Children's consignment sale season! Pop-up sales across the region open starting this month

• The Kids Exchange's website says that ALL shoppers must pre-register through Eventbrite.
• The giant Kids Everywear sale, which is scheduled for September, will move from the Morrisville Outlet Mall to Cary Towne Center this season. At 92,000 square feet, the space is twice as big as the sale's former space in Morrisville, according to its website.

New to consignment sale shopping? Here are a few things to know:

• The sales often are run by local moms or church groups and pop up twice a year - usually January to April or so and July to October or so. The upcoming sales will feature fall and winter gear - think warmer clothes, boots, coats, Christmas dresses and more.
• Go prepared. It's easy to get overwhelmed at these sales because there is so much stuff. Arrive with your children's sizes and what they need. If you can swing it, leave little ones at home - though, now that my kids are older, ages 8 and 13, they always tag along with me. And bring something to haul around all of the loot you pick up - like an empty wagon or stroller.
• Sign up now to volunteer or consign items. Volunteers and consignors get first dibs on all of the items at the sales. And consignors earn a percentage of whatever items they tag and sell at the sale. For several years, when my children were much younger, I spent very little money on their clothes - spending only about as much as I typically sold at each sale.