Best Dressed For Less!

If you have kids and live in the South Jersey area... YOU MUST SHOP HERE!  :-)  The Best Dressed For Less Consignment Sale (BDFL) is a twice-yearly event that draws in over 400 Consignors - moms (and dads) just like you and I - who are as committed to keeping our landfills from overflowing as I am.  :-)  Colleen and Kris are the two moms who created, organize, and generally make this sale the wonderful event that it is.  All of the BDFL volunteers are Consignors who are moms and dads just like us. You'll feel like you're shopping with your BFF's when you are at this sale!

Re-Use, Recycle, Re-Purpose!  

We each individually have SO much!  How many times has your child almost magically outgrown a perfectly good pair of pants (or a dress, or shirt, etc.) - maybe worn only once or twice - in what seems like the time it takes to do fifteen loads of laundry?  I know my own child had a growth spurt over the summer and it seems that MANY local kids did, as well!


Here's my story:

As a Consignor, I was able to shop the BDFL Pre-Sale (held the day before the Public Sale), and I was AMAZED at how many BRAND NEW OUTFITS, SHOES and TOYS WITH TAGS were available!

Personally, I think there are alot of moms out there like me - I love to shop throughout the year, and I love end-of-season sales.  But, my level of accuracy in predicting sizes a year ahead isn't always 100%, so I'm left with new clothing that A) my child has already outgrown before wearing, or B) is no longer on her "style radar".   (I sometimes envy those moms who still have the opportunity to pick out their children's outfits past preschool age - lucky you!!!!  Even luckier, you can shop this sale without your kids in tow! haha)  How many times does your child's favorite color change from "Oh I LOVE LOVE LOVE PINK!" to "Me, wear PINK?  No way!  Never! UGH!"  Yes, and, that's usually after Mama scores some big PINK PINK PINK fashion finds, right?  ;-)  I feel your pain, really I do.

Or, how many of us have daughters who aren't into the cutesy, frilly size 8 baby doll dresses than Auntie Em insists on buying for her?  Despite telling Auntie Em that our child has a current penchant for Rocker style, black leather and sparkly girl temporary tattoos, she always buys her these adorable girly girl "frou frou" dresses with teddy bears on the front.  I allowed myself to stop forcing her to wear the dresses two years ago b/c so many of my mommy friends insisted it was ok not to force her to wear the dresses, even just for photos.  {Items and names have been changed to protect the feelings of Auntie Em, of course. ;-) }  I know there are others out there, because I found lots of could-be gift items at the sale!

I love the BDFL sale because it offers me the opportunity to pass along items that are new, or gently used, for a fraction of their cost, to someone else who will LOVE the item... and to earn some spending money, at the same time.  Believe me, it has taken me YEARS to be okay "letting go".  I'm trying to declutter my life... one new-with-tags item at a time.  ;-)

My goal is to consign enough items to allow my child to choose a few outfits, DVD's, books and toys (yes, I let her choose a few toys at this sale, even though we didn't consign any this time), without spending over 33% of what I'm hoping to earn at this sale.  The other 67% will go towards our Family Goal.  See, the BDFL Sale is also a learning tool for our family - it is teaching our family SO many useful lessons!  :-)

BDFL SALE PHOTOS

Here are a few of my own photos from the Pre-Sale AND just one of the items that my child purchased and LOVES (above)!

Happiness for only $3.50!!!!!

I'm already a firm believer in living Green... I recycle, I re-purpose and I re-use whenever I can.  This BDFL Sale is just one more way we live Green.

I hope if you live in the South Jersey area, have children, and wish to save money where you can, that you make the time to shop at the Best Dressed For Less Consignment Sale this weekend!

BDFL Consignment Sale Hours:
Friday, 9/23/11 9am to 7pm
Saturday, 9/24/11 9am to 5pm
Sunday, 9/25/11 11am to 3pm and many items will be marked 50% off!

To read my previous post about the BDFL Sale, click here.

For more information on the Best Dressed For Less Consignment Sale, or to find information on how to become a Consignor for the NEXT SALE (Spring 2012), please visit their website here.