Here is what we scored:
(2) pair of Old Navy Adjustable waist shorts – $1.99 each less 50% = $2 total
(2) pair of Sonoma Adjustable waist shorts (1) $0.99 less 50% and (1) 2.99 less 50% = $2 total
(1) pair of Under Armour sports pants – $0.99 less 50% = $0.49
(1) pair Speedo swim shorts – $0.99 less 50% = $0.49
(1) Black Old Navy T-shirt – $0.79 less 50% = $0.39
(1) Faded Glory Green Hawaiian Shirt – $1.99 less 50% = $1
(1) Red skateboard shirt – $1.99 less 50% – $1

Kyleigh got this load:
Yellow old navy shirt and Nautica plaid capris – $1.99 each less 50% = $2 total
(2) white shirt- 1 old navy- 1 sleeveless lace Gap -$0.99 each less 50% = $1 total
Gap shirt $0.99 and jeans $1.99 less 50% = $1.50 total
(3) Shirt 2- Gap- purple and orange $0.99 each, 1-wonder kids $0.99 – $1.50 total
(2) Children’s Place dresses – $1.99 each less 50%- $2 total
(1) Gap Gray sweatpants – $0.99 less 50% = $0.49 total
(2) Pair Pajamas – $2.99 each less 50% = $3 total

And oh my goodness I bought mySELF something!(2) pair flip flops (hoping to wear the blue ones on easter after church! 1 pr- $1.99, 2nd pair – $2.99
Hat from J Crew (for Negril!) $1.99

Last week at Goodwill I managed to score this load:
(1) Kitestrings shirt (for next winter)
(1) Children’s Place striped shirt
(1) Izod Blue vest
(1) Blue Kentucky Hooded sweatshirt
(1) Gray Old Navy Fleece Pullover
Total: $7.50 ($1.50 each piece)

And my proudest load yet:

POTTERY BARN KIDS BEDDING:
PBK – Green gingham dust ruffle
PBK – Green gingham duvet cover
PBK – Pink gingham pillow case
PBK – 1 pair of green gingham curtains (which will be made into roman shades for the kids new bedroom!)
1 green gingham flannel sheet
1 green twin sheet
1 pink, green and melon sheet
TOTAL COST: $17.03 and that included tax!!!!!!!!!

As for plans… Ross is going to have blue and green gingham or red and green I still have not decided yet. With the green duvet cover I am going to take it and have an 8 inch “K” monogrammed on it. The melon patterned sheet will be used to make pillows and another blanket for Ky’s bed. THEN… I am going to find some gingham sheets and pillowcases for Ross’ bed to have HIS name put on!

I basically got ALL of the linens for Ross and Ky’s beds for $17. I am happy as a peach!

Oh and just in case you missed that… we are moving Ross and Ky into the same room to try and avoid having owen wake them up in the AM getting up for School. That plus the fact that if we have to sell this house we want to buy something smaller and be less strapped with a house payment so we will likely move back to a 3 bedroom as that is basically what we are living in now. Thirdly… Ross and Ky are best buddies! Sometimes they sleep in the same bed for nap anyhow so it really will work just fine.Recent Comments:

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• August 14, 2009 -- “Never a ship… sails out of the bay
• August 26, 2010 -- Be Still…
• January 12, 2010 -- Coming Home!
• January 6, 2010 -- First SNOW!
• November 8, 2009 -- Christmas Card Preview!

Yet my kids still wear only the best. The boys stay in E Land, Kitestrings, Ralph Lauren, Gap and Children’s Place, occasionally Gymboree for staple pieces but I am rarely a fan of their trendy (read ugly stuff) lines. I prefer plaid shorts and keds tennis shoes or cute flip flops.

Kyleigh… well you all know the story of “The Dresses or Surgery Dresses” but super special occasions are usually the only times I will splurge on a full priced Sarah Louise. I seem to be lucky enough that I have gotten quite few of THOSE on clearance! Kyleigh’s dedication dress I got for $15~!

So …….. last weekend was a good weekend for consignment. One of the local churches (Centenary United Methodist) runs the Lil Lambs Closet. This coming weekend in Lexington is Little Elks (at South Elkhorn Christian off Harrodsburg Road) which is another good one!

Generally my limit is $10 on ANY outfit, dress, etc. Bows – $5, and shoes $8-10. I am seriously cheap. No joke… but here are a few recent finds at Lil Lambs, Local Consignment stores (Ladybug Landing and Once Upon a Child), and Ebay:

This one is a Sophie Dess Dress (with bloomers)- retail would be roughly $55-70. I paid $3.50 at Once Upon a Child: Savings: $51.50 – at LEAST:

The second one is a Peaches and Cream dress and jacket set… i mean this is seriously cute! – Retails for $79 – Paid $9.99 on Ebay: Savings: $69

Third – Blue Petit Ami smocked dress – NEW WITH TAGS – Retails for $42- Paid $4.99 on Ebay: Savings of $37
Fourth – Ralph Lauren Maroon Velvet Dress – was mistagged in the store for $2.50… would usually be $8-12 even in the consignment stores. Score one for me! Retails for $38.99.

Little English Dress – $4.50 at Once Upon a Child – I saw the SAME dress at Lil Lambs for $12!!!
Retails for $45.

Lavendar Blue Dress – Bought for $3 on Ebay – Retailed for $87!!!!!

Petite Ami Smocked Bishop Dress (no bloomers… )- $7.50 at Once Upon a Child – Retailed for $42.75.

I even occasionally find monogrammed items! I love it when people do a single letter monogram so it can be resold!!!!!!! I paid $3.99 for this adorable dress on Ebay:

I paid $8 for this Cordoroy one at Ladybug Landing!

