Stocking Up for Future Foster Kids // Clearance Haul

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Be The Village
P.O. Box 348
Maineville, OH 45039

[@theneens5535]

When my daughter got custody of her niece and nephew (my middle son's children)we were able to get them three outfits each from our local Goodwill. The other local thrift allowed us to fill a "brown grocery bag" with the tag of the day sale items for only $5. Since they literally had only the clothes on their backs we were truly grateful. We were able to find some great clearance stuff a couple of weeks later with her paycheck and my Social Security check. But the generosity of others helped us get thru till then. That was 3 1/2 years ago, but we do all we can to help others as we know how hard it can be. We were lucky enough to be close when they needed us. I was in foster care with my two younger brothers for a couple of years. I'm so glad to hear of foster parents like you, I can promise you that it's not always that way. You and your family are a blessing to all that you share your life with.

[@serobinson1]

After Christmas Walgreens will run all the Christmas toys 70-90% off like3-5 dats after. Great time to stock up on toys

[@BeTheVillageCommunity]

Truth!

[@FaithFueledLiving]

That’s where I go after Christmas too!

[@charamia9402]

I keep thinking how welcoming it must feel for a kid in this situation that you have stuff ready. The feeling of 'I got you covered' a pair of pyjamas and a clean piece of underwear can give!

[@JuMixBoox]

Hey! Maybe I was over interpreting this, but please know that you can also treat yourself and don't have to be embarrassed about that. We already know how amazing and generous you are, you are allowed to have some me-things/moments as well. What do they say? You can't pour from an empty cup. So, just in case you were worrying about this or maybe someone else needs to hear it: It's okay if something is just for you, during the holidays or any other time.

[@BeTheVillageCommunity]

I love that saying, you can't fill from an empty cup. I've been reminding myself of that often.

[@bettemarie622]

The agency and autonomy your offer your placements is so admirable!

[@gethoovified]

Our Walmart often has clearance sales for clothing and shoes for $1-3... I have even bought infant clothing for 10 cents before. I always kept an eye out for the littles in our lives but of course now that we plan on being foster parents, we are trying to stock up for that as well. :) It is truly such a blessing. Thanks for sharing!

[@lauradavis4848]

Wow!!!! Great clearance finds! I love clearance shopping. I like to go end of each season to Walmart and Target etc and get the next size up for my grandson. Get great prices that way. My grandson has an aunt who used to go to kid to kid or another one of those kids resale places and buy clothes for him. One day I dropped him off at her house and she said oh I just bought him that same shirt at kid to kid and I only paid 3 bucks! She was so happy for her find, until I told her that's full price brand new at Walmart and I only paid 2 bucks on clearance lol

[@ashleywalker9992]

Keep a watch at your local Carters and Oshkosh stores for 40% off clearance days, especially coming up afted Christmas, most tops will be between $0.85-$3 99. We have shorts currently at $1.99. We have a few foster families that will come in and stock up on sizes

[@ninal.3969]

I am amazed by you all!! How much you take on, how well you do it, the whole shebang. ♥️

[@baymareranch1673]

You guys are such an amazing family!!

[@lolagutierrez3948]

You should check out old navy I work there and we’ve been having pretty good sales and our clearance is usually pretty freakin cheap

[@BeTheVillageCommunity]

Great tip, thanks!

[@suzannadannaTARDIS]

@@BeTheVillageCommunity I visited my local ON Monday while my son was at his orthodontist. There was a table of the Rock Star super skinny jeans and it didn't have a sale sign, so I went over to the price checker - and found the pair I had in hand was 5.99! Wasn't the color I wanted, but I then checked anything I was interested in and a few that weren't. Walked out with 3 pairs of jeans for $21.00, when they're normally 39.99 each. Love Old Navy's clothes, and for the kids, check out their polo shirts. I hit a great sale when my oldest wasn't quite 2. He was a big newborn and was ahead of the curve until he hit 4, I got 4 polos on sale at the beginning of the spring clothing on BOGO. Then they had new colors come in and I found them for $2.00 each. which I stockpiled and passed some to our daycare provider. My son wore them for over years, and they held up to his abuse. Then my younger son got another 2 years out of them. Not bad for about $30 shirts. (They're as nice as the Lands' End shirts I bought when he was an infant). Also, Target tends to do their markdowns Tuesday and Wednesday. I shop the inner end caps to find stuff. Finally, it seems like many Walmarts have moved to having one clearance aisle near their electronics department, as I've been in several that are set up this way. Always worth checking your local store, too. The best part of all of this? Not only do these kids typically come to you with the clothes on their backs, they often don't get brand new stuff that hasn't been handed down. It shows from the start that you care enough to have new stuff waiting for them and helps ease their minds that this placement may be a good temporary home.

