We buy from consignments, one in particular we'll shop on their last day were everything that isnt marked a certain way is half off, I use to sell through them too and make $200 a season. I couldnt keep up after our youngest was born, with work full time and three kids, the consignment sale got to be too much work to tag, price and volunteer. We are also lucky enough to have several thrift shop locations to look through. We also put their clothes away at the end of the season and bring out last years wash them since they've been in a tote in the attic for six months, then play runway to see what fits who and if it doesnt fit either or neither one was interest in a piece then it goes into a resale pile for marketplace, craigslist or a yardsale. Last year I think we spent $150 for three kids for "school/seasonal clothes", but I have a sinking fund for next school year, and thats for pants longer than neccessary for them to grow into, shoes and a backpack clothingwise. My MIL also buys our three kids (and my husband and myself) clothes for our birthdays and Christmas. She's also a person that buys in off season to give us gifts. It works out perfectly for my husband and, becase we're summer babies we'll get some summer and winter clothes for Christmas, and winter and summer clothes for our birthdays. The one thing I keep seeing though, is that everyone has a specific day in the house to do laundry, do the kids specifically have to have their own day also or can they share two days a week? Or just throw one's pjs (if those are the things soiled) in the others laundry(or yours) so they can be washed more often? I understand your home has a schedule, but i was thinking those might be ways to help you out. Might help if you could designate as two kids days vs. two individual kid's day. That way both kids you're able to wash their clothes twice a week instead of once and maybe not have to buy so much? Like I said, we are a family of five, my husband, myself and our 14 year old are able to do our laundry once a week and get away with, our two daughters are in size 6-8 share a hamper, but their clothes are still small enough that they can share a hamper and usually everything fits in one load unless they go through numerous outfit changes or there's lots of swimming clothes/towels like when they go to summer day camp. They are usually in a swimsuit two to three days a week going somewhere to splash which makes our washing increase to two loads a week for them. Sounds like you've gotten a lot of good advice with all of the responses. I hope you find out what will work best for you and your family in your home.
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