Your Fund: Sell your child’s clothes at consigment shops

This awesome tutorial was written by my reader Wendy…

My 10-month-old daughter was very lucky to have 2 older female cousins. However, that means I found my home overrun with hand-me-down baby clothes up to 4T. It also found us with item multiples that we were told “don’t send them back if you don’t want/use them”. We have a 1,000 Sq foot ranch with limited storage, so something had to stop because my home being overrun by baby! I packed up 1 plastic tote of each size that we store in the basement, but I still had so many cute outfits and pieces. About 3 months ago, I decided to try my hand at selling things in the local consignment shop (I had been in earlier to buy her Christmas dress, which was $10, and the Fisher price Laugh and Learn table, which I snagged for $12 when retail is $45!). With the consignment store, I am able to sell nice, gently used items and receive 40% of the sale. The woman running the shop is very picky about what she takes, but this is so things sell. She keeps a manageable supply so you can easily browse the racks, and her store is seen as a nice consignment store and not another thrift shop. In the first month and a half, I made $50.87 (I am waiting to cash out the rest…read on to see why!) selling 5 outfits, leftover decals and border paper from her nursery walls, and a travel swing.

I had decided to put half of the already cashed-out amount into her college fund, and used the remaining money for clothing. Despite the gifts, there were a few holes in her wardrobe. I needed some more winter wear as her cousins clothing had more summer stuff that size. I started at the the Salvation Army Thrift Store. Every Wednesday here in NY they put all items except those tagged with the “color of the week” (the color they are putting on the items donated that week). If I was there the week before, I look at the clothes with the color tag that was omitted last week. Most children’s items are priced 99c or 1.99, so I get them for 49c to 99c! I’ve scored pajamas with tags still on them, sundresses, sweaters, long-sleeved onesies, pants, and even 2-piece outfits for 49c! I did by one thing at full price-the dress pictured I bought 2 or 3 weeks ago for 4.99. It will fit her this Christmas and I love it!! I knew if I waited for the next week, it would be gone and I would be very disappointed.

I’ve recently decided to try to make the thrift shop earn me money. I have bought a few great outfits that I know will be accepted by the consignment shop, never spending more than 49c on a piece so if it doesn’t sell I’m not out a lot. I’ve done my homework, knowing ahead of time what she is looking for and and what she does/does not accept. I’ve spent 5.00 on 10 outfits/pieces for fall winter, and I look forward to seeing what we can make on the items!

The remaining money waiting for me at the consigment shop is from the summer clothing I took in – 30 outfits or pieces, a bouncer chair, and a duplicate toy still in the box she’d received from Christmas that we did not have a receipt and the stores wouldn’t take back. We’ve decided, since she doesn’t need clothing for the next year other than that Christmas dress, that we will put half the money in her college fund and half in our Disney fund. I’m waiting until it’s “Pick up day” where I get the items that didn’t sell and bring in the winter wear clothing so I can get the full amount and half it once rather than in little pieces. We are planning a trip in the fall of 2012 with my husband’s side of the family!!

Be sure to check out all the ways to add to your fund!