Every mum wants their child to look good but it can be hard to find fashionable and good quality clothes that are also affordable. As a mother of seven young children I have, over the years, developed a knack to finding clothes that my children want to wear and which also dont hurt my purse strings. To dress your children in the best for less you dont need to take out a second mortgage and frequent top designer shops - there are other ways and means of finding top quality childrens clothing at bargain prices.

Buying second-hand no longer has the stigma attached to it that it once had. Families on tight budgets have woken up to the idea that used does not always mean worn out. The rapid growth of online auctions has helped fuel the market for second-hand childrens clothes and Mothers are no longer embarrassed to admit that what their children are wearing wasnt bought brand new - but usually there is no need to admit to anything since nearly new clothing can look as good as new! After all - once a new outfit has been washed its no longer new anyway .

There are various places where a discerning Parent can pick up good as new used clothing for their children. One of the cheapest places has to be Car Boot Sales. In the UK these have taken off in a big way in recent years and many families treat it as a Sunday day out once a week. All sorts of bargains can be found at a car boot sale and the prices are generally cheaper than buying from other sources. On the down side to get the best bargains you need to get up very early and also know your labels. If you are able to tell a Laura Ashley dress from the fabric amongst a pile of chain store clothing then you are on to a winner - especially since the seller will usually ask very little for it. Beware that some people will be less than honest in what they sell and so check all zips work and that there are no obvious rips or stains. However, even the occasional mistake will not matter since the price paid wont have been much in the first place.

Online Auctions are another good place to pick up both new and used childrens clothing. Again its worth knowing your labels and also watch out for steep postage prices. Your bargain win may turn into a very expensive win if the seller is charging so much postage that the item ends up costing more than it would have cost new to buy! Some sellers will have a returns policy but most will not accept returns. There therefore is a fair bit of trust involved in buying from auctions since the sellers idea of excellent condition may well be different from yours. Also watch the sizing - if the seller doesnt offer measurements it may be worth asking for them since I have in the past received dresses that have been a good 2 sizes smaller than the stated size (shrunk in the wash and seller has bought for resale purposes and so has no idea that the item has shrunk from its label size) and also I have been sold dresses that in fact have turned out to be long tops!

For more safety and security and the option to return items if they are not suitable then online websites are a good way of buying quality new and used childrens clothes. The first UK one was set up five years ago and since then many others have followed. Be aware though that you have a 7 day cooling off period from the date you receive your order in which you can cancel and return the goods purchased . You may also find that postage is cheaper than buying from Auctions and so a larger order will work out cheaper. It can also be easier and less frustrating to be able to purchase several items online at the same time rather than just one at a time

Nearly new clothing sales are another good way of picking up cheap good quality baby and childrens items. Most local NCT branches hold these twice a year and also some Playgroups and nurseries hold them as fundraising events. The quality is usually good since items that are not nearly new are not allowed to be displayed but quite often there are limited larger sizes available for your older children. Lots of clothes for babies and toddlers though and so well worth going if you have children these ages or are expecting a baby.

Apart from finding friends and relatives who are able to give you hand-me-down clothing that their children have finished with the final good source of finding affordable quality childrens clothing is to look at your local free newspaper or advert-only newspaper as there are usually pages of private sellers advertising their own childrens clothes. Beware that a trader is not masquerading as a private seller though as you have less legal rights if the items you buy turn out to be faulty. Whilst bargains can be found the downside of visiting peoples houses to view clothing are that you have to travel to get there which costs money, might find a pile of rags rather than clothes that have hardly been worn and also you might find that the style of clothes being sold does not suit your taste. Some people keep clothes for many years for sentimental reasons and then decades later decide that they can finally part with them! Nevertheless, I have still managed to find so lovely clothes for my children this way.

Hopefully your search for quality bargain childrens clothes wont turn in to too much of an addiction! Its easy for that to happen once you get the bug and the proud feeling you get when friends and strangers comment on how well dressed your children look and you know that it only cost you a few pounds is unbeatable! Of course, if you end up buying too many clothes the above options are also good for selling them on again. This provides the money to buy the next size up and recycling clothing can only be good for the environment.