This post is in partnership with Just Between Friends Lancaster. All opinions are my own.
I have shopped numerous consignment sales, at various times of the year, and I’ve determined that shopping fall consignment sales saves me the most money—mostly because of the larger ticket items that I tend to need to purchase during the fall season.
Here are my 5 Best Tips for Shopping Fall Consignment Sales.
1. Plan Ahead & Make a List
At least a week or two before the sale, take the time to go through ALL of your kids clothes. I tend to buy ahead for my kids sizes, so I have bins in their closets with extra clothes for about a year ahead.
I pull those bins down, empty their drawers and closets and sort through EVERYTHING. Anything that doesn’t fit, I give away or set aside to sell. I then put what fits for the fall/winter season back in their drawers and closets.
Do this for each child.
It really does help to do this a few weeks before the sale. In the days ahead, you’ll have it on your mind and be thinking about what they truly need or what you may have forgotten about.
Take inventory of what clothing your children don’t have enough of. Do they have enough dress pants? Jeans? Long sleeve t-shirts? Sweatshirts? Dresses or cardigans? Socks and tights?
What about shoes? Will their sneakers fit through their winter growth spurt? Do they have dress shoes for school concerts and holiday photos?
Make a list of what you will need to shop for, and remember to include sizes! I also make notes (specifically for my daughter) of what pants/leggings she does have, so I remember what will match the colors and patterns she has.
2. Consider Fall & Winter Holiday Needs
One reason it is easy to save a lot at a fall consignment sale, is because of the two main holidays you can shop for.
First, think of Halloween and go through all your costumes. Do you have costumes on hand that fit your children, or will you need to buy them new ones? Unless you typically buy your costumes at the Dollar Tree, you’ll find that you can save a lot of money on costumes at consignment sales—for any age child!
Next, consider Christmas (since you probably don’t have a huge list of purchase needs for Thanksgiving). 🙂 Is it your child’s (or niece or nephews) first Christmas? If so, you might want to pick up a special ornament or keepsake frame.
Are there Christmas gifts that you can shop for at the sale? You can pretty much find any toy, game, puzzle, and even sports gear at heavily discounted prices—many times almost brand new!
3. Don’t Forget Winter Gear
With warm temperatures lasting longer into the start of school and the fall season, its easy to forget to check all your winter gear when you’re making your list. But these can be higher price-point items, which means you will save a lot shopping for these at consignment sales rather than paying retail price when the first snow storm comes.
Do you have winter coats that fit each of your kids? Boots? Gloves? Hats? Snowsuits? It’s always a good idea to have your kids try these things on before you determine if they’ll fit this winter too. Kids grow so quick!
And while you’re checking all the winter gear, you may as well check your shed or garage too. Do you have sleds? Ice skates? Hockey sticks? Inflatable snow tubes? You’d be surprised how many of these items you’ll find at consignment sales.
4. Prioritize Your List
If you have a lot on your lists, prioritize what is most important. What are the crucial and necessary items you’ll need for their wardrobe and the fall/winter season? Move these to the top of your list.
In the middle of your list, keep the normal, everyday items that you’ll definitely want to purchase, but maybe aren’t as expensive as the most important things at the top of your list.
Put extra items, that aren’t necessities, at the bottom of your list. This will help you budget, since you’ll plan to shop the sale in the order of your list. You can keep a mental tally of your total and then save the last items for another time (or come back for those during the 50% off sale at the end of the week!)
5. Shop for Your Most Expensive Ticket Items First
Check your list. Do you have higher price-point ticket items? If so, shop for those first. Look at the floor map when you arrive, and make a mad dash for whats most important to you and what you’d pay most for somewhere else.
If you have a lot of higher price-point ticket items, consider how many items and how much you can save on those items at the consignment sale.
If you’re not a consignor and aren’t eligible for early admission to the sale, it might be worth it for you to purchase the Prime Time presale pass for just $10. It’s worth it if its going to save you!
JBF Lancaster Consignment Sale
Speaking of consignment sales, my favorite Lancaster County consignment sale is coming up in just about two weeks, from October 4-6, 2019. This is the fourth or fifth year of the sale in Lancaster, and every year it grows bigger and better.
The JBF Lancaster Kids Consignment Sale will be held at Spook Nook Lanco, 1901 Miller Road, East Petersburg, PA 17520. Here are the details for sale specific start times:
JBF Presale Info
Tickets are required to shop the presale. There are 3 options—first time parent/grandparent, teachers, and Prime Time ($10 fee). All tickets are FREE with the exception of the Prime Time ticket, but all DO require advance registration).
The pass below waives the $3 registration fee on opening day, Friday, October 4, 2019. Just show it on your phone and you’ll get in for FREE!
For more information, visit the JBF Lancaster website and follow their Facebook page for up-to-date information, reminders and sneak peaks at the sale!
