FashBlog.com

Dressing your little ones can be lots of fun, but high end stores and boutiques can get to be quite expensive. If you're looking to find trendy clothes for your kids on a budget, try these tips:

-- Don't miss out on the end of season sales. End of season sales are great; the only problem is, the always occur at the end of the season, meaning you won't get much use out of new summer clothes if fall is approaching. Not to worry-- try buying clothes for next year at this year's end of season sales. End of season clearance items are often marked down several times over, so don't miss out. If your child is a wearing a 2T this summer, it's a fairly safe bet that he or she will be in a 3T by next summer. Stock up on cheap clothes in the next size up and you'll have tons of new stuff for your kids next year at this time! Some of the best end of season sales occur after Christmas (in January and February) and at the end of the summer.

-- Ebay all the way. If you haven't shopped for kids clothes on EBay, you don't know what you're missing. Ebay is a popular online auction site-- learn the ropes and you can get some phenomenal deals. Smart Ebay sellers snatch up lots of inexpensive, name brand clothes and list them for sale. You can find new and used clothes on Ebay-- if you're squeamish about purchasing used or gently worn clothing for your kids, just log onto Ebay and type in "NWT" in the search bar. "NWT" means "new with tags"-- this way only brand new, unworn items will come up in your search. You can also type in specific brand names in the search bar-- popular searches for toddler clothes include "Gymboree", "Baby Gap" or "TCP" (The Children's Place). Don't like the idea of waiting for an auction to end? Search for "BIN" or "Buy It Now" items-- these items will have a set price for which you can purchase the item instantly. Fancy little girl's holiday and party dresses are a good item to look for on Ebay-- they have usually only been worn once and are generally in good condition. If you've never used Ebay, it's easy to sign up. Some tips: Always be sure to check the seller's feedback rating before you place a bid-- if a seller has negative feedback listed, reconsider making an offer. Also, be certain to check the seller's shipping policies and prices-- some sellers list the selling price of their items low, but then try to make up for it with whopping shipping prices. Always read the fine print in any Ebay auction you bid on-- honest sellers will list flaws in clothing items; also check to see if they offer a return policy.

-- Check consignment shops. Consignment shops deal primarily with clothing that has been previously worn, but the clothing items are usually in extremely good condition. Most consignment shops check over the clothing with a fine tooth comb before accepting them from sellers-- even placing them under a bright light to check for spots and stains. You can find some good deals on trendy toddler clothing by checking consignment shops regularly-- most have new clothes coming in on any given day.

-- Swap with a neighbor. Consider swapping your kid's clothes with a neighbor. Most people would rather give clothes away to someone they know then to a stranger.

-- Keep your eye out for price adjustments. Go ahead and shop at those trendy stores at the mall, but keep your receipts and check back in 2 weeks to see if the items have gone on sale. Baby Gap, for example, offers one time price adjustments on any items that go on sale within 2 weeks of your purchase. So if that $30 windbreaker gets marked down to $14.99, you'll pocket the difference!

-- Check discount stores and outlets for deals. Discount stores like Target have really cute kid's clothes and the prices are reasonable. Check out Walmart's "Mary Kate and Ashley" line for trendy outfits designed by those famous Olsen twins. Kohl's department store often marks down popular kids brands like OshKosh B'Gosh and Carter's. If you live near outlet stores, check them out for great prices on discontinued clothing items.