Here’s how to shop for your kids if you are more minimalist, on a budget, or want to create a more simple family life.
For little people kids sure have a lot of stuff. Partly because we’re given a lot in preparation for them. Partly because we aren’t really sure what they’ll need and we don’t want to deprive them.
And partly because we just plain ole overbuy.
Not because we’re trying to be greedy, but because looking around us it just seems like we need tons of stuff.
I am not a full on minimalist. I’m not completely against plastic toys. I don’t think kids should avoid *all* technology.
However, I do think that in an effort to be “good” parents we often mistake that to mean we need to have tons of things so our children aren’t deprived or missing anything.
If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them and half as much money.
Abigail Van Buren
What's in this post...
Here are some small habits to shop less but still give the kids all they need
Of course it isn’t bad to provide things for our children. But are we just spending unnecessary money when we could be putting that same amount in a child savings’ fund? Here are some tips on how to shop for your kids well if you’re trying to be more simple in your approach to purchases.
Adopt the “rule of one.”
We have 5 kids. That’s a lot. Because of that if we buy each child a bunch of things we end up with a house full of clutter. Nobody can match the shoes or the socks and it gets chaotic.
Why buy three things when one will do? No need for three winter coats when one that is a neutral color will last all season. Why buy five pairs of shoes when you can buy one casual and one dress of good quality and wear them out.
This works with presents, outings, treats, and all types of things. Focus on one good thing instead of many small things. It’s less to keep up with and less to organize.
In just 15 minutes a night (while you’re in your pajamas!) take your home (and heart and mind) from stressed out to organized.
Think ahead.
One habit we’ve adopted well and truly is buying clothes on clearance at the end of a season in sizes for next year. This is how I’ve gotten some really cute pieces of clothing that would otherwise be too pricey to even consider. If you’re trendy this may not work for you since you might feel end of season clothes aren’t as current as new ones.
To combat this, buy classic pieces in classic patterns that are not trendy. If they aren’t trendy now, they won’t be out of style in a year. This will really help you save some money and prepare for next year. You are spending now to save later.
Shop all house closets and storage.
There is nothing worse than going to the store and buying stuff only to find a box later filled with things you could have used. And saved yourself the money. If you organize clothes based on sizes you’ll be able to see what you have and don’t have. If any onesies or shorts are unisex, you can reuse things for all children if you’ve taken care of them.
There is rarely a load of laundry I do that hasn’t been pre-soaked. Kids are dirty and messy. But if you take care of the clothes then you don’t feel the need to shop so much and you aren’t so concerned with passing “hand me downs.”
Who would complain about a good-as-new dress? Also, we never use the word “hand me down” in our home. I simply pass clothes down as needed. I don’t think a single boy (and I have 4!) has complained about wearing something his older sibling had.
The first step to getting rid of chaos is to simplify, simplify, simplify. This guide can help.
Learn MoreBuy used or gently worn.
When planning how to shop for kids, one thing to consider is going to thrift or consignment stores. Particularly those in the most affluent areas. You’ll get high quality name brand items on super duper sale.
You likely won’t be able to find all you need used, but you can start there and then fill in the gaps with new stuff. I do this with Play It Again Sports as well, to buy used sporting equipment since it can get very pricey with multiple kids.
Used first, new purchases after.
Buy things that go a long way.
I’ve heard someone say the price of something isn’t as important as the price per use. Buying a $50 Easter dress they will wear once has a very high cost per use. Buying a sundress you can dress up or down has a much lower cost per use Something that the children use regularly for an activity like homeschooling, say an iPad, will have a low-cost per use since you use it daily. And it truly enriches your children’s experiences.
A toddler bed can only be used for a few very short years. A twin bed can be used long past toddler days so if you are looking to save some money, purchasing a twin will provide the family with a bed for many years.
It isn’t about being cheap or deprivation. It’s about thinking clearly about your family’s needs and how you can meet them without breaking the bank. Even if you wouldn’t break the bank, wouldn’t it be better to put those few extra dollars into the future as opposed to a soon to be discarded toy in the present?
To recap
Depending on your personality and your budget, it can be either stressful or fun to shop for your kids. The more kids you have, the more it intensifies.
- Plan before you shop
- Reuse what you can
- Shop used first, then buy after
- Buy items that can be used in a few ways to get more use
Grace says
my girls each have pair of black mary-janes for church/parties, 1 pair of sneakers, 1 pair of slippers (beach, pool) and 1 other casual shoes. when they were 1 year, they only had 1 pair of white sandals/shoes which they wore until it was completely gone. having 4 pairs now seems like a lot!!
i never felt they were deprived, neither do they. :-) keeps life really simple!
Rachel Norman says
I totally agree! And it cuts down on the “no this shoe” arguments as a bonus! !
Evelyn Kelly says
All these tips are excellent but I liked your #1 tip very impressive and helpful for me. I am also a mom of a girl named Eva. Thanks for sharing such informative post for parents.
Hint Mama says
Great tips! I’m a fan of #1 too, and number 2 works great for shoes too. More on that, and a link to your helpful hints, here: http://hintmama.com/2014/03/19/todays-hint-stock-up-on-too-big-shoes/
Rachel Norman says
Great ideas in that post!
Joshua says
Thanks for sharing these brilliant tips. Moms have to deliver on their kids’ changing fashion sensibilities, surfing the delicate balance between quality and quantity, and all while staying within a budget. Keep sharing!