Back to School Closet Clean Out

Image by criana via Flickr

A few days ago I shared my article about how to determine your child's clothing needs for the upcoming school year. Part of how we did this at my home was by cleaning out the closets. We sorted out things that no longer fit and items that could be worn again this year. This simple act of decluttering can save you some big money.

Once you've cleaned out the closets, really look at the outgrown items you've collected. Are they still in really good shape? If so, you might think about putting them in a consignment shop, a shop like Once Upon a Child where you can trade them in for store credit, or even selling them on Ebay. Selling the kids outgrown clothes on Ebay is how we help pay for their new school clothes every year. There are plenty of resources to help you learn the ins and outs of Ebay if you've never sold before; Ebay Mommy helped me a lot when I got started. If none of those options appeal to you, consider having a garage sale. Gently used children's clothes sell really well at garage sales this time of year. As for the clothes that are too worn, a bit stained, or just better play clothes than school clothes, consider taking them to the emergency clothing closet. They can surely be put to good use there.

By goignt through your closets, you can easily see what you absolutely need to buy for the year and what you can still use. Big items, like winter coats for example, can often last a child more than one year. This way you are not buying clothing that is unnecessary. Plus, by selling the items that are outgrown, you get a little help with all the back to school expenses.