[@wstew1310]

Agreed! I’ve been getting all types of clothes there for $2-5! Price check the tags even if they’re already marked down!

[@pixxie102]

I have to admit I knew the clearance tag before you said the store 😝 , I’m from MI and Meijer is life!!!! Mperks is one of my favorite reward programs

[@BeTheVillageCommunity]

Love it!!

[@laurenrydh8789]

You should check out goodwill outlet! It's pay by the pound. You have to dig through bins but there are some nice things new with tags. I have gotten lots of cashmere stuff. An entire cart costs about $25 only!

[@mspinklady74]

Shame their are not more shops like this all over the world as even charity shops can be expensive. Love the Puma outfit.xx

[@londynwheeler7386]

Wow, I need a store like that near me! I admire you and your family so much! So cute! I aspire to have a family just like yours one day!😊 Be well village🏘💗

[@LifeByMelinda]

I don’t know if they’re in your area but look online and try to find a RHEA LANA’S. It’s a kids consignment that is held twice a year. They’re super particular about the quality of items and prices are awesome. However, at the end of every sale, they allow foster parents to come in and shop all the donated items for FREE ❤️

[@catchtwenty22]

Que Hero by Barbra Streisand. That was a seriously amazing haul at such a hard time of year. You are extremely thoughtful. All those things and like a couple things for yourself. Says everything about your nurturing soul. ❤️

[@amymenjivar3489]

For anyone who fosters littles, Target typically clears out their holiday clothes and Child of Mine line of sleepers for under $2 Happens every holiday but especially Christmas. It's only a couple days and then they box and ship to manufacturer. Anything 'red' w/out Santa rolls right on to Valentine's. Agree with comments re Old Navy and Walmart sales, too. Old Navy coats clearanced out to under $10. Their crazy clearance of leggings and tops for under $3. White sock packs - gender neutral. Walmart will have their sweats on clearance for $1. Kid shoes for $2, $3...cheap, easy slip ons for an extra pair. Carter's 1/2 off clearance prices rock, too. Found Osh Kosh packs of underwear for under $3. Dollar store has great oral hygiene and combs/brushes. If you get a placement that only stays for a day or 2 (returns home or goes to family), you want to send them with some pjs and a couple outfits. One kid, or several placements like that, It adds up quickly so having stuff on hand helps. Agree on limit to bins bc the clothes can become overwhelming.

[@giraffeyanne24]

This is good to know! We have three littles.

[@valleykwc]

We moved from Ohio 7 years ago and Meijer is what I miss the most.

[@barbaraunderwood1762]

As a cashier for Walmart I always walked through the girls clothes. At the end of each season I would get girls for $1 & 2. Those clearance clothes really helped. My 2 granddaughters that live with really loved everything I got them. I bought Christmas all year long & got great buys. U really got a great buy. We also go to the thrift store. Most teenagers don’t like that store but my 2 young teenagers love it. We have one n walking distance. Love the family. Here n Tennessee foster parents aren’t allowed to have contact with the parents.

[@Nien10]

Great video! I'd totally recommend letting the kiddo pick from all of them regardless of whether it's a boys or girls thing cause as a kid I would have loved those boys shirts, especially the avenger one, but ppl didn't usually give me that option cause I'm a girl.

[@Nien10]

Even goes for the other things besides clothes, you might make some boy very very happy with one of those cute stuffed animals.

[@BeTheVillageCommunity]

Great point!

[@deblavan4190]

I like that! I used to do that more when my boys were little they are all big mow but I do try to get stuff during the year . This year I really did not do much. But my son went to Gabs and got 3 pair of sweats for him for Christmas. I am getting him some sweaters that are on sale too. The other two are to hard to buy for so they will get cash. My boys are 40, 21, and 18. The youngest is the easiest to buy for. Thank goodness!

[@kristenrice6862]

I have so many clothes for all sizes. Who knows if ill even get that age 😂

[@dezs.3100]

I have that exact pastel tye dye polaroid shirt you are talking about. Got mine on sale too!

[@TheMultitaskingMama]

Love this!! I’ve been hanging on to my kids clothes that are too small to have a stock of clothes! I didn’t think about toys I definitely need to grab some!! Thanks for sharing ❤️❤️

[@bpgk2007]

I just bought the pink Skechers on sale for my daughter. She loves them.

