In November of 2011, Anthony and I found out we were going to be having a baby. At this point in our lives, we were just getting settled with our new budget routine, getting familiar with our new home, and I was adjusting to a brand new job. Talk about a great big kink in our existing budget! 
I am going to be completely honest here and say I was thinking to myself, “oh my gosh, how are we going to afford raising a child?” I think this is a legitimate and reasonable thought to have. We have all heard the statistics of having and raising a human being – it’s outrageous and could make any normal person feel uneasy. So, to all the expecting mothers out there who are asking the same question I did, I will say one thing – where there's a will, there's a way, and I found a way.
It was shortly after my son was born that I was informed of a children’s clothing consignment shop called Other Mothers. From this day forward, I found one of the ways I was going to make this work and afford to provide for my son. When we have children, it’s only natural to want the very best for them. From the best crib to the best high chair, we seem to gravitate towards all things new and expensive. Let me you pull you back for one second and show you there is another way. Was I a little embarrassed that I had to get my son’s clothes at a consignment shop, a little. Was I thankful that I was able to provide for my son without going into debt, heck yes! So I’m going to let you in on my secret and the way I was able to get seasonal clothes for my son for next to nothin’.
Other Mothers have what they call “Quarter Sales” that are held monthly. They have a room lined with tables located in the back of the store filled with piles of clothes. Some of the clothes are new, most are gently used. They provide you with a bag and every article of clothing you stick in that bag is only 25 cents. You read that right! I wrote 25 cents. That means you could get a pair of pants and a shirt to make a whole outfit for 50 cents. That's exactly what I paid for my son's first Christmas outfit! It gets even better. Other Mothers either gives you in-store credit or cash for baby or children items that you donate to them. Here is how I made this work to my advantage.
Some of you may know, and to the ladies who are reading this who have not yet had children, you will soon find out, your baby (or toddler) is going to go through A LOT of clothes (like my son in this picture who only wore that shirt once). When they are only months old, they sometimes don’t even get around to wearing the same things twice. They grow too dang fast! I gathered all the clothes that were too small for James (most were given as gifts that he was only able to wear once or twice), took them down to Other Mothers and received in-store credit for them. I would suggest you take the in-store credit option because you will get more money back this way. Every time I donated to Other Mothers, I got anywhere from $15-$20, depending on what I brought. I then headed down to the monthly quarter sale and used my in-store credit for the purchase. If I had in-store credit of $20, that means I was able to get 80 articles of clothing. That’s 40 outfits!!! My son’s birthday would roll around, and we were given the cutest little outfits. He would soon grow out of them and I would take another load to Other Mothers and repeat the process. Most times I would donate the very clothes I paid 25 cents for after my son outgrew them. So, I took clothes I didn’t spend much money on (maybe $15), got in-store credit, and used my credit to buy more clothes that I ended up bringing right back to them to get more in-store credit. (If your child rips, stains or ruins the clothes you purchased at Other Mothers, please do not try to take them back. Only take clothes if they are in the same condition in which you bought them)
Halloween Costume Bought At Other Mothers
This is one of the many ways I was able to afford seasonal outfits that were stylish, looked new, and were comfortable for my son – all on a modest budget. It can be scary to think about all the new costs that come with having a child. But with the new costs comes new ways to save. My son is almost 4 years old and I am still taking advantage and using this process. Here is the website for Other Mothers.
Check to see if they have a store near you to take advantage of their wonderful Quarter Sales. I hope this post helps you save and carry out your goals of sticking to your budget. I’m here routin for ya!
Other Mothers Spokane Locations:
Northside – 1208 N Division St Spokane, WA 99218 / Hours: 9:30am – 6:30pm / Phone: (509) 465-9499
What are some ways you save on baby items! I would love to hear them! Leave your comments below!
