Consignment sales are a great place to help save money in your family budget. If you are consigning (selling) at a consignment sale AND shopping at a consignment sale, chances are you are breaking even on your clothing “swap”, or pretty close to it.

Let’s look a few things you should know about saving money at a seasonal consignment sale:

Tax Exempt 

Most sales are classified as “occasional use” and are tax exempt. Not all of them, but a considerable amount of them are. So right off the top, you are saving sales tax money.

Steep Discounts 

Most consignors price their items at 1/3-1/2 of the retail price. Steep savings on all things kids if you don’t mind buying “last years model”. But for those kinds of savings I can let someone else pay the “depreciation”!

Know Your Products/Features 

Before you go looking for equipment and gear, make sure that you are an educated consumer. Know the features you are looking for in a certain product, so that when you go, you can make an informed decision about the products you are choosing from. Knowing ahead of time that you want a double stroller isn’t enough. Do you want a stroller with side by side seating, stadium seating, seating where they can face each other or a sit and stand? Know what you want before you go and you won’t be wishing you bought something else, because you didn’t think it through before you bought it.

Know Your Prices/Brands 

Know what pricing is for the items you are looking for is going to be important. Just because it’s at a consignment sale, doesn’t always mean it’s a good deal. Some people are emotionally attached to their items (and their clothes).

Volunteer 

Volunteers get the best selection and the best prices. Being able to have the pick of the litter in exchange for a few hours work is well worth your time. Not only are you saving potentially hundreds of dollars by having the choice of which item/price you want, but you also get to shop with significantly fewer shoppers. No waiting in line, no masses to contend with.

Overall, seasonal consignment sales are a great place to save money on gently used childrens merchandise. Be an educated consumer and you’ll not only save money but will probably make money when it comes time to re-sell your items.