Pregnancy brings the mom-to-be a lot of new things. A new body, new responsibilities, new furnishings for the baby and new clothes for the both of you. There are always stores dedicated strictly to maternity wear but the prices tend to be a bit high. Unless you have a substantial income, it’s hard to justify spending a fortune on clothes you will only wear for a short time. It’s possible you will only wear them once and never wear them again. Don’t be discouraged though, finding cheap maternity clothes is easier than you think.
The first place that comes to mind but may not be obvious to most for cheap maternity clothes is second hand or goodwill stores. Now before you dismiss the quality that usually comes with buying discount maternity clothing at a second hand store, remember that there is a good chance the discount maternity clothes are in really good condition. They will have been worn a lot less than normal clothing for the reason that the need for them lasts only 6 months or so. I would give your local high-end second hand shop a try as well.
Another way to find cheap maternity clothes is to look in the newspaper or one of many online classifieds like Craigslist. Other women who have gone through pregnancy may be looking to sell their gently used collection in order to recoup some of the costs of buying them. EBay is another site to browse, they have hundreds of listings for everything under the sun, even clothing.
Don’t be afraid to put the word out to friends and family that you are looking for clothing. Nearly everyone knows someone who has had a baby, or friends of friends who have gone through pregnancy. Many will be happy to pass their maternity clothing onto an excited expectant mom.
You really don’t need to shop at specialty stores these days. Wal-Mart and JCPenny are good places to get cheap maternity wear. Tops and pants tend to sell for almost half of what you would spend at trendy stores. JC Penny has everything including pants, tops, lingerie, outerwear, shorts and even plus-size maternity wear at very reasonable prices. Tops sell for anywhere between $9 and $28, pants for about $27 and sweaters for under $30. You really can’t get cheaper maternity clothes anywhere.
Mixing and matching could save you a bit as well. Buy a couple of pairs of maternity pants and then find tops at regular clothing shops that have an empire waist or baby doll design. Both of these are flared out in the body and will do just fine as a substitute for maternity tops.
Pregnancy is an amazing experience but if the thought of growing out of your current wardrobe terrifies you, don’t be too worried! More and more stores are realizing that the market for maternity wear is out there and the more affordable stores will have at least a small section dedicated to cheap maternity clothes. Beautifully designed maternity wear doesn’t have to be expensive. With a little imagination, you can look and feel attractive even on a tight budget.