Anonymous wrote:I buy things in color families by season. I tend to stay in blue green black and white for fall and winter and then add in yellow and orange and red for the summer clothes. I make sure everything is interchangeable for the whole season.

So interesting! I wonder if your kids will rebel and decide they want yellow in the winter or blue in the summer eventually.

I buy things in color families by season. I tend to stay in blue green black and white for fall and winter and then add in yellow and orange and red for the summer clothes. I make sure everything is interchangeable for the whole season.

Anonymous wrote:Sales are fine but when I try to buy ahead because of a sale, I have a failure rate high enough to wipe out the savings in the end.

We found this to be true with small experiments with our oldest. Luckily with a hand-me-down chain, everything got used in the end. The cute, never worn linen navy Easter pants for $10 eventually became a ringbearer look, 2 kids later. The only exception were Old Navy blue and colored jeans. Those we could buy ahead because the cut fit so well.

Also, with older children, they develop preferences about things like pajamas and sleeve lengths and won't budge. If they are lukewarm or complain mildly about something, return it immediately. They probably will never wear it.

Sales are fine but when I try to buy ahead because of a sale, I have a failure rate high enough to wipe out the savings in the end.

I try to wait until I figure out what the “uniform” of the season is. When I have tried to buy ahead, I end up with a bunch of pants and now only dresses are worn or stuff like that. Is it bike shorts or loose shorts this summer? Once I know, I get multiples.

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised none of you who keep next size up bins have yet experienced that fun moment where your kid skips a size.

I stopped buying in advance after the first time that happened with my oldest.

I’ve never had them skip a size entirely, but sometimes they skip a size in that particular season. I don’t buy ahead, we just have a lot of hand me downs.