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I know from personal experience that there is no greater torture than schlepping two toddlers off to the mall for a day of clothes shopping. If you think you are going to get any shopping done with your little ones in tow, good luck with that one. Kids equate the mall with the food court and the toy store. Anything out of that realm is not for them-- and they'll let you know it by throwing tantrums in your favorite boutique or playing hide and seek in the department store dressing rooms.

I stopped using the mall for my clothing shopping needs quite a while ago. Sure, I could hire a babysitter or shop on the weekends when my husband is home, but I choose not to. Why? Because I have discovered the joys of online clothes shopping.

Most online clothing sites are very user friendly. Interactive size charts are provided so you don't have to guess which size to buy. But the best part is the ease of shopping from the comfort of my own home. I can leisurely add items to my online shopping cart-- and when I'm in an indecisive mood (which is often) I can move things out of it. My favorite trick is to add everything that I think I want, then go back and rethink each item one by one before making my final selections.

Opening an account with an online clothing site is as easy as filling out a form. Yes, you will need to provide your credit card information. Don’t worry about your information not being safe, though -- today's sites are very secure. As long as you stick to big name, reputable online sites (think JC Penney, Old Navy, Kohl's, Spiegel, etc) your personal information will be safe.

So what about the shipping charges? It's true that when you shop online, you will have to pay for shipping. But with today's high gas prices, a small shipping fee may actually cost you less money than driving your car to the mall. Many sites also offer free shipping if you spend a certain amount (usually 75 to 100 dollars). In addition, many sites like Old Navy and The Children's Place offer $5.00 shipping every day-- just be sure to select the standard shipping option.

Before you begin your online shopping quest, do a Google search for any online coupon or discount codes. Many sites offer online codes which can knock a percentage off of your order or give you free shipping.

Another great ting about online shopping? You can easily do some comparison shopping. So what happens if you don't like an item or it doesn't fit? All online sites should spell out their return policies up front. IN addition, most online sites will accept returns at their retail stores. Or, just follow the return instructions included with your order (most sites provide you with pre-made shipping labels for returns).

Once you start online clothes shopping, you'll never believe that you used to shop at the mall.