[@brianna960]

You need to go to a Dirt Cheap, that’s where we’ve been buying all of our foster stuff at 😊

[@LovelyBri]

I aspire to be like you guys 💜💙🧡

[@KM-ye9so]

Wow! The kiddos in your life (whether they be your bio kids, kids you give gifts to, or future foster kids) are going to be STOCKED!!! Wow! Also, I agree with the shoes being unisex. Honestly, most of the clothes could be too depending on sizing and styles of the kids. (Also, great call on the shoes without laces. Any little way that kids can be more independant is a plus!!) The stuffed animals for future foster placements is a great idea, too. Something snuggly to comfort them when they first arrive or during tough times.

[@elaina5754]

y'all are so amazing

[@samjama5581]

So many great finds!!!

[@cassiefriedman8685]

I THINK YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING!!!! I WHISH MY MOM WOULD BECOME A FROSTER MOM BUT I UNDERSTAND IT'S HARD!!!!

[@courtneyb7811]

I had no idea other people did this. I have bins too for future foster kids and one for presents

[@BeTheVillageCommunity]

How cool! Glad I'm not the only one :)

[@lauraklabe2259]

Im a manager at carters and oshkosh. We run clearance sales all the time. Sometimes as high as an extra 50% off and every once in awhile a coupon with 0 exclusions. You can also register up to 5 kids on your rewards account to get special coupons around their birthdays. Every $150 you spend gets you a $10 off coupon with zero exclusions. As an employee, i get an additional 30% off (if youre looking for a part time job). Our clearance can get as high as 75-80% off the MSRP plus whatever clearance sale we're running (i work at an outlet so everything is always on sale). Ive paid 80¢ for kids sweatpants before. You just have to look and come often to learn the sales. We go preemie-kid 14. We also have a store credit card but im not gonna promote that bc ik not everybody needs a credit card

[@lauraklabe2259]

Edit: during the holidays we also do a pajama drive to donate pj's to local foster kids in need. Pajamas arent a necessity bc you can always sleep in an old tshirt, so giving kids things that arent deemed "essential" can make them really happy

[@beautyizeasy]

You got such cute stuff! I loved the boys gray and black shirt with the chevron/striped pattern! I think that could be cute on a boy or a girl! I would hold onto all sorts of sizes bc you never know how big or small a kid can be! I wore a kid’s size 13 shoe as a 7th grader! No growth problems or anything, I was just super tiny! I didn’t even reach 4 feet until 8th grade. My sibling is super tall (as an adult he is now six feet) so I was just a little different from the norm. Even today as an adult I still buy adidas shoes in the kids section because they are cheaper. A women’s 6 is the same as a boys 4 and 1/2 but the boy’s size is usually $20 less. It is great that you are stocking up on clothes so when a kid comes they have some choice in what to wear. When you feel like everything is out of your control, it is really nice to be able to control small things, even if it’s just picking out which shirt to wear out of a rack, it can make a huge difference in a kid’s day.

[@melissagreen1117]

You have such a good plan. Have a good nite🌛

[@Carazona]

You probably know this but Walmart’s big Christmas section of gift sets like bath sets or Lotion sets go on such good clearance after Christmas! I love your organized system!

[@lorettatheibert1663]

we do have an absolutely wonderful local charity for foster children now that does supply a lot

[@aleciaflores1868]

Not sure if you have a Walmart near you. You can find clothes for $1 on clearance towards the end of each season.

[@amyeli33]

What good deals!

[@hadgit60]

That is amazing..I've started pre buying..second hand stores are pricey where I'm at. Not worth buying.

[@audreycofield9699]

Do you guys have a VF outlet near you? Ours has rider's by lee jeans at a non-clearence price of $5 and 3 packs of fleece leggings for $8.

[@audreycofield9699]

Vanity Fair

[@ryanm7249]

When I went to Wright State in Dayton we had a Meijer right across the street! None here in Cleveland though. Did you guys get a lot of snow in mainevillle? Here in Cleveland some areas like where I live got about 6-8 inches. Other areas on the east side got 12-15 inches.

[@burgsvillage]

I love meijer, they have amazing sales

[@ashleywells9148]

Im from Illinois i love mejiers i shop there alot

[@tessv8321]

I love Meijer's clarence too!

[@emily-anneobrien740]

I love watching people talk about clothes and money they save! Hhahaha. This was so satisfying to see

[@BeTheVillageCommunity]

So glad you enjoyed it! Definitely not our typical video lol.

[@meschahayes1003]

Do you think you'll have a new foster kiddos while Miss A is still reunifying or are y'all waiting until she's back with her family? When you get your new foster(s) will you still vlog regularly or take a break while the kiddo adjusts?

