Consign on a dime.

The majority of the clothing my child wears is something I purchased from a consignment store, a hand-me-down from a family member or friend or a bargain bin item that I bought at Target or Wal-Mart.  Why pay top dollar for clothing that will 1) only be worn for a short period of time and 2) puked on, peed on, pooped on and ripped to shreds by a rambunctious 2.5 year old toddler?  Oh, I’m also a cheap bastard. 

I was only recently introduced to the world of consignment fair clothing.  After going to Gymboree with $100 bill and walking out with $.25 and 1 shirt, I decided that consignment would be a better fit for my budget.  It was either that or live in a cardboard box, and I enjoy running water and electricity way too much to allow that to happen.

I had lots of luck with Once Upon a Child in those early months when I could buy 5 complete Carter’s outfits and 5 matching pairs of shoes for $10.  Once Anna grew up and entered into the wonderful world of toddlerhood, it seemed that the clothes were much less cute and much more expensive.  Sure, I could still find a decent priced Gymboree shirt, but I spent much more time digging, and who has time to dig?  Time is money, people.

That’s where the Reruns for Little Ones consignment fair comes into play. I went to this fair when Anna was a newborn, but I didn’t have the time to actually go through the rows upon rows of beautiful (and barely even worn) clothing.  That is, until this year. 

I set up a booth for Piggy’s Place (pictures will come later) and was able to do a 1/2 off participants shop at 3 p.m. this past Saturday.  That means that every item that was marked in red was half off, and since I was selling my bows, I could get first dibs at the loot.  We’re talking complete outfits for $1.  Complete outfits that look brand new.  Complete NAME BRAND outfits.  I pity the fool who doesn’t shop this way.  I feel as though I’ve been blessed by the cheap ass bastard gods and shown the light. 

And now I’m passing along this wisdom to all of you.  Check your local listings to see if there are any annual consignment fairs near you.  If so, get thee to the fair STAT.

Here’s why – you’re about to see a glorious cell phone picture (blargh) of my precious little child standing in a huge pile of her “new” clothes.  Doesn’t she look happy?



So, what did this set me back?

There are over 20 full outfits, various shorts and t-shirts that look brand new and two pairs of shoes.

All of this for…wait for it…

$97!

An entire summer wardrobe of Gymboree, Old Navy, GAP, JCP for less than one shirt at the real Gymboree store. 

The great news is that there is another fair for the fall.  So, all of Anna’s fall/winter wardrobe will be second hand, too.  I think that I can only get away with this for a while longer, so I’m going to milk it as long as I can.  Once she’s in junior high and high school, I’m sure she’ll be all about whatever name brand stuff is popular at that point.  I vividly remember my Girbaud/Guess jeans obsession. 

So, until your child cares about store bought stuff, go on and be a cheap ass bastard and head out to your nearest consignment fair.  You won’t regret it.