Summer Clothes For Cheap

Everyone wants to get the most for their money, especially when it comes to spending it on clothing for children.  They outgrow their clothes so quickly that it seems they’ve hardly worn them at all before the clothes are too small.  Here are some ideas to help you get summer clothes for cheap.[ad]

Buy at the end of the season – If you plan your clothing purchases a year ahead, you can save a great deal of money at the end of the season.  Summer clothing generally goes on sale in most stores at the beginning of July, so plan ahead to purchase items you know your family will need that you can buy in a size or two larger than what they are currently wearing.  If you weren’t able to purchase everything you needed last year, wait until after the Fourth of July to purchase what you still need.

Refashion what you have – In many cases, especially with children, they grow taller before they grow elsewhere.  This means that jeans and other pants will become too short quicker than they outgrow the waist.  Cut off jeans or pants that are no longer long enough and make shorts out of them.  You’ll be able to get double the usage without having to spend extra money for them.

Look for sales – Besides normal sales at the end of the season, look for other sales that might take place during the summer.  Check the racks for unadvertised sales and markdowns, as well.  Quite often stores will move clothing that hasn’t sold to a clearance rack to make room for newly arriving clothing.  Look for the clearance signs and then stock up on items you know you’ll need.

Don’t overlook used items – Yard sales are a great place to find gently used clothing for your family, often at prices that are unbelievable.  It’s not uncommon to find nearly new clothing for $0.25 to $1.00 at yard sales.  Be sure to carefully examine the clothing prior to paying for it to ensure it isn’t torn, missing buttons, or have a broken zipper.  If the item is damaged, ask them to come down on it.  They may also be willing to sell you a whole bag of clothing for a single, lower price.

Another place to look for used clothing is a Goodwill or Salvation Army store.  They get new donations in regularly so they’re putting out new items all the time.  Call and ask them when they generally put new items out on the floor to have the best choices. 

Consignment stores are wonderful places to visit when your clothing budget isn’t as much as you’d like it to be.  Quite often you can find brand new clothing at half of the original price or less.  Look over the items before you purchase them and then take your treasures home.

Be sure to wash any used items you purchase, no matter where you get them.  These are a few ways you can buy summer clothes for cheap.  You can also put your head together with friends; perhaps they’d like to make a trade for clothes they no longer enjoy, or their family has outgrown.
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Three Great Summer Recipes

One of the greatest things about summer is the food.  On almost any given day you can drive through your neighborhood and smell something grilling.  Whether you like to grill or not, here are three great summer recipes the whole family will love.[ad]

When it comes to cooking during the summer, most people think of barbecues, family reunions, and picnics.  They want food that is simple to prepare, won’t take them hours in a hot kitchen, and that everyone will love so they don’t have leftovers.  The Chinese people are masters at quick cooking, and stir-frying is a great way to accomplish this.

Rice is the quintessential base for most stir-fry dishes.  You can add anything to the rice and make a different meal with each addition.  Your family may love Broccoli Beef, Sweet and Sour Chicken, or this recipe:
1.  Quick Chicken Teriyaki

Ingredients:

¼ cup reduced fat Italian dressing 
½ tsp. garlic powder
1 lb. boneless chicken breast cut into strips 
2 cups frozen broccoli florets
1 1/3 cups water 
1-½ cups uncooked instant white rice
¼ cup teriyaki sauce 

In a wok or large non-stick skillet, heat up the dressing.  Add the chicken and cook it for 5-7 minutes or until completely cooked.  Add the water, teriyaki sauce, and garlic powder.  Bring this to a boil and then stir in the broccoli and rice.  Cover and reduce the heat.  Let it cook over low heat for about 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and let it stand for 5 additional minutes.  Fluff with a fork and serve.
If Chinese food doesn’t appeal to you, but your family loves tomatoes, you may want to try this simple, yet delicious, recipe as a change of pace from tossed salad:
2.  Tomato Salad

Ingredients:

4 large pink tomatoes, finely sliced 
¼ cup vinegar
3 green onions, finely chopped 
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 cup crumbled feta cheese 
Cumin to taste

Combine all these ingredients in a glass bowl and let it sit for at least two hours, preferably overnight. 
Many families love Italian food.  This pasta salad is great as a meal by itself or with a meat entrée.
3.  Italian Summer Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

6-8 fresh plum tomatoes 
¼ cup olive oil
3-4 cloves fresh chopped garlic 
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup fresh chopped basil 
1 lb. bow tie pasta
½ cup fresh chopped flat leaf parsley 
¼ cup grated Romano cheese

Cook pasta as directed on the package.  When it’s al dente, remove the pasta and drain.  In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients except the cheese and mix well.  Add the pasta to the tomato mixture.  Finish the dish by grating Romano cheese directly over the mixture. 
Summer cooking is usually light and tasty.  These are three great summer recipes the whole family will love.  Try them soon and your family will ask you for more.

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Stranger Danger

Everyone knows how trusting children are when they’re very young.  However, in today’s world we have to teach our children about trust and whom they can trust.  We need to teach them about stranger danger.  No matter what their age, these helpful hints may come in handy when having that conversation.[ad]

Realize that you can’t relinquish your role as your child’s protector and teacher to anyone else.  You are their parent, and they look to you for guidance.  Teaching them to be aware of potential dangers with people is not any different than teaching them not to walk out in front of moving vehicles.

Use a matter-of-fact tone when teaching your children about stranger danger.  Don’t make your child fearful, but make them prepared.  Pay attention to your child’s demeanor when you discuss these issues with them.  If they are becoming agitated, change the subject and the way you explain things.

Help your children understand about “personal space” as well as the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touching.  Tell them that adults, as a general rule, should not touch any part that is covered by a bathing suit unless it is a doctor, nurse, or a parent.  They also need to know that if they ever feel uncomfortable when someone is near them, it’s ok if they tell an adult “no”, especially when it comes to their body.

Teach your child what to do if they become separated from you in a store.  Tell them to go to the front of the store or find someone with a name tag on to help them find you.  A mother with other children would also be a good choice, as would a police officer.

Instill in your child the belief that they have a right to be safe.  No one has the right to make a child feel threatened or unsafe. 

Help them listen to their instincts and to act upon them if things don’t seem right or if they ever feel threatened.  Self-preservation is a strong instinct; help them recognize it and act quickly when they feel it.

When you’re out in public, watch your children and notice the people around them.  Stay in contact with them through listening and talking with them.  You do not want to seem paranoid; however, the more aware you are of your child’s location and who’s around them, the less likely you’ll have to go searching for them. 

Our children are a treasure, and deserve to be treated as such.  They are a gift that we want to protect and help keep innocent as long as possible.  However, we can’t let our guard up.  Children are victims of stranger danger regularly, which is why we need to teach our children about trusting their own instincts, and us as parents, to keep them safe.
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