As the crisp autumn air turns frosty, it’s time to outfit the family with winter gear. From coats, boots and snowsuits, to hats, scarves and mittens, plus sports equipment for wintry outdoor activities, the costs can really snowball! Getting the entire family ready for this snowy season can be a slippery slope to overspending. These tips will help keep the whole gang warm and cozy while keeping cold cash in your pocket.

• Shop early! After the first snowfall everyone will be scrambling to buy much needed winter items. If you wait too long you may not get the best selection, be forced to buy the wrong size or spend too much.

• Watch for sales. Visit Flyerland.ca to view the flyers for your favourite retailers. Be sure to check the site on Fridays for new stuff on sale and the top selection. National Sports, Bass Pro Shot, Wal-Mart, Mark’s Work Warehouse, Zellers, Sears and more are warming up to winter with bargain prices.

• Buy good quality. If you have several children, be sure to buy the best quality items you can afford so they will last through more than a few winter seasons.

• Swap with friends. Host a potluck dinner and invite friends to swap their children’s clothes from last year. This works especially well if the kids are different ages.

• Choose gently used. Winter clothes are durable and don’t wear very quickly, so for big ticket items try gently used. Stores like Once Upon a Child and Value Village offer first-rate deals on second-hand clothing to keep your little ones toasty warm.

• Try trade-in plans for sports equipment. Kids outgrown their gear so quickly, and with expensive sports like skiing and hockey the costs can really add up. Stores like Play it Again Sports offer plans where you can trade-up to larger sizes on equipment each year, and that can score you great savings.

• Sell items online. Fall is a good time to clean house, so dig out last year’s winter stuff and advertise it online or in the local paper. You can use the money you earn towards purchasing cool new items.

• Shop the end of winter sales. Mark it in your 2010 calendar for February or March to shop the end of winter blowout sales. This is the ideal time to save big on big ticket winter items and avoid the rush next fall.

By Debbie Frye, General Manager, Flyerland.ca