look out for items that he can grow into like snow boots, winter coats…My mother clothed my son the first five years of his life second hand, as she found a lady who had regular yard sales whose grandson was a year older than my son…But I do have to watch my toy spending on my grandson! What can I say? What grandma doesn’t spoil their grandkid!
Erin
My mom enjoys getting clothes for my girls too! My DH has more clothes than I do too! LOL!!!