Back to school from thrift store

[Anonymous]

I buy almost all my kid’s clothes at thrift stores. His down winter coat cost me $8 instead of $100. That’s pretty awesome. I can afford the $100, but why? Every game/puzzle that we have was $1 there. My entire classroom’s “flexible seating” (yoga balls/wobble chairs/stools) was purchased there.

I don’t even see the issue with the water bottle, personally. The dishwasher will sterilize the lid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s been a year of semi home school and we are now heading back to in person. Would you buy used back to school items from the thrift store. Especially during the pandemic with Covid? Or is the surface transmission over rated?

Wifey buying for our kids used coats, shoes, stationery, water bottles, backpacks etc. It isn’t that we don’t have any but why would you want to replace your own ($5 plastic one) that you got new with maybe a used hydroflask but spout has been put to lips of another kid (and it even has teethmarks too?!) Even my daughter is like ewww but she forces it on her anyway! or replace a coat that isn’t branded that works with a north face that has another kids name written in sharpie?

Sad to say we differ in opinion but wifey is adamant that we need to get back to school from the thrift store! Is Covid a concern to you?

Sorry, dude, you’re wrong about this one and your “wifey” (gag) is right. Used high quality is better than new cheap, not to mention thriftier and better for the environment. Buy a new spout if it bugs you. COVID is a non issue.

Better luck next time you come here to complain about her!

[Anonymous]

I contend that you never need to buy the following new/all can be found in thrift stores because all are new and unopened:

-pencils, Post It notes, crayons, filler paper, index cards, binder clips, staples, highlighters


Clothing? Hot water wash and dry and you’re all set.

As PP mentioned, recycle or toss old water bottle parts bit hot water wash the actual vessel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wifey??

Yeah, I couldn’t get past that, either.

Same.
Sounds to me like thrifting is the surface issue, but not the real issue.

[Anonymous]

- A sticker name tag over the sharpie name of the previous owner will fix the perceived indignity of wearing something with someone else's name. Dad's attitude adjustment about the principle would go a long way as well!
- My concern about the hydroflask with the teeth marks isn't the ick factor, or covid, but that old plastic, particularly if it's been in the dishwasher and chewed on, can start leaching plastic overtime. I wouldn't want my kids to ingest that.

- Surface transmission would be more of an issue while doing the shopping. Presumably everything that comes home from a thrift store gets washed/disinfected.

[Anonymous]

covid has lipid membrane so it should die in ordinary soap

[Anonymous]

We definitely do thrift store for books and clothing. I don’t buy luggage or furniture there anymore because of drugs (my brother is a LEO and made us stop) but I never would have bought a used water bottle there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have plenty of money to buy new

Thanks for letting us know!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We definitely do thrift store for books and clothing. I don’t buy luggage or furniture there anymore because of drugs (my brother is a LEO and made us stop) but I never would have bought a used water bottle there.

Because of residue, or because it could still be hidden in there? Do that apply to purses?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a huge thrift store person. 90% of my kids clothes come from there. I would rather have a North Face or Columbia coat that’s used that will keep her warm than a New Target Coat. Plus if she loses her thrift store coat or gets a hole in it I’m not upset. You can cross out sharpie and put your own label over it. and in my experience most clothes do not have names in them, some yes, but it’s not the majority. I would not buy a used water bottle though personally.

You know that North Face and Columbia aren't any warmer that Target coats, right? it's all hype and marketing.
You do you, of course, but I find wearing someone else's worn clothes totally off-putting. It's one thing if you're broke and can't afford new stuff but if you aren't.

[Anonymous]

It's pretty entertaining to read posts from 'environmentally conscious' mommies who buy used undies to 'help the planet' while living in oversized McMansions and driving monstrous SUVs around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We definitely do thrift store for books and clothing. I don’t buy luggage or furniture there anymore because of drugs (my brother is a LEO and made us stop) but I never would have bought a used water bottle there.

Because of residue, or because it could still be hidden in there? Do that apply to purses?

Both. There can be cocaine dust spilled on the cover of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and there can be oxy pills forgotten in a pocket of a Michael Kors bag!

[Anonymous]

I think everything on 'wifey's ' list sounds good EXCEPT the water bottles, ugh!!! Please, in a pandemic, buy those NEW.

I use Lysol Antibacterial detergent (get gross at work) so you can use that to wash the items.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's pretty entertaining to read posts from 'environmentally conscious' mommies who buy used undies to 'help the planet' while living in oversized McMansions and driving monstrous SUVs around.

And they're sure to tell us they're not broke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a huge thrift store person. 90% of my kids clothes come from there. I would rather have a North Face or Columbia coat that’s used that will keep her warm than a New Target Coat. Plus if she loses her thrift store coat or gets a hole in it I’m not upset. You can cross out sharpie and put your own label over it. and in my experience most clothes do not have names in them, some yes, but it’s not the majority. I would not buy a used water bottle though personally.

You know that North Face and Columbia aren't any warmer that Target coats, right? it's all hype and marketing.
You do you, of course, but I find wearing someone else's worn clothes totally off-putting. It's one thing if you're broke and can't afford new stuff but if you aren't.

Cheap brands break down faster, on average. If something survived to make it to the thrift store, it speaks for its quality.