Coming out of the closet ...

Welcome to Frugal Friday, where I will attempt to impart wisdom upon my 10 readers so that they can learn to be as fabulously thrifty as me.

Well, not everything.

A girl's got to have some secrets.

I was going to start with the art of couponing, but that is a post (cough novel cough) that will require some advance writing, so I am going to begin in my favorite place -- the closet. It's no secret that I love, love, love buying Collin clothes. And, if I do say so myself, he's one well-dressed bear. I mean, look at that photo -- and that isn't even all of his clothes!

So the natural question is: How on earth can I afford to do this?!

Here's the bottom line. I buy my husband Ralph Lauren shirts; my son looks like a walking Baby Gap ad; I carry designer bags ... and I don't work. Well, at least not 40 hours a week. Well, at least not 40 hours a week that I get paid for. Anyway, back to the point; this isn't Therapeutic Thursday. I know that people wonder how it is that we can afford to eat out and buy new clothes and take vacations when one of us is working -- and one of us is spending.

And in all honesty, I get annoyed by the occasional attitude that pops up about it. I personally don't see how it's anyone's concern how my husband and I spend our money, but you know, some people just have to make their opinions known. It's not like I'm choosing shoes over a new furnace. I don't buy what I can't afford. I'm a smart shopper. I work hard at it. And my family benefits.

I think working in retail on and off for two years in high school/college helped me figure out how to get the best deals and the most bang for my buck. Namely, shopping in the off-season. I know that people say it's too much work, too much to store, etc., but I would rather pay $5 for a $29.50 pair of shorts and find somewhere to put them than pay full price next summer. Besides, we're going to Maui in March and finding summer clothes in what still feels like winter in Washington is no easy task.

True story: As I was being wheeled off to the operating room for my gallbladder removal, I told Chris that if I died, to tell Collin that I love him, to raise him well, and that there was a tub of clothes under the bed for the fall and that he better not forget them. I'm not kidding.

If you want to come and rob my house -- and really, really piss me off -- don't take my TV. Start with the big plastic tub of brand-new, carefully folded Gap and Gymboree clothes. I have amassed quite a collection of clothes for late winter and spring/summer in a 2T at fantastic prices. Pajamas for $4.79. T-shirts for $3.59. (And one that I got today at the Baby Gap for a mere $1.19!)

Granted, Collin could have a big growth spurt -- but that is one reason why I do it. He's going to be in the next size eventually, so if I see something that I want for a good price, especially a good, basic piece, like track pants, jeans or t-shirts, I'm going to snap it up. And slowly, I build a stockpile. But I'm smart about it -- I don't fall into the trap of buying something just because it's cheap. If I wouldn't put it on Collin today, I'm not going to want to do it in six months.

Finding out we were having a boy at the end of December 2008 happened to coincide with The Children Place's big winter clearance sale and Gymboree's Big Red Balloon Sale. So, naturally, I wanted to buy clothes, and did I ever. I did so well that come last fall, Collin needed very little in the way of casual clothes because I got them all for dirt cheap. And I did the same last December -- I knew we were going to Hawaii and would need summer clothes early, so off to Gymboree I went. I managed to outfit Collin in shorts and swimwear for about $4 a pair. Some people wouldn't deign to dig through the red bins, but for me, it's all about the thrill of the hunt.

I have done the same for Chris -- his standard work wardrobe is khaki pants and polo shirts, and I have found that the latter are considered more of a spring/summer item. Therefore, it's easy to find them for dirt cheap once the fall clothes start hitting the racks. All of his shirts are designer -- Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Lacoste -- and I don't think one of them was full price. (Best steal: $9.75 for a RL one in 2006. He still wears it.)

Another way I save money on clothes is by being loyal to stores. I'm not huge on credit cards, but I do have them for the stores I shop at most -- Macy's, Gap and Gymboree (and a Nordstrom debit-type card) and I generally only use them there and then pay them off at the end of the month. That way, I have no debt, but I also accrue points and earn rewards in stores where I spend money. I got Collin's entire line of Gymboree gator clothes for spring for $14.21. No joke. I stacked rewards and a coupon and rocked it. I currently have $90 in Gap rewards on my desk that I have accumulated over time and plan to use them for a winter coat and some pants for Collin. If you are able to be responsible with a credit card, it can really pay off.

And, of course, I use coupons. I refuse to pay full price for most things. I will make exceptions for such items as shoes and bras -- because I will only buy good-fitting, quality ones -- but I am not going to shell out $50 for a sweater that Collin is going to wear for three or four months or jeans that I won't be wearing in 20 pounds.

So I subscribe to e-mail newsletters and get catalogs for the stores where I shop so I know about sales and can weigh the advantages of shopping in-store or online (there are occasionally additional online discounts for Gap and Old Navy). I hold off on some things, such as coats and most shoes, until the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. It's a lot of money all at once, but I'm also loathe to decide I want something a month after it's over and then pay full price.

I also belong to a forum for Gymboree moms that has subfolders for discussion of every children's clothing brand imaginable -- that's where I learned about coupon stacking. I hold onto coupons and use them when there is a sale going to maximize my savings. And, taking it a step forward, I get stores to price-match. Nordstrom is by far the best, and, to my surprise, they actually matched Piperlime's price on the black dress shoes I got Collin for the holidays this year during their recent 30% off Give and Get event. I even bought my last Kate Spade bag with a Friends & Family Coupon -- at Nordstrom. They were happy to do it -- they want my business. I admit that I laugh at people who think coupons are uncool and therefore refuse to use them. Trust me. Saving money is far cooler.

Lastly, I take advantage of deals such as answering questions for a survey on vaccines that earned me gift cards to the retailer of my choice (Baby Gap, in this case) or by writing reviews for Websites such as Viewpoints to get Amazon.com giftcards. Imagine that -- being paid to give your opinion. And there's nothing like buying a pair of See Kai Run shoes and knowing that you didn't pay anything remotely close to full price.

And THAT is how I keep the argyle and the cash flowing at the same time -- all while staying home with one stylish little guy.