I may be starting to sound like a broken record, but online shopping can yet again be a huge help to reduce the mental load of shopping for children’s clothes. I started shopping online more often for my sons’ socks and underwear. It’s quicker and often cheaper than going to a nearby department store.
According to an industry survey, parents spend two-thirds more money shopping online and three-quarters more time shopping online than their non-parent counterparts. “Parents, especially working parents, are arguably the busiest adults in history,” explains trends expert Daniel Levine of Avant-Guide Institute. “Anything that makes their lives easier is going to be preferred over a similar activity that is more time-consuming.”
One mother shared that she prefers online shopping because she can take her time and get exactly what she wants, versus being in a rush when she is shopping in person with kids in tow. When our boys became teenagers with jobs, we still provided them with the basics, but they started to buy most of their clothing.
No matter how you shop for children’s clothing, the key is to do all you can to reduce your number of physical trips to make your purchases each year, whether it’s a thrift shop, department store, children’s boutique, or local garage sales. Try to stock up on items that are a size or two ahead for kiddos who are still growing quickly. See if online shopping can become a part of your mix, at least for basics like socks, underwear, undershirts, etc.
What about us grownups? For those of you who just don’t like shopping or feel inept at putting together outfits, you can always sign up for a clothing subscription service. These have popped up in the last couple of years for both men and women and are quickly becoming a popular option to simplify our lives.
You can get started with any of them by completing a survey with questions about your sizes and preferences. According to an October 2018 Business Insider article, clothing subscriptions can be incredibly useful for anyone who wants the freedom to explore trends or even go-to styles without much commitment, financial burden, or closet space.
“If you like using them, chances are you’re going to really like using them. If you don’t, you can cancel and continue the search,” wrote Mara Leighton.
Both men and women have a variety of services to choose from. Some offer clothing for rent, purchase, or a mix of both. The services offer all types of clothing, from dressy, to business, to business casual, to casual. Some carry athletic attire and undergarments. Others feature accessories and jewelry. You can discover services for plus sizes all the way down to extra small sizes.
One of the first companies to offer this kind of service was Stitch Fix, a personal styling service that makes getting dressed easier by delivering clothes you’ll (hopefully) like straight to your door. You simply keep what you want and send back what you don’t. You pay a styling fee each month that gets applied towards clothing that you purchase.
These services make a lot of sense for people who just don’t enjoy shopping for their clothes or feel like they need help with their styling decisions. A word of caution – remember to watch your budget and make certain you’re only buying things you truly need. Most of us wear 20 percent of our clothing 80 percent of the time and would be much happier with fewer wardrobe choices than we have now, according to Becoming Minimalist. But you’ll never realize that until you test it out.
The site goes on to say that the fashion industry invents false need by boldly declaring new fashion trends and colors for every changing season. But you don’t to have fall for their tricks. Find your favorite timeless fashion and start playing by your own rules.
I’ve finally learned to buy high-quality classic pieces, many of which I can find at a thrift store. By avoiding trends, investing in timeless clothing, and taking care of what we already own, we can greatly reduce the number of shopping trips and online purchases every year. And that alone can lighten this mental load up to 75 percent!
Amy Shankland is a writer and fundraising professional living in Noblesville with her husband John, two sons, two dogs and a cat. You can reach her via email at amys@greenavenue.info.