Thrifty vs. Cheap when it comes to kids' stuff (clothes, school supplies, etc..)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ones that are benefiting are the orgs that end up with the cash and the causes they support. That is who you are donating to. If you want to give directly to poor people, find a church or other local group that gives clothes away.

And you're benefitting as well, no? Benefitting from all those great deals on cheap clothes that were donated?

Correct. By gum, I think you got it now!

Whatever helps you sleep at night...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe people making $200K a year really think it's OK to benefit from other people's charitable donations.

I would like you to call up any thrift store and ask if they have a general preference that only people of x-income level threshold shop there. I just went in one today wearing my expensive jewelry so the cashier had to know I wasn't poor. Oh - the horrors!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe people making $200K a year really think it's OK to benefit from other people's charitable donations.

I would like you to call up any thrift store and ask if they have a general preference that only people of x-income level threshold shop there. I just went in one today wearing my expensive jewelry so the cashier had to know I wasn't poor. Oh - the horrors!

Tacky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe people making $200K a year really think it's OK to benefit from other people's charitable donations.

I would like you to call up any thrift store and ask if they have a general preference that only people of x-income level threshold shop there. I just went in one today wearing my expensive jewelry so the cashier had to know I wasn't poor. Oh - the horrors!

Tacky.

Should I not wear my engagement ring when I go into certain stores now? Should I not wear my watch that I wear every day when I go into certain stores now - just because it is a "certain" store? WTF?

[Anonymous]

What's tacky? Wearing expensive jewelry?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ones that are benefiting are the orgs that end up with the cash and the causes they support. That is who you are donating to. If you want to give directly to poor people, find a church or other local group that gives clothes away.

And you're benefitting as well, no? Benefitting from all those great deals on cheap clothes that were donated?

Correct. By gum, I think you got it now!

Whatever helps you sleep at night...

I sleep just fine at night related to where I shop. I feel zero guilt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe people making $200K a year really think it's OK to benefit from other people's charitable donations.

I would like you to call up any thrift store and ask if they have a general preference that only people of x-income level threshold shop there. I just went in one today wearing my expensive jewelry so the cashier had to know I wasn't poor. Oh - the horrors!

Tacky.

Should I not wear my engagement ring when I go into certain stores now? Should I not wear my watch that I wear every day when I go into certain stores now - just because it is a "certain" store? WTF?

If I use a coupon, should I not wear my 5 carat diamond?

[Anonymous]

I feel really good when I can not purchase something new. I am saving natural reasources and keeping things out of landfills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel really good when I can not purchase something new. I am saving natural reasources and keeping things out of landfills.

You also help to support NON big box stores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe people making $200K a year really think it's OK to benefit from other people's charitable donations.

I would like you to call up any thrift store and ask if they have a general preference that only people of x-income level threshold shop there. I just went in one today wearing my expensive jewelry so the cashier had to know I wasn't poor. Oh - the horrors!

Tacky.

Wearing jewelry that costs a lot is tacky? You need a hobby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe people making $200K a year really think it's OK to benefit from other people's charitable donations.

Puhlease...nearly all of us donate household items and clothing to these places to clear out our houses. We aren't doing it because we are focused on where the item will ultimately end up. (If that was the case, we'd be donating $$ not a used 4T shirt.

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

My DS is really hard on his clothing, but we have found that Gymboree has held up the best. The Gymboree in store (and on line) clearance rack has great clothing from $0.97 (yes, under a dollar) to $3. This was great when my kids were babies, good when they were toddlers, and not so great when they are kids, but we still get good deals there.

Costco also has last year hanna andersen fleeces and pjs for a fraction of the cost. I think the fleece wa $9 and the pjs (the expensive organic ones) were $16 (still more than what I normally pay for pjs, but less expensive than the normal ones).

Back to the original poster's question, in some circumstances, you do get what you pay for, and I do invest in a solid backpack and lunch box. Heck, I'm now carrying the LLBean backpack that I bought MANY years ago and now use it as a gym bag. They are pricey, but worth every penny, as long as your kids will hold onto them forever. After spending less on a lunch box that barely lasted a year, I did invest in a Pottery Barn one, and we've had it for three years now, and it is still in great shape.

I also love Osh Kosh. Osh Kosh has special "grandparent days" when it offers even greater discounts to seniors, and my mom will go in and stock up. Two years ago, she bought our DD a bunch of $5 dresses. My DD wore them first year as a dress, second summer as a tunic, and now my niece is wearing them as dresses. And each one of these dresses was a mere $5.

We also make sure to wash our clothing in cold water (so the brights stay bright), and I line dry almost everything.

[Anonymous]

I just pulled out my DH's summer clothes. I got a bunch of cute shorts and ts at H&M for 3$ each. Sharks! Alligators!

when they are outgrown they will go to goodwill and I will shop, probably buy some books and kid clothes. I need better wine glasses too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just pulled out my DH's summer clothes. I got a bunch of cute shorts and ts at H&M for 3$ each. Sharks! Alligators!

when they are outgrown they will go to goodwill and I will shop, probably buy some books and kid clothes. I need better wine glasses too.

According to this thread, you better not do that if you earn a certain amount of money in your household.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe people making $200K a year really think it's OK to benefit from other people's charitable donations.

I would like you to call up any thrift store and ask if they have a general preference that only people of x-income level threshold shop there. I just went in one today wearing my expensive jewelry so the cashier had to know I wasn't poor. Oh - the horrors!

Tacky.

Wearing jewelry that costs a lot is tacky? You need a hobby.

It's pretty obvious that wasn't the PP's point.