If you need to stock up on kids clothes and accessories for fall and winter, and do it on a tight budget, this is the weekend. Four consignment sales will be held this weekend in Eagan, St. Louis Park, Stillwater and Woodbury.

Kids semi-annual sales are a huge trend. According to sale organizer Henriette Roe, " The organizer(s) of the sale event brings together sellers, often over 100, and shoppers to one big sale. The sales events are usually only for two or three days in the spring and fall with season appropriate items. Consignors (sellers) prepare their own items and make their own prices. They keep a higher percentage of their sales compared to traditional consignment stores and they don't have to go through the hassle of advertising and working their own garage sale, or posting their items one by one on Craigslist or e-bay.
Shoppers can find a wide variety of Kid's items all under one roof that are usually screened for quality. They don't have to drive around town to different garage sales where it's a hit-or-miss on what items they might find, and in what shape, as the sales have quality standards.
The average sale has everything from strollers, highchairs, bouncy seats, swings, excersaucers, cribs and changing tables, any kind of toy you can think of, to diaper bags, bedding, infant and kids clothes, and maternity clothes. Where appropriate for the season you can also find snow pants, winter coats, snow boots, and Halloween Costumes."

Here are the sales. Sunday is half-price day (Saturday at the Just Between Friends sale). All the good toys, strollers etc. will be long gone, but clothes will still be plentiful.

Just Between Friends, Bielenberg Sports Center, 4125 Radio Drive, Woodbury, 763-226-5526,
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 (half-price day).

Go Fish, The Rec Center, 3700 Monterey Dr., St. Louis Park, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Sept. 19 ($1 admission) and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday Sept. 20 (half-price day).

Munchkin Markets, Washington County Fairgrounds, 12300 40th St., Stillwater, 651-253-0897, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Sept. 19 ($1 admission or free with non-perishable food item) and 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, Sept. 20 (half price day).

Spoiled Little Rascals, Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Parkway, Eagan, 651-423-9578, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Sept. 19 ($1 admission) and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept 20 (half-price day).

Other sales:

A&W All American Food (3006 Rice St., Little Canada) turns back root beer prices to a nickel through Sept. 30 for its 90th anniversary. I was unable to confirm if the offer is at all A7W restaurants.

Biermaier's books (809 SE. 4th St., Minneapolis, 612-378-0129), one of the oldest and largest used bookstores
in the Twin Cities, will discount all of its 100,000 books 50 percent through Saturday. Sept. 19. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5:30. Cash or checks only.

Cooks of Crocus Hill stock up event. Save up to 25 percent on all the essentials for fall and holiday entertaining at the Edina store (3925 W. 50th St., 952-285-1903) and St. Paul (877 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651-228-1333) through Sunday.

General Store tent sale (14401 Hwy. 7, Minnetonka, 952-935-7131). Save 50 percent or more on home decor, gifts, and seasonal items that are one-of-a-kind, overstock or scratch and dent. Hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday Sept. 20. Numbers will be given out to those in line at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

Herberger's Goodwill sale is a great way to get a discount on items that never go on sale, including cosmetics, certain designer brands and electronics. Donate any clean, gently used clothing or home textiles and receive
coupons toward purchase of new items. Receive one coupon per item good for 20 percent off any item except electronics, furniture, luggage, mattresses, rugs, small electrics, cosmetics and Tech Trek, which get a 10 or 15 percent discount. The coupons may not be used on clearance or Incredible Values items. Donated items benefit Goodwill/Easter Seals programs in Minnesota. The sale continues through Sept. 29.

And now for the sale to miss: Furniture Minnesota's Going out of business sale (967 Payne Av., St. Paul, 651-774-7070). This is sad news indeed. I don't know the details that got the company into financial difficulty,