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

[Anonymous]

No you're not required to send in your own stuff. I buy all the time and don't send anything in.
I'm not sure what kind of "service" you used but it wasn't thredup. I have sent in clothes before- only once- and they either buy your stuff or you can have it sent back to you if they don't want it. Very simple.

They include a "cleanout" bag with every purchase if you choose to send in clothes. They make great trash bags.

[Anonymous]

I think the PP with the "boxes" is actually talking about Wittlebee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No you're not required to send in your own stuff. I buy all the time and don't send anything in.
I'm not sure what kind of "service" you used but it wasn't thredup. I have sent in clothes before- only once- and they either buy your stuff or you can have it sent back to you if they don't want it. Very simple.

They include a "cleanout" bag with every purchase if you choose to send in clothes. They make great trash bags.

I think thredup has changed because they used to require that you send in a box for every box you purchased, and that was a total pain in the patooey.

[Anonymous]

Poor reviews for ThreadUP:

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/ThredUP

One review says, "They don't get a rating at all, i found this company accidentally on google and looked to make sure they had secure checkout and were a ligit website and company i placed an order for 24 items to get my daughters started on spring/summer clothes i paid $148.80 which was taken from my visa and i have proof my card was charged and this was on march 6th i was never sent a confirmation email and still have not received any of the items, this company is a complete fraud DON NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM THREDUP ! "

Seems fairly pricey too for used items. Yes, some things may be $10 or $12 but that is an average of $6/piece which seems kind of high for used - but then again, I'm guessing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why all the vitriol? Who cares what someone else does? Must all parenting choices be judged?

She was attacking others and kept asking how much others had saved. She is the one who had a holier than thou attitude.

I'm frugal and have fully funded college funds but my kids still wear new underwear, socks and shoes. They do have some hand me down clothing and toys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why all the vitriol? Who cares what someone else does? Must all parenting choices be judged?

She was attacking others and kept asking how much others had saved. She is the one who had a holier than thou attitude.

I'm frugal and have fully funded college funds but my kids still wear new underwear, socks and shoes. They do have some hand me down clothing and toys.

I read all the threads now. It seems to me that she was being attacked. No? Do you really care how someone clothes their kid? Good grief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why all the vitriol? Who cares what someone else does? Must all parenting choices be judged?

She was attacking others and kept asking how much others had saved. She is the one who had a holier than thou attitude.

I'm frugal and have fully funded college funds but my kids still wear new underwear, socks and shoes. They do have some hand me down clothing and toys.

+1 and if you are really making $1 million (which I doubt) and buying your kids used underwear I'm sure that you aren't exactly being generous with charity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get this, we make 7 figure combine HHI and I not only shop at Goodwill, but also the Goodwill OUTLET! And the Salvatjon Army, which on Wednesdays has 25% off everything. I don't mind taking handing me downs clothes or furniture. I definitely play it forward by offering my hand me downs to others for free. How do you think some people stay well off!

There is nothing dirty about thrift stores, how is that different from antiques or vintage clothing? Some people on here sound like label whores (for lack of a better term), like people who walk around with price tags off their clothes. look at me, see how much I spent for my clothes! It's dumb.

This is pretty much us...just under a million dollar HHI. We max out retirements, have 175k in each of our kids' 529s (oldest kid is 6), and my kids wear name brand thrift-shop purchases Daily. I don't skimp on just them...I just try to buy on sale, use coupons when daily possible...like yogurt...one or two per shopping trip, and we save! My kids' clothes are then used by my sisters' kids and then donated to Goodwill or a church where they are shipped to El Salvador. I have a pretty confident feeling that my DD could careless she wore a previously used nice looking Nordestom dress in 2013 when it is 2025 and she starts college with everything paid for or it is 2045 and she doesn't have to support her parents.

I am being very honest here and not snarky at all - I feel like I could learn a lot about money from both of you. Our HHI is much much lower, but we try to buy on sale, use coupons when possible, and I also shop at consignment stores. We also donate back as well. It has taken me a long, long time to learn that if I blow all of our income on brand new items that we will always be perpetually spending and not saving- and never be well off. There have been many, many studies on the mindset and socio norms of those with incomes and net worth of seven figures or greater- and I am trying to learn a lot about money management from those because my own parents were and still are the label whores and spenders. So any advice you could share, I for one would be all ears!

