No one will argue that raising children can be very expensive. Their needs are many and their wants… well, let’s just say that there’s certainly no shortage there.
Parents are always on the lookout for ways to save money. Still, they like to dress their children nicely and provide them with a few good toys. And when your children have grown you can make some money out of selling their old clothes and toys. You likely won’t have any trouble finding someone to take them off your hands. But you’ll want to get the most money you can when you’re ready to sell.
The best way to achieve this is to prepare in advance. Make sure that anything you purchase for your children is well cared for from the start. That way you’ll be able to sell for a higher price later on. Teach them from an early age to take pride in their possessions and take good care of them.
When you purchase toys, be careful not to tear the box when you open it. Then save the box and any packaging that came with it in a clean, dust-free area for later on. It’s inevitable that toys are going to get broken and pieces will fall off. Any damage that isn’t too serious can be fixed right away with some superglue. Tape it together until the glue dries and lightly sand the repaired joint. Also, if pieces fall off you might be able to find and reattach them. Hardware is easy to replace and you might want to keep a variety of screws and nuts on hand.
You’ll also want to get the most money you can when selling your children’s outgrown clothes. Make it a rule that your children change into their play clothes when they get home from school. You’ll also want to stay on top of stains and pre-treat them before washing. Once a piece of stained clothing has been through the dryer, the stain will most likely be set in permanently.
Some stains such as grass stains, grape juice, and mustard can be especially stubborn to remove. I use products like Shout or I find a D.I.Y remedy that works in order to get the stains out.
Tend to rips, broken zippers, and lost buttons right away. It’s a good idea to have a well-stocked sewing kit on hand for emergency repairs. Rips along the seams are easy to fix. The same can’t be said for others and you may just have to sacrifice that piece of clothing to the trash can.
To prevent fraying on the bottom of pant legs, hem them up so that they don’t drag on the floor. You can always snip the hems as your child grows taller.
By following these tips you’ll not only make the most money possible when it’s time to sell, but you’ll find that you’re spending less on replacement costs as well.
Andrea is the Chief Chick of Smart Money Chicks. After filing BK twice (once because she panicked, second time because the pro messed the first time up), she realized that it all could have been avoided if she understood more about how her Finances worked and the options available. At that point, she wanted to help as many as she could never make the same mistakes again. Our Promise is that all the content you read on here is created or edited by Andrea