This is probably no secret to many people out there, but Ebay has proven to me to be the most fabulous way to keep my child well-dressed for WAY below retail prices.

Children grow at an alarming rate from birth through their mid to late teens, so clothes are a major expense, as each new season can genuinely mean a new size shoe, longer pants, updated dress clothes, etc...

Using a few smart strategies, you can find awesome deals on a new wardrobe for your children for way below retail.

Let me list a few of the guidelines my family has learned to follow:

1) Don't be turned off by "used" clothing - there is a certain stigma attached to "used" anything for many people. Some people can afford everything new, with tags, and that's great, but they have no reason to read this guide. For the rest of us, utilizing smart shopping and picking auctions that have tons of detailed pictures of the clothing for sale leads to many great purchases of "like-new" clothing that will look great and get your child through until the next growth spurt!

2) Buy in Lots - The greatest thing about lots is they usually contain all clothing in the same size, such as all 4T shirts and pants, which is great if your child is reaching the 4T size soon and you're worried about shortage of clothes that fit or are in-season. Another great thing about "lots" is you usually get more pieces for less than you'd pay for them if you bought them all seperately. Even if there are a few pieces in the lot you don't like, you can designate those as "play" clothes, resell, or donate to charity. Keep a calculator handy to see what you're paying "per piece". You can do this by dividing the number of items in a lot by the highest bid price (or the Buy It Now price).

3) Buy Summer Clothes in Winter - and Vice-Versa! - growing up around an auto dealership, convertables defintely don't sell as well in the Winter months, but when they do, they're usually going for a big discount than they would if you were selling it in July! The same concept hold's true in kid's clothes. You can estimate your child's sizes for next summer during the winter, then search auctions offering a summer lot. There will be fewer lots, but they're out there if you're patient, and they'll be much less competitive than an in-season lot would be.

4) Resell your child's old clothes to raise cash for his new clothes! - Although most can't get to the point where their children's wardrobe is self-sustaining, you would be amazed at how little you spend when you cycle the clothing your child has outgrown and apply the cash to updated duds. When your children outgrow their current clothes, give them a good wash and then gather them up and auction them off on Ebay! If you have the resources and time, sell nicer items single, as you'll typically net more cash overall, at the sacrifice of time. If you're rushed or don't want the hassle of multiple shippings, then just create a "Lot" of clothes and take as many detailed pictures as you can.

5) Enjoy your Savings! - instead of wasting money on NWT retail clothing, keep track of how much you save by cycling your child's wardrobe. Do something good with the savings, such as starting or adding funds to a college fund, take them out for fruit smoothies and roller skating, donate to a charitable cause, or just save it for a rainy day!

I hope this can be helpful to someone, as it's saved us loads and kept our kid looking great!