I'm the second poster - the one beginning with "This is pretty much us..". These are little ways I save: a) I look at what is on sale at a grocery store that week and try to make it there. My kids eat a ton of fresh produce and it is very expensive. If grapes are on sale for $.99/lb somewhere, I will go there just for grapes IF it is on my way somewhere else. I wouldn't drive out of my way for grapes. b) I look for ways to save money by looking for coupon codes for things like buying contacts online, rental cars (for those, after I book a rate, I'm looking repeatedly over the internet to shave money off if the deal gets better); c) I never, every buy a new piece of clothing for my kids UNLESS it is for part of a sports uniform, sporting equipment, etc. This includes shoes, socks, underwear, etc. (MANY of those things are hand me downs - but I can't even see spending $10 on a pair of rainboots when I can them for $3 or less. I figure if a pair of kids' shoes new is $40 on average and you add tennis shoes, rain boots, snow boots, sandals, crocs x 2 times per year for size changes, that is $400/year. If I did that for 10 years, that is $4,000 on SHOES for goodness sakes. So instead I buy them for $1-$3/pair, and I buy them ALL the time! I buy the next sizes up and keep them in a box stored. I do the same for kids' hats, socks, clothing, etc. $4,000 in shoes saved over 10 years + $10,000 in clothes saved over 10 years (modest estimate for 2 kids I think) is $14,000 in my pocket that would have taken me $20,000 to earn (after taxes I'd have $14,000 or so). I have bought coupons off of Ebay for things I buy a lot - milk, yogurt, etc. I don't use coupons that often but do use them. I buy a lot of gifts for the upcoming birthday year (not my own kids but for the bday parties they attend) usually in Dec. when there are a ton of sales. I don't spend more than $10/gift but they are usually $20-$30 items. I NEVER buy a birthday gift for a bday party last minute - that alone would be annoying to me and another wasted $10 more than I want so spend. Again, let's say my kids go to 25 birthday parties a year - that's another $250 in savings at least. I buy most of my kids' presents for the holidays throughout the year at thrift shops. I count to make sure pieces are there - and look on amazon at reviews of a product before I buy it. I wrap and then put them away). My kids don't have electronic games (huge money and time zapper). I don't pay for games on the ipad. On the flip side: we travel and spend a great deal on that. We go out to eat when we want - but if I have a coupon, I'll use it. We have several rental properties - which bring in money but also cost money. I think the main idea is that you look at buying things last minute versus planning ahead. picking what is important to you IN THE FUTURE and what you can shave off now.

I think you need to see a mental health professional if you earn so much and your poor kids have used socks, underware and shoes. I also think your husband makes the money. Seriously please get some help before your kids grow up messed up and spend spend spend.

Oh...and I'm a lawyer, and earn plenty.

And your kids wear used underwear. Gross.

Yep...from an older cousin. Ewwww (not). Again, how much in your kids' 529s? Lets ask our kids 13 years from now who is glad how their parents shopped 13 years before...yours or mine? Mine will have all school paid for, will never have to financially support us, have a large inheritance distributed at certain ages, and even a trust set up to pay for THEIR kids' school. But you're right....they will not be happy I chose this path for them.

Yes college and trust funds were all funded through the power of used underwear! OMG I have been such a fool, just think I could have millions saved now if only I didn't buy my daughter new socks and underwear. God you are such a financial genius!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why all the vitriol? Who cares what someone else does? Must all parenting choices be judged?

She was attacking others and kept asking how much others had saved. She is the one who had a holier than thou attitude.

I'm frugal and have fully funded college funds but my kids still wear new underwear, socks and shoes. They do have some hand me down clothing and toys.

+1 and if you are really making $1 million (which I doubt) and buying your kids used underwear I'm sure that you aren't exactly being generous with charity.

Wrong...not only do we give tons to charity(dollars, not just items), but we have 2 charities who will receive gifts from our estates when we die.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get this, we make 7 figure combine HHI and I not only shop at Goodwill, but also the Goodwill OUTLET! And the Salvatjon Army, which on Wednesdays has 25% off everything. I don't mind taking handing me downs clothes or furniture. I definitely play it forward by offering my hand me downs to others for free. How do you think some people stay well off!

There is nothing dirty about thrift stores, how is that different from antiques or vintage clothing? Some people on here sound like label whores (for lack of a better term), like people who walk around with price tags off their clothes. look at me, see how much I spent for my clothes! It's dumb.

This is pretty much us...just under a million dollar HHI. We max out retirements, have 175k in each of our kids' 529s (oldest kid is 6), and my kids wear name brand thrift-shop purchases Daily. I don't skimp on just them...I just try to buy on sale, use coupons when daily possible...like yogurt...one or two per shopping trip, and we save! My kids' clothes are then used by my sisters' kids and then donated to Goodwill or a church where they are shipped to El Salvador. I have a pretty confident feeling that my DD could careless she wore a previously used nice looking Nordestom dress in 2013 when it is 2025 and she starts college with everything paid for or it is 2045 and she doesn't have to support her parents.

