Clothing your kids with outwear for winter can get expensive by the time you buy a winter coat, snow pants, snow boots, hats, gloves, and scarves. If you have more than one child, the cost continues to rise.
Depending on where you live, it can be a gamble as to what winter items you will need for your kids. I had snow pants and snow boots for all our kids last winter and we only got a couple light snows. I think they put them on one time. For this reason, I don’t like to spend a lot on outwear.
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Here are some ways I outfit my kids for winter without spending a lot.
1. Shop end of season sales
Purchase winter coats for the next year at end of season sales. I have gotten lucky in terms of our kids’ growth. They typically go up one size each year, so I purchase one size bigger.
2. Buy secondhand
Search thrift shops, resale shops, garage sales, and Facebook yard sales for gently used outwear. I often find snow pants and snow boots with very little wear secondhand.
3. Hand down items
Our oldest son often gets a new winter coat and then passes it down to his brother within 1-2 years. We also pass down snow pants, boot, gloves and hats. The key here is to purchase neutral items so you can pass them down from one child to the next regardless of the child’s color preference.
4. Ask family and friends
Ask family, friends, and neighbors if they have any of the items you need. Some people get rid of stuff quickly, but others hold onto items because they may plan to have more kids or they just are not ready to get of it. Our middle son wore a winter coat last year that was given to us a few years back by a neighbor of grandma’s. They live in a part of the country that had warm winters and had bought the coat for a trip, so it was in perfect condition, we got it for free, and both boys wore it.
5. Shop sales and use coupons
Many of the suggestions I give in this post can be used to save on winter outwear: Buy Brand Name Children’s Clothing on a Discount Store Budget.
What are tips do you have to keep the cost of outwear for your kids down?
You also might like: How to Save Money on Halloween Costumes.
