Keeping your kids clothed, toyed, and prepped for each milestone is hard (on your schedule and your wallet.) Here’s 10 reasons why Children’s Consignment Sales are a parent’s best friend. 

When I was a new mom, I was overwhelmed with the NEED and WANT to purchase clothes for my son. Between getting the right size (for that week) and then having something adorable to show him off in (also that week), I felt I was constantly at the store. I was buying clothes ALL the time. And let’s not even count how much money I was spending. Only to find three weeks later, we were in another size, I found something cuter I wanted, or he had spit all over it. (Sad mama.) 

Skip ahead two years – I heard from a friend about a huge consignment sale (like the largest in Texas) called Just Between Friends Fort Worth that moms were VOLUNTEERING to work at because the event was that good you wanted to get in early. However, it was enough to pique my interest, so off I went to check it out. 

What I found was the motherland for kid-everything. While I didn’t know I needed to bring these must-haves since it was my first time, I did figure out that this was the secret of how I could now afford more time and less money on kids’ clothes (and a whole lot) more. Now I never miss a JBF sale – ever and once you go, you won’t either. 

10 Reasons Why Children’s Consignment Sales are a Must-do for Parents

1. You’ll find items that are mom-tested, mom-approved.
The process to have clothes allowed to be at JBF is strict, so just because these clothes have been worn by other kids, don’t worry – they are taken care of to the highest degree. Basically, this is good stuff! And one extra big tip: Since parents get to put their consigned outfits in the aisle, they often place them together in one size. So I’ve often found if I find a cute outfit for my daughter, I’ll find someone has the same style as me already grouped together. (Some consignors even put a bow or ribbon on them so you’ll know to look for them.

2. JBF is made for new parents, seasoned parents and even grandparents. 
If you have never been to JBF, no worries – we’ve you covered. First if you’re expecting or are a grandparent, you should check out the website to get free admission (but do it quick before the deadline!) Next, you should definitely plan to go early so you can find the best of the best ready for you to find (believe me, there is a reason that parents volunteer for the early pass. Last, make sure to take a look at our “Tips to Your First JBF.”

{COUPON ALERT}

2. At flat-bottom prices, you can afford to get 10 outfits (or more) for the price of one brand new at the store. 
No more trying to find a coupon or save up for a sale. Just walk in and be ready to save with cheap prices that are easy on the budget. (At the end of the sale, they even put the rest of the items on 50% off already low prices.) 

3. You can think seasons in advance.  
Is your kid in between sizes or do you want to get jeans that’ll last through the school year (growing boys are the worst?) You can affort to buy more than a season at a time at JBF. (If you really want to stretch your dollar, bring this checklist with you.) 

4. Toys, clothes, and furniture that are in stores now can be found at the sale. 
It never ceases to amaze me that I’ll walk through a sale and find the same things you were looking at buying full price at the store. For instance, looking for a table and chairs to add to the kids’ playroom? Well wood never goes out of style and unless you work at Pottery Barn, you probably can’t figure out the difference between last season’s brown table and this season’s. And it’ll be much, much cheaper.

5. Consignment sales are safer than Craigslist, online apps, and garage sales. 
This is a biggy with me. I’ve done them all and have found some great deals. But not without strategizing where the safest place to meet the seller or the time it takes to drive around a neighborhood and go through piles of stuff that definitely hasn’t gone through any quality control process. Never again, no matter how great the deal!

6. You can buy for Easter, Halloween, Christmas and more. 
One of the coolest things about JBF is finding already put together Easter baskets in the spring and Halloween bags for super low prices. And these aren’t like baskets with crappy chocolate. These are bags with toys and things that the kids would love already tied up and ready to give. Why wouldn’t you buy these?

7. Bring the big bag. 
The parents that come here are prepped and ready to shop. Parents work together on how to get the best deals, who volunteers, who shops and even what type of bag, basket, roller suitcase, they are going to use to bring it all home. For those of you that wonder how you’re going to load up the mega deals you think you might find like on furniture, there’s normally a few dads working the event to help you load up your awesome score. So bring the bag and get ready to save.

8. Recycle and Re-Earn. 
JBF doesn’t just help you save money, they can help you earn it, too. Consider being a consignor and you you can earn money by selling the clothes back after your child is done. 

9. Left over clothes that you consign are donated to charity. 
If you consign clothes and they don’t sell, you have to options – either to pick them up and then give them to someone else who needs them or have JBF donate them to charity. This is probably where you were going to take them anyways, so why wouldn’t you start first to earn a little money, too?

10. Now you can afford to spend more on other things like events, experiences and things that you can’t find here.
Not everything can be purchased on a discount. So if there’s something you’ve wanted to buy, have, or do with the kids, if you save money on things like toys and clothes, you have more to spend on going to do fun things like dinner night out or even save up for that trip to Disney.