Here is a guest post from Nicole Feliciano, Editor and CEO of Momtrends and the Mom Marketing Officer for Totsy.com. When she’s not scoping out fads and fashions, you’ll find her chasing after her two young daughters in Brooklyn, NY. She’s sharing tips on how to dress your family for less in 2010. Take it away, Beth!

The new economy has lead all of us to change our shopping habits. Paying full-price retail just doesn’t seem right. To start the year off on a frugal and fabulous way, here are five tips to dressing your family for less:

1.) Shop Private Sales: Online sites like Tosty.com offer moms the chance to buy the highest quality merchandise at sample sale prices. How do they do it? They make short-term arrangements with manufacturers to buy overstocked merchandise and sell it at steep discounts.

Pro: You’ll save 40-70% off retail
Con: Sales last 24-36 hours and you can’t predict what will go on sale.

2.) Consumer to Consumer Site: Rather than holding a garage sale in the dead of winter, savvy moms clear their closets of gently used and like new baby gear through auction sites. Once you’ve found a reputable seller, make friends and think about contacting her directly for more items. Start out with Ebay, Craigslist or the mom-centric Handmedowns.com.

Pro: Many of these items are like new and deeply discounted.
Con: You can’t count on quality—could get items with stains.

3.) Company Sales: Many retailers have their own websites. By becoming a fan on facebook or twitter, you’ll be the first to know about sales and discount codes. For instance, this holiday season Ann Taylor posted special coupon codes just for their fans.

Pro: Exclusive savings at your favorite stores.
Con: Many emails clogging your in box.

4.) Discount Codes: Before you order anything online always do a quick hunt for coupon codes or free shipping offers. Two of my go-to resources include freeshipping.org and retailmenot.com

Pro: You may get a bigger discount.
Con: One more step in the purchasing process.

5.) Free for All: Freecycle.org is the place to give and take items for FREE. The idea is to cut down on massive waste in the US. You enter your area and are matched with a group. It’s a great place to organize a clothing swap.  You might also hunt for Yahoo group in your area and organize a clothing swap with other parents.

Pro: Who doesn’t love free stuff?
Con: No guarantee on sizes or styles.