Kiddie Kloset Sales for Cheap Kid Clothes and Toys

So back when our first son was born, and maybe even prior, my wife would always go to these sales with her mother called Kiddie Kloset sales. They are put on by the local school district Parents Teacher Associations (PTA). Parents from the community then come and buy tables and sell their gently used baby, infant, and children’s clothes, toys, furniture, and everything else kid and maternity related. They typically open early for a premium addmission, and then around 9:00 am open up to everyone else at a reduced fee. Since we do not have any must have items, we only go after the 9:00 hour.

It was not until last year that I just happened to stumble upon a community garage sale, and one house had a ton of Thomas the Tank Engine trains. There was buildings upon building, and hundreds of train cars. There was so much stuff, that my wife took about half the trains that were beat up beyond recognition to her school for the kids to play with. I scored a major find of only $50 for the entire lot. Just one of the wooden buildings would have cost that new. Our son, who had already showed interest in trains prior, was in love with all of his new trains, and thus began my obsession.

It was after my Thomas find that I began a mission to continue to see what else we could find. Before I continue, let me preface this by saying I am no stranger to garage sales, etc. because my parents took us to them all the time growing up. So I always enjoyed the search. However, after I met my wife, I became way less concerned about material things and saving our money, especially after having our first son. However, the Thomas find sparked that old flame inside me to supply my children with some great toys, books, and learning environment. So I started going to the Kiddie Kloset sales with my wife.

Typically I am one of the only men at the sales, but I have no problem with that. Let people see that I enjoy hanging out with my family and that I am not there to just tag along. Usually I will do a quick run through the sale to see if there are any must-have deals, while my wife casually shops. For the past two shows this season, one of us has the new baby strapped to our chest while the other pushes are oldest son in the stroller. When my wife and I join back up, it is always fun to see what the other found.

Last year I was on the hunt for a good deal on a train table to hold all of our previous finds. However, I never found one worth buying. Fortunately at the last 75% off sale at Target, we scored a Circo brand train table for 50% off. It was well worth it, and we will be giving it to our son for his up-and-coming second birthday. What was really surprising to me though was that there was very little Thomas the Tank Engine items, if any at all. Either it was too expensive to begin with and people do not buy it for their kids.

So now that the spring season is back, so are the Kiddie Kloset sales. My wife and I have already been to two different sales this year. Both times we have walked out with several bags of cloths, toys, and books for typically less than $40.

Just to give an example of some of our great finds this year include a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse playset and a Cars Movie Piston Cup Track Set, both which retailed for $80 for $5 each. Both even came with their own batteries.

Now the question inevitablly gets asked, do we really need all this stuff? We have more clothes and toys for our boys than probably most people we know. The boys do go through clothes fast, especially considering how fast they outgrow them. Also, clothes get warn out or soiled, so they get tossed. Luckily though both my wife and I are rather thrifty, and therefore, can afford to have such extensive amounts of stuff for our kids only because we do not pay a lot for it all to begin with.

As for toys, our house could easily look like a toy store. Since we are still trying to sell our home, we have gotten really good at hiding it all. Plus we usually try to rotate stuff between the basement, main living area, and bedroom so our oldest son does not get bored to easily of all his toys.

It could be the way both my wife and I were raised. We were always surrounded with lots of toys to help grow our minds at a young impressionable age. Fortunately though, our oldest son is not the type, yet, to go to a store and want everything. We buy things in moderation only if the price is right. The hope is that we teach our sons the value of the dollar, and that the more you can save, the more you can enjoy.