Clothings and Toys for Less: Consignment Shopping

While some may be fortunate enough to have a family member or friend with a child just a size or two ahead of their own, most of us are shopping every few months for new jeans and tops as our 'little' ones outgrow their wardrobes faster than we can blink.

Yard sales are a great source for clothes and toys, but why wait for the deals to come to you? Why not go to them at a local consignment shop?

is located on Tilghman Street, and if you’ve ever driven by, you’ll see outdoor toys lined up along their storefront. It's any 5-year-old's dream to claim them.

What's even better is that you can typically find clothes at a quarter of the price you would pay for new, and most shops are rather particular in what they accept to sell, so quality is not an issue. The outdoor toys are amazingly durable, so you'll certainly get your money's worth. It's even better when you're spending less.

Another local treat for those who love a great deal is the Kids Clothesline Consignment Sale that’s going on Thursday, April 7, through Sunday, April 10, at Merchants Square Mall in Allentown. Over 300 are registered for what's called the Lehigh Valley's Premier Semi-Annual Children's Consignment Event. 

Sellers are told to mark their items at one third the retail cost, but many price much lower than that. So don’t be surprised if you see many items priced up to 90 percent off what you would normally expect to pay. For more information, check out their website.  

Be an even bigger frugalista and clean out the kids' closets and toy chests to consign their old stuff to pay for the new. While shops are looking for Spring and Summer items now, clean through those dressers and closets for items that won't fit. They're not doing any good taking up space, so why not cash in.

Some key points when it comes to consignment selling: check current recall lists. You can go to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website for the most up-to-date information. Shops will not accept items that have been recalled, including the recently added drop-side cribs.

If you plan on selling toys, be sure there are batteries in them if needed and clean them up. Most agree that if you have identical booster seats, the cleaner one will sell first even if it's priced a bit more.

Another important point: the shops only accept clothing that’s clean, in good condition and in style. This is a great point if you're there to buy, even though it may limit what you're looking to sell. A challenge when planning to sell is to keep your little one's clothing free of stains so that the shops will take it.

Keep the sentimental clothing pieces to make a quilt.

Whether you’re looking for toys, bedding, furniture, or clothing, you’re sure to pay less by buying used, and you never know what treasures you may find for your little prince or princess.

Note: You are a big part of this column. Let us hear about the deals you’ve seen. Just add them to our column box. Then come back each week and see what we’ve uncovered together.