How to Buy Children’s Winter Clothes on a Budget: My Preloved Guide

Winter wardrobes can get expensive very quickly when you have children.

Suddenly everyone needs coats, jumpers, waterproofs, wellies and warmer clothes, and by the time you've bought everything for more than one child, it can become a huge expense.

With three children, I've learned to do things differently.

I buy pretty much all of our winter clothing preloved, and the biggest trick is that I don't wait until winter to start looking.

I Buy Winter Clothes Before We Need Them

I nearly always have clothes stashed away in the next size.

Sometimes I'm even two or three sizes ahead if I find something I really love.

This is especially useful for winter clothing because coats and waterproofs can be expensive. If I'm prepared to wait, I can find much better preloved options than if I suddenly need a coat tomorrow.

I keep a rough list of what each child needs and gradually pick things up as I find them.

By the time winter arrives, I've normally got most of the bigger pieces ready.

Coats Are One of My Favourite Preloved Buys

A good winter coat is probably one of the best children's items to buy second hand.

Children often only get one winter out of a coat before they grow into the next size, so there can be plenty of wear left in them.

I look for good-quality coats with working fastenings, intact linings and no major damage.

Brands such as Boden, JoJo Maman Bébé, Frugi, Next and M&S are always worth watching for because I've found they generally stand up well to family life.

Don't Ignore Waterproofs

Waterproof trousers, puddle suits and jackets can also be excellent second hand purchases.

Again, check the condition carefully, particularly around knees, seams, zips and cuffs.

Depending on the garment, waterproof clothing can sometimes be cleaned and reproofed with a suitable product to help restore its water repellency. Always check the manufacturer's care instructions first because different waterproof fabrics need different treatment.

It can give a perfectly usable preloved waterproof a new lease of life.

Wellies Don't Always Need to Be New Either

Children seem to grow out of wellies at an alarming speed.

If I find a good preloved pair with plenty of life left in the soles and no splits or damage, I'm happy to use them.

They're particularly useful to have as spare pairs for muddy walks and garden play.

Layer Rather Than Replacing

This is probably one of my biggest money-saving tricks.

When autumn arrives, I don't suddenly replace all of the children's T-shirts with long-sleeved tops.

If something still fits, I want to keep using it.

Instead, I add layers.

A jumper, cardigan, fleece or hoodie over a T-shirt can take something they've been wearing all summer and make it useful for much cooler weather.

It means I buy fewer clothes and we get much more use out of what we already own.

Buy Better Quality When You Can

Winter clothing needs to work quite hard.

Coats get wet, jumpers get washed repeatedly and children's clothes generally get put through far more than adult clothes.

That's why I prefer buying a better-quality brand preloved rather than automatically buying the cheapest new option.

WRAP's work on clothing durability makes a similar point from an environmental perspective. Longer-lasting clothing can reduce waste and resource use because it doesn't need replacing as frequently.

For a family, I think the financial benefit is just as important.

Make a List Before You Shop

It is very easy to overbuy children's clothing, particularly when you're shopping ahead.

I keep track of what we already have and what we'll actually need in the next size.

My basic winter list would normally include things such as:

• A warm coat

• A waterproof layer

• Wellies

• Jumpers or cardigans

• Comfortable trousers or leggings

• Hats and gloves

• Plenty of pieces that can be layered

Once the essentials are covered, I can add anything else as we actually need it.

Preloved Shopping Works Best When You Have Time

This is the biggest lesson I've learned.

If you need something immediately, your options are limited.

If you know your child will probably need a winter coat in the next size sometime in the next six months, you have months to find one.

That's when preloved shopping becomes really good.

You can wait for the right size, right brand, right condition and right price instead of compromising because you need it tomorrow.

Final Thoughts

Buying children's winter clothes on a budget doesn't have to mean buying the cheapest clothing you can find.

For me, it's about planning ahead, buying good-quality pieces preloved and making the clothes we already own work harder.

Coats, waterproofs and wellies can all be brilliant second hand buys, while layering means summer T-shirts and other favourites can stay in rotation for longer.

My children's winter wardrobes tend to start taking shape long before winter actually arrives.

It might mean I've got drawers full of clothes that don't fit anyone yet, but when the temperature suddenly drops and I already have the next coat waiting, I'm always glad I did it.