[@kezza82]

What a great idea, u need pj's and underwear etc could u put a list up of thgs u need for foster children,

[@kayleegoff141]

Five below is doing something during Christmas where you donate a five-dollar toy to a kid in need.

[@BeTheVillageCommunity]

We did that when we shopped there a couple weeks ago!

[@rachealebel8777]

Do you also stock up on toiletries like the basics a variety of deodorant and toothpaste and toothbrushes so they can chose what they need

[@BeTheVillageCommunity]

No, what I’ve found is teens end up having specific preferences and skin types. So it makes sense for us to just take them shopping when they get here

[@3tinaa]

Check out children place clearance they have great deals there

[@Not_a_snake]

I buy myself so many clearance clothes at Meijer

[@krystle2312]

I know a lot of shoes say unisex, and if wearing just every now and then it is perfectly fine, but if wearing everyday females should really wear shoes specifically made for females. Women’s feet are a slightly different shape, narrower at the heel and wider at the ball of the foot. So when females consistently wear men’s (or unisex - which are just men’s) it can really do damage to our feet and ankles. And once you have damaged your feet and ankles, there goes the knees,then hip, then back.

[@amandakesterson224]

Thats only for specialized sport shoes. Every day shoes don't have enough of a difference to matter and not at that age. I had to learn a lot about shoes when my hip alignment was off. When my doctor gave me the specification for shoes, he said all that really matter (except for sports/exercise shoes) is the fit. Snug but movable.

[@krystle2312]

@@amandakesterson224 not true. Tore my Achilles from wearing unisex shoes at work. Was sent to several specialist as it was a workers compensation claim and they all agreed that it was because they were unisex shoes. They (two orthopaedic surgeons, and two podiatrists) all also recommended that women should universally not wear unisex or men’s shoes long term. Plenty of studies have been done to back this up.

[@lilahobrien3582]

What do you do for a living to afford this? Sorry if that's to personal but just curious

[@BeTheVillageCommunity]

We have jobs 🤷🏻‍♀️ and we are smart with our money 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@Lauren-rx9fv]

If you have younger kids another great product is the Relay. It’s basically a phone with no screen (better then it sounds). KZbin videos explain it better than I will. (Search Relay Go not relay) Www.relaygo.com/families/relay

[@busybody81]

I also live in cincinnati (Fairfield). Do you except donations? I would feel better giving gently used clothes to you than goodwill to resale. Not many places are taking donations because of covid. I have boys, girls and young woman's clothes.

[@BeTheVillageCommunity]

Send me an email, I can connect you with organizations locally! Including Hope’s Closet.

[@gillianmcatee5378]

Well done Girl beautiful family , do you ever dress your kids in designer clothes, some kids can be so cruel especially if the kid is wereing cheap trainers or tracksuits. X

[@melissaking7638]

I wish I can talk to miss A because I no what she’s going through I grow up in forstercare and I just wanted to ask her if people at school talk or pick on her in school for being in forstercare like they did me and I had to quit school and move out of the state and I had to go to a different school to

[@alexisatuatara570]

It’s probably not like this everywhere but at my school people don’t care, I have a few friends in foster care and no one sees them as weird for being in the system. I’m sorry you had to go through that though, I hope you’re doing okay now.

[@lissaw4]

I was in the system as well. Including living in the CPS teen shelters. I didn't have issues with bullying due to CPS/foster care/living in a shelters/group homes. That especially wasn't an issue with the school that all the kids at the shelter went to as it was seen as regular thing that kids got used to knowing about. I moved states away and the first school I went to people were a bit weird/confused at first about the CPS stuff just because it wasn't something they knew much about. People were just intrigued wanted to know, sometimes inappropriate things. I personally never experienced bullying due to this, but I did know 2 people who kind of experienced bullying due to being in the system. One of them, they didn't really consider it bullying because it wasn't to the extreme most people would think of. Most of it was them saying some messed up things, as the kids sadly picked up that it was an insecurity of theirs. The other person I know who experienced bullying was pretty aggressive to others and pushed people away from them due to their own mental health and circumstances. Being aggressive made them feel less vulnerable, which is understandable to an extent. However, that also tends to put a target on someone for the obvious reasons. If you can find others who have lived similar experiences in the system, that tends to help. As an older adult now, I think the awareness towards this has become more prevalent in schools. When kids don't understand or really don't know how to address things they are curious/ignorant about, they can be absolutely awful. I hope you are doing better now and have lots of support. If you are still in school, definitely reach out to others (both kids and adults). ❤️

[@melissaking7638]

@@alexisatuatara570 yea I am doing good

[@cindy5995]

💛🌴

[@KeepingItHopeful]

What good deals!