It’s not exactly a secret that raising kids costs money. And as a mom of three, I can tell you that some months, it seems like no matter what I do, my credit card bills just keep growing.
Part of the expense of raising kids is making sure they’re properly clothed. That can be a challenge during growth spurts, when it’s hard to find the right size. It can also be a challenge in general because while adult clothing often (though not always) comes in a variety of sizes, with kids’ clothing, you’re often limited to extra-small, small, medium, large, and extra-large. When your child is in between, finding the right fit becomes a guessing game.
I tend to order a lot of my kids’ clothing online because I don’t have the patience to shop for it in person. But since I generally go to Costco weekly for groceries and supplies like toilet paper, I typically make a point to see what kids’ clothing is in stock. And when I find something that meets our needs, I almost always scoop it up.
If you’re a Costco member, I suggest you buy kids’ clothing there too for these reasons.
1. Costco’s prices are great
Let’s face it — kids tend to destroy their clothing or leave it in random places to get lost forever (think soccer fields, basketball courts, or friends’ houses). For this reason, plus the fact that kids only tend to stay in the same size for so long, I like to spend as little as possible on children’s clothing. And I find that Costco’s prices often can’t be beat.
For example, Costco is selling a two-piece Adidas kids’ pants and hoodie set for $21.99 online right now. Amazon has a similar set for $39. That’s a huge difference. I’d rather spend $17 less on an item that will last for, in a best-case scenario, a single season, and in a worst-case scenario, only a couple of weeks.
2. There’s a generous return policy
If you’re a parent, you’re well aware that sometimes you buy kids’ clothing with the expectation they’ll grow into it by a certain point. Or you might buy something you think your kids will be happy with only to be told it’s the ugliest garment to ever hit a store’s shelves.
The nice thing about buying clothing at Costco is that you can basically take it back at any point for a refund if it’s in good condition. So let’s say you buy some swimwear in August because it’s on clearance thinking it’ll fit your child the following summer, only it doesn’t. At that point, it’s not too late to get your money back.
3. You can score cash back on an Executive membership
Costco’s Executive membership costs twice as much as a basic one — $130 a year versus $65. But for the extra $65 a year, you get to earn 2% cash back on your purchases. So in the course of buying kids’ apparel at the store, I add to my pile of cash back. And that’s on top of the cash back my credit card gives me.
If you combine an Executive membership with the right credit card, you can rack up major rewards at Costco, too. Click here for a list of the best credit cards for Costco shoppers.
Of the various child-related purchases I make regularly, clothing is, frankly, one of the most annoying in my book. It pains me to spend a lot of money on stuff I know is going to get outgrown, lost, or destroyed in short order.
Thankfully, Costco helps me keep my costs to a minimum by offering low prices and making it so I’m not stuck with purchases that don’t work out. And the cash back on my Executive membership only sweetens the deal.
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The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Maurie Backman has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.