If you have young children of your own, I’m sure you can sympathize when I say that shopping with a baby (or toddler) can be so difficult sometimes. I only have about 30 minutes before my 2 year old starts freaking out – I can’t imagine how hard things will be when baby #2 comes along.
Since shopping with children has been quite challenging for me, I try to do as much online shopping as possible. Of course, groceries is not really something I want to purchase online, but everything else is fair game – clothing, toys, etc.
Below is a list of stores that I find are the best in terms of children’s items.
I’ve found that the prices of children’s clothing at Old Navy are very reasonable, and the quality is quite nice as well (for most things). There are times when I come across a pair of jeans or a sweater for $50 (seriously – who spends that much on children’s clothing?!), but for the most part, they seem to have great prices.
On top of their low-cost items, Old Navy Canada offers many sales and coupons on a regular basis. Sometimes you can combine a great price with a sale AND an Old Navy coupon. Mega savings right there! [Old Navy deals on Bargainmoose]
You will often find fantastic clothing deals at Please Mum Canada (especially online). Their prices are a bit high to begin with, so don’t expect to find t-shirts for $2, pants for $3 or winter coats for an amazing $5. However, the quality of clothing at Please Mum more than makes up for the extra cash you will have to shell out.
I’ve seen discounts for as much as 80% off at Please Mum Canada. They really do have some of the best sales on children’s clothing! [Please Mum deals on Bargainmoose]
Like Please Mum, the Children’s Place has quite a few sales every year. You can almost always find some type of 50% off (or more) sale in store and online (usually for clothing that it is going out of season).
Their online shopping site is fairly new and it has shown some great sales as well. If you sign up to their mailing list, they will regularly send you discount coupons that you can use both online and in stores.
Another great thing about the Children’s Place Canada is that it has flat rate shipping of $8. [Children's Place deals on Bargainmoose]
I know it seems odd that you would be able to find great kids items at a book store like Chapters, but they do sell more than books… much more! Kids toys, plush items, infant care and even nursery decor.
If you look under the SALE section of the website, you will see a list of categories from which you can look through all of the sale items. Toys are often included here. Board games, puzzles, wooden toys and even Crayola products!
Chapters is really good about offering discounts for online (and in store) purchases, such as this Chapters coupon which gives a $5 discount. Signing up to their mailing list is a good idea if you want to make sure you are the first to know about their latest sales and coupon offers. [Chapters deals on Bargainmoose]
You can easily order baby essentials online through the Babies R Us website. Strollers, car seats, potty seats, clothing – you can even buy maternity clothing through Thyme Maternity!
Pay close attention to their online clearance section, as this is updated on a regular basis with all kind of great deals. I was recently able to purchase a baby bath tub and diaper bag for only $32 (including shipping & tax)!
Although coupon codes for Babies R Us aren’t offered as often as they are for other stores, they are distributed occasionally (usually through email, but sometimes they give them out in store as well). [Babies R Us deals on Bargainmoose]
Conclusion
Having children can be expensive when you add up the cost of all of the gear they need, diapers, formula, and who can forget all of the clothing that they seem to outgrow overnight!
In order to avoid over-spending on baby items, be sure to do your research and shop only at stores that offer great deals and promotions for their customers.
You will find the best deals (especially on clothing) right at the end of a season, so try to do your shopping then, if possible. Many stores still offer great savings throughout the entire year, though – just do a bit of research before you go shopping.
This was a guest post from Cassie Howard, who is a work at home mom living in Mississauga, Ontario. She writes daily on her personal finance blog, MrsJanuary.com – a website dedicated to frugal living. She’s what many would call an extreme couponer and saves a minimum of 50% off her grocery bill every week by using coupons. [Anna]
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