So… what are my TIPS for shopping on clearance and consignment? How do you find the really good deals?

1) When ebaying… don’t search the popular way. For example if you search for “smocked dresses” or “bishop dress” then yes you will come up with 35 pages of items. You will also end up bidding against 10,000 other people and paying $15-40 for a dress. I like to search by designer. Everyone is usually smart enough to list the designer but sometime not smart enough to know the popular tags. Like the $80 Lavendar blue dress for $3…. I searched specifically for the brand.

2) Shop AHEAD! – I do most of my kids shopping the year before. End of year clearance is GREAT! I buy the next size or two up and even if I buy TWO sizes of something I generally spend LESS than if I purchase ONE at full price in the coming year. Yes this means that we rarely have THIS year’s Gymboree line but if that is your thing… then I have no more advice for you because I am just not that devoted to Gymbo….

3) Shop at consignment “buying” stores- like Once Upon a Child – on Mon-Wed. There are less people and MOST people bring their items to sell on weekends. Also if there is going to be any SALE it will be on a Monday – Wednesday and usually they are NOT advertised.

4) DO get on mailing lists. Yes, they will junk up your email inbox… I set up a specific email address for coupons and stores! That way I check when I want and am not bothered when I don’t want.

5) Loyalty programs. Many of these places have LOYALTY programs. Make 10 purchases – get $25 free. At Christmas this year Once Upon a Child did BUCKS BACK! Like Gymbucks I earned $25 off my next $50 purchase!

6)Shop EARLY. Take advantage of “early” hours! Many consignments like Lil Lambs and Little Elks have ways to SHOP early. If you are a seller… you shop BEFORE the sale even opens. If you are NOT a seller you can WORK a shift and pay $3 to shop early. Its work it because all of the REALLY good stuff is GONE that night. Trust me I am there in the madness… I know.

7) Shop OFTEN. Be okay with going into a store and coming out with nothing. Some days are no gos. Know what you like… and flip through the racks fast. If it is not a good brand… BUT its cute… really will your child ever wear it when it hangs there beside hte beautiful $100 dress that you snagged for the same price? For me… the answer is no! I go into a consignment store, and unless its change of season and the boys need clothing, I will come out with 1-5 items totalling less than $20. That is my goal. But the good stuff goes fast of course!

Shop SMART. Don’t get ripped off! CHECK your items thoroughly for stains, rips, and issues. Somehow whenever I tried to sell items to consignment mine would get thrown out for “spots, stains, etc…” yet I could never find them… but hanging on the rack would be 10 pieces that were stained. It just depends on who was the “buyer” as to how good their eye is. Nothing ruins a good find worse than a stain that you cannot get out!

9) Shop AROUND. I do still frequent the boutiques and shops to keep in the loop on how things retail for. I also hit up clearance sales when at all possible. While waiting until the items are 90% off will leave you with less selection. Your daughter may have to wait until NEXT year when she grows into the size 4 versus getting this year’s size 3 but it will all be worth it when you paid $10 vs $100.

10) Make Friends. Make friends in the stores… if you notice someone is looking in your size, and you find something you don’t like but is a good deal… show it to them! Be nice to the store employees… they can give you the inside track on sales and deals! Make friends with other people at sales and stores… maybe you can buy their old stuff second hand before you have to fight for it at a sale!!! OR maybe you can sell yours to them and make a some $$ to fuel your shopping habit!

11) Thrift stores and Yard Sales – Are GREAT places. Even the Salvation Army has discount days on Wednesday when certain tags are half price! Yard Sales are fabulous for me because most of the yard sale crowd is looking for cheap. We are talking … dirt cheap. Sleepers for $0.25 … outfits for $1. Me… I am willing to pay $5-10 on something if it is really good! Most yard sales will make you a deal on bulk. This is where I do my BULK shopping. I got an entire year’s worth of shoes, shorts and tees for Kyleigh for $125. EVERY single piece was gymboree and I ended up paying less than $1 PER PIECE but I was willing to take a stack and pay a good price. Someone (probably a re-seller) offered the same person I was buying from- $25 for an entire tub of gymbo to which she promptly said “No”. After she saw how cheap they were she was HAPPY to get $1-3 per piece from me! I would have paid $5-10 for her things at consignment!

Cheap… cheap… and cheaper! Its OK to be cheap. I used to be embarrased that I shopped at yard sales and now I think it just makes me SMART! I am able to buy what I want because I am SMART about it! Its time for you to be smart too!

If you use my tips for shopping and come across a good score I would LOVE to know!

And for all who want to know… yes I am selling Ky’s stuff… anything that is not one of “THE dresses” is leaving…. prices? $2-5 on most stuff- $5-10 on Smocked stuff / boutique stuff! Call me if you want to come over and shop! LOLRecent Comments:

• XXX says A tip to save some cash when enjoying movies it that instead of heading to the movies on a busy [more]
• daphne says I JUST LOVE YOU!!! You always amaze me. You’re wonder womman of another kind!! I know it’s hard to BE [more]
• Jen says We are currently going through a pregnancy possibly affected by VACTERL…having more tests run. Would like to discuss some [more]
• Jen says Hi Amber! It’s lunchablemommy – actually not on A full cup anymore, so I wanted to send you my [more]
• Tracy says Love it! That is something Maggie would do. She loves Disney Princess stuff too. LOL. [more]

• January 4, 2010 -- Dressing for Less… another tip.. Consignment Store
• December 30, 2009 -- Fabulous deal on Carter’s sleepers at Kohl’s
• March 27, 2009 -- Thrifting on Thursday!