Kids clothes for cheap

I don’t believe in paying full price for anything. Because of that, I tend to gravitate to second-hand stores and consignment sales. My favorite place to pick up baby/kids clothes are the Just Between Friends sales here in the Twin Cities.

Go to one sale, and you'll fall in love...

Every spring and fall I go and buy my daughter’s entire wardrobe for the next 2 seasons. Plus, sometimes I find other great deals, like the time I found a Maya Wrap for half the price you’d find in a regular store. I’ve picked up cloth diapers in great condition, books on parenting, nursery decor, toys, and more.

Did I mention how much I love these sales?

The next round is coming up. The first two JBF sales of the year are happening this week in Coon Rapids and St. Cloud. Get details (and reminders) by liking the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JBFMapleGroveElkRiver. The sales always open on Wednesdays, but there’s a fee to get in the first day. (Check the web site for a free admission coupon to print out and bring.) I usually hold off until the last day of the sale, Saturday, when many items are half price (check the tags for items that don’t qualitfy). I’m addicted to adorable girls clothes so its good for me to have limits and access to only the cheaper items!

What deals have you scored at consignment sales?

SALES THIS SPRING:

• Coon Rapids Sale: March 28-31, Northtown Village: 50 Coon Rapids Blvd.

• St. Cloud: March 29-April 1, St. Cloud Armory, 1710 8th Street North, St. Cloud, MN  56303

• Blaine/Andover: April 19-21, Andover community center, 15200 Hanson Blvd. NW Andover, MN 55304

• Maple Grove Sale : April 25-28, 6701 Boone Ave., Brooklyn Park

Next door to Home Depot & across 694 from Northland Inn

• Eden Prairie: May 3rd-6, Former Frank's Nursery, 8030 Glen Lane, by Dollar Tree, Petco & Champps.  (For Googling, use 8040 Dollar Tree)

• Elk River Sale: May 10-12, Elk River Ice Arena: 1000 School St.

• Woodbury: May 10-12, Bielenberg Sports Center, 4125 Radio Drive, Woodbury, MN  55129

• White Bear Lake/Stillwater: May 17-19, Vadnais Sports Center

• Edina: May 31-June 1, Hopkins Pavilion

MORE INFO AT:

http://www.jbfsale.com

Get everything you need -- including extra cash -- at consignment sales

Have you heard of the huge consignment sales that are becoming oh-so-popular with moms?

I've posted about them before, but I'm writing about them again because I think they're so wonderful.

Here’s the idea behind this mega sale: Consignors bring their new and gently-used children's and maternity merchandise to sell. Shoppers can then browse and purchase these items at great savings, usually far below retail prices. Cash, credit and check accepted.

All of the clothing is hung on racks and easy to look through. The other stuff, such as cribs, basinnets, cradles, strollers, exersaucers, swings, toys, books, diaper bags, cloth diapers, slings, and backpacks, are organized well.

Since I have no trouble finding stuff I just have to have for my daughter, I try to go on the last day of the Just Between Friends sales when stuff if 1/2 off. If I was a new mom, I'd opt for going the first day though to be sure to get those big ticket items.

If you want to sell, you will make between 60-70% of the sale price. My cousin-in-law thinks that selling at these consignment sales is the way to go. "I only spend a couple hours gathering, entering online, and printing labels to attach to the items. When I did my garage sales a couple years ago, I spent more than 5 full days doing similar things," she told me. You also don't have to sit there for a day or two or three while you try to sell your merchandise. However, you can opt to volunteer at the sale and then you'll earn more $.

More at:

www.jbfsale.com

UPCOMING SALES

• Elk River: Coming up this weekend, April 28-30 at the Elk River Ice Arena

• Blaine/Andover: May 5-7 at the Andover Community Center

• Eden Prairie: May 12-14 at the Eden Prairie Community Center

• Woodbury: May 12-14 at the Bielenberg Sports Center, 4125 Radio Drive, Woodbury

• Edina: June 2-4 at the Hopkins Pavillon

• St. Cloud: June 9-11 at the St. Cloud Civic Center

Another sale like this one is the Munchkin Market. Again, sales are held twice a year in the spring and in the fall. The sales are in Stillwater at the Washington County Fairgrounds, Anoka County Fairgrounds and also at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Cash or local checks. My cousin prefers to consign at the St. Paul one over the Anoka sale because there are more folks who show up to buy.

http://www.munchkinmarkets.com/

UPCOMING SALES

• Stillwater: this weekend, April 30 to May 1, Washington County Fairgrounds

• Anoka: May 14-15 at the Anoka County Fairgrounds May 14-15, 2011

A web site that compiles sales information is:

http://www.twincitieskidssales.com/sales.htm

Sale organizers have to pay for a listing, so it’s not complete, but well worth checking out. Sales are organized by area (North-West Metro, North-East Metro, South of the River, West Metro).

Consignment sales = savings and convenience

Do you love garage sales but cring at the thought of dragging your baby in and out of the car? Hit up a Just Between Friends sale and you won’t have that problem.

I went to my first sale of this sort today. It was great! (And goes through Saturday if you want to check it out yourself.) Here’s the idea behind this mega sale: Consignors bring their new and gently-

used children's and maternity merchandise to sell. Shoppers can then browse and purchase these items at great savings, usually far below retail prices.

The prices are higher than what I’d pay at a garage sale. Instead of $1 a shirt I was paying $3 to $4. But I didn’t have to dig through piles of clothes either. All of the clothing was hung on racks and easy to look through. There’s more than clothing at these sales. I saw big items like cribs, basinnets, cradles, strollers, exersaucers, and swings. There were also mounds of toys. I found cloth diapers and slings, as well as backpacks and disposible diapers. I was amazed at the variety of Halloween costumes. I even saw a man checking out with a snowboard.

These sales are held around the country in numerous cities. The closest one to me is in Maple Grove at the Golf Center (Highways 169/81). Sales are held twice a year so you can stock up and save. Yeah! New moms get in a day before the general public. The last day of the sale, Saturday, everything is half off. Cash, credit and check accepted.

If you want to sell, you will make between 60-70% of the sale price.

More at:

www.jbfsale.com

Another sale like this one is the Munchkin Market. Again, sales are held twice a year in the spring and in the fall. The sales this fall were held in Stillwater at the Washington County Fairgrounds and also at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Cash or local checks.

http://www.munchkinmarkets.com/

A web site that compiles sales information is:

http://www.twincitieskidssales.com/sales.htm

Sale organizers have to pay for a listing, so it’s not complete, but well worth checking out. Sales are organized by area (North-West Metro, North-East Metro, South of the River, West Metro).