In a previous article, Saving Money on Toys, I talked a little bit about how toys expenses can really add up. In our effort to give everything we can to our children, we tend to spend a lot on toys. I offered a few tips on how to save money in this area, mostly by taking advantage of what you already have.
This time, I’ll talk about how to get a lot of toys for free or practically free. Now, here are even more practical tips that you can put to good use right away and save some real money on toys.
Let’s start with free toys. You can get a lot of free toys just by putting the word out the family and friends. Chances are there are a few families that would love the excuse to de-clutter their toys stash.
And on that same note, check out freecycle, an online group that exchanges goods for free. I, personally, am constantly giving away toys on my local freecycle group.
You can try curb shopping for toys. People throw away all sorts of toys all of the time, especially toys that are large, such as ride on bikes, kitchen sets, sports equipment, outdoor toys and more. You can read more about curb shopping by clicking here.
For not quite free but still very low cost toys, there are a few sources you can check out.
The first has to do with toy and department stores. Be on the look out for end of season clearance deals. For example, even now, you should be able to get all of the yard and summer toys you want for deep discounts, as the stores are already gearing up for the upcoming back to school and then holiday seasons.
Toy store closing are always great for low cost toys. A couple of years ago, I picked up a few elaborate lego toys sets for about 80 percent off the regular prices. These sets are very popular and are still being sold in the stores.
Yard sales, of course, are another great source for inexpensive toys. Many time the parents are so happy to get their excess toys out of they homes that they practically give them away. Just make sure to check the toys throughly for broken or missing parts and sharp edges.
Mary Ann Romans also writes for the Computing Blog here at Families.com where she shares everything from the latest news on technology to cool downloads and fun websites.
Related Articles:
Getting Your Kids Involved in Being Frugal
The Frugal Baby: Cloth Diapers