Save Money on Children's Clothing
Coupons, Discounts and Deals When Buying Clothes for Kids
Nov 1, 2009
During this recession all indicators point to consumers spending less. However, parents know that some spending does have to continue, as their children grow in both bull and bear markets. Essential spending on things like clothing doesn't have to break the bank. Taking time to seek and organize the available options for saving will make a big difference in a family's bottom line.
Go Online for Savings
Many companies allow consumers to shop online. This is a great way to check stock and monitor sales. If, for example, the Gap is a household favorite, a quick trip to the website reveals sales, shipping deals and the fact that five stores can be shopped in one location for one flat rate shipping fee (as of October 31, 2009). Old Navy, Banana Republic, Piperlime and the recently acquired Athleta are all available to shop on the Gap website.
Monitoring the sales and emails here can net kid bargains and allow a little something for mom and dad, too. To make sale watching even easier, create an account for email access to sales and promotions. Just click the "Create Account" button under "My Account" and sign up for emails from the favorite store. Yes, the emails will be fast and furious, but sorting through them and using them when it's buying time will prevent parents from having to pay retail prices.
Create a Special Coupon Email Account
Shoppers can create an email account just for receipt of shopping coupons. Often, customers don't want to provide retailers their personal email addresses for fear of email innundation, or for privacy reasons. However, setting up a coupons only account will allow offers to come in without disturbing a primary email account. Hotmail and Yahoo are easy sites for setting up a coupon account. Children's stores like Gymboree, Carter's and Osh Kosh often ask for an email address. Since their discounts are significant for email subscribers, it's a good idea to allow the emails to come and plan shopping around sales and promotions.
Outlet Shopping
Making a practice of shopping at outlets can also save money by combining coupons with outlet savings. Whether shopping at Gymboree, Carter's and Osh Kosh , or any other children's store, chances are good that a trip to their website before shopping will reveal ways to save. But, even stopping at outlets seasonally without coupons, can save money better used elsewhere. The key is planning. Determine what essentials should go on the list and stick to the list for maximum frugality. Choosy children should be brought on shopping trips to determine that they will actually wear what is purchased.
Frequent Shopper Programs
Although carrying a wallet full of store discount and shopping cards is cumbersome, it can pay off. The Children's Place, Toy's R Us and and Sears are national chains offering incentives for frequent shoppers. Shoppers can receive discounts just for shopping where they shop routinely.
Beyond Clothes
There are a number of categories besides apparel that offer the same types of savings. Restaurants like Red Robin and Pizza Hut offer coupons and free birthday meals. Pottery Barn for Kids offers email deals, as does Party City. Buying online can net savings, too. Google searching coupon codes plus the name of the online retailer may offer savings not advertised on the site's home page.
With so many potential offers, coupons, and email lists, there really isn't a good reason to shop at full retail prices. A little research and organization will more than pay off for the smart shopper. The internet has made saving significant money on family purchases not only possible, but also profitable, to the tune of hundreds of dollars per year. Coupon cutting has evolved into a world of savings opportunities for those who take the time to grab them.
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