Consignment Sale Splendor

I realize it has been two weeks since I've updated my blog. Last week I was in Chicago all week for training with my paid day job (mommyhood doesn't pay as much, but the perks are awesome!).

While in Chi-town I did not go with one of the many groups that ventured out for a little shopping on Michigan Ave. I decided to spare my wallet the bleeding & meet up with friends at dinner instead. Boy am I happy I made that decision. I was hearing $500+ dropped & all they had to show for it was one little bag. Wow, I told my husband I saved $500 on that business trip! I don't think he bought it:)

I was not completely deprived of clothes shopping last week. I knew in advance that I would be shopping on Saturday, consignment shopping that is. Spring is just around the corner and so the cleaning of the closets begins. I shopped at the church just around the corner from my house. I was gone just under an hour & have a significant addition to our boys wardrobe.

As a mom of boys, I am constantly in need of jeans for the children due to wear & tear. I thought I would extend the life of the boys jeans to be able to pass them down to the younger brothers by ironing patches in their jeans. My Mother-in-law suggested sewing patches inside the boys jeans prior to holes developing in the knees. I ironed on 28 patches in one day!! Guess what? My oldest still needs all of his jeans replaced. I do not know what this child does to his jeans. I digress..on to the good stuff.

The sale is usually most of the day on Saturday. I only go when the items go 1/2 off. I do not even bother with full price consignment--how cheap am I? I was there when the doors opened & got great deals. Several dress shirts, pants, ties, shorts, etc. Several of the items were Talbots kids, polo, izod, gap, etc. I bought 29 items for $55. I also bought several pairs of jeans ranging from $1-2.50(most exp). The two Talbots kids items would have cost $55 alone. I like to think of it as buy 2 get 27 free! Maybe that's a stretch but you get the point. Girls clothes are much more abundant than boys and they seem to be in much better condition. In the fall, I bought my niece more clothes than I bought all 3 of my boys.

My advice to all of you bargain hunters, keep your eyes & ears opened. You may even want to call a few churches in your area to see if they are holding sales. There is an organization called "Wings" that organize these sales at churches, maybe other places as well, however, I'm only familiar with them at churches.