I am being very honest here and not snarky at all - I feel like I could learn a lot about money from both of you. Our HHI is much much lower, but we try to buy on sale, use coupons when possible, and I also shop at consignment stores. We also donate back as well. It has taken me a long, long time to learn that if I blow all of our income on brand new items that we will always be perpetually spending and not saving- and never be well off. There have been many, many studies on the mindset and socio norms of those with incomes and net worth of seven figures or greater- and I am trying to learn a lot about money management from those because my own parents were and still are the label whores and spenders. So any advice you could share, I for one would be all ears!

I'm the second poster - the one beginning with "This is pretty much us..". These are little ways I save: a) I look at what is on sale at a grocery store that week and try to make it there. My kids eat a ton of fresh produce and it is very expensive. If grapes are on sale for $.99/lb somewhere, I will go there just for grapes IF it is on my way somewhere else. I wouldn't drive out of my way for grapes. b) I look for ways to save money by looking for coupon codes for things like buying contacts online, rental cars (for those, after I book a rate, I'm looking repeatedly over the internet to shave money off if the deal gets better); c) I never, every buy a new piece of clothing for my kids UNLESS it is for part of a sports uniform, sporting equipment, etc. This includes shoes, socks, underwear, etc. (MANY of those things are hand me downs - but I can't even see spending $10 on a pair of rainboots when I can them for $3 or less. I figure if a pair of kids' shoes new is $40 on average and you add tennis shoes, rain boots, snow boots, sandals, crocs x 2 times per year for size changes, that is $400/year. If I did that for 10 years, that is $4,000 on SHOES for goodness sakes. So instead I buy them for $1-$3/pair, and I buy them ALL the time! I buy the next sizes up and keep them in a box stored. I do the same for kids' hats, socks, clothing, etc. $4,000 in shoes saved over 10 years + $10,000 in clothes saved over 10 years (modest estimate for 2 kids I think) is $14,000 in my pocket that would have taken me $20,000 to earn (after taxes I'd have $14,000 or so). I have bought coupons off of Ebay for things I buy a lot - milk, yogurt, etc. I don't use coupons that often but do use them. I buy a lot of gifts for the upcoming birthday year (not my own kids but for the bday parties they attend) usually in Dec. when there are a ton of sales. I don't spend more than $10/gift but they are usually $20-$30 items. I NEVER buy a birthday gift for a bday party last minute - that alone would be annoying to me and another wasted $10 more than I want so spend. Again, let's say my kids go to 25 birthday parties a year - that's another $250 in savings at least. I buy most of my kids' presents for the holidays throughout the year at thrift shops. I count to make sure pieces are there - and look on amazon at reviews of a product before I buy it. I wrap and then put them away). My kids don't have electronic games (huge money and time zapper). I don't pay for games on the ipad. On the flip side: we travel and spend a great deal on that. We go out to eat when we want - but if I have a coupon, I'll use it. We have several rental properties - which bring in money but also cost money. I think the main idea is that you look at buying things last minute versus planning ahead. picking what is important to you IN THE FUTURE and what you can shave off now.

I think you need to see a mental health professional if you earn so much and your poor kids have used socks, underware and shoes. I also think your husband makes the money. Seriously please get some help before your kids grow up messed up and spend spend spend.

Oh...and I'm a lawyer, and earn plenty.

And your kids wear used underwear. Gross.

Yep...from an older cousin. Ewwww (not). Again, how much in your kids' 529s? Lets ask our kids 13 years from now who is glad how their parents shopped 13 years before...yours or mine? Mine will have all school paid for, will never have to financially support us, have a large inheritance distributed at certain ages, and even a trust set up to pay for THEIR kids' school. But you're right....they will not be happy I chose this path for them.

ha ha ha...not

Yes college and trust funds were all funded through the power of used underwear! OMG I have been such a fool, just think I could have millions saved now if only I didn't buy my daughter new socks and underwear. God you are such a financial genius!

[Anonymous]

I get Banana Republic and Ann Taylor / Loft blazers from ThredUp all the time. I order 1-3 times/month and never have a problem. Considering blazers brand new are $150, buying them in like new condition for $30 is a steal.
I know their sizes, I know they last + are in great condition. It works for me. And I can buy my kids extra shorts and tshirts at the same time.

[Anonymous]

What a thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a thread.

Indeed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find that as my kids get older, they're rougher with their stuff. Lunch bags get banged around; backpacks get dragged; pants split at the knees or get stained; shirts are stretched out; shoes really do get worn out... I recommend darning or otherwise salvaging what you can, and replacing what you can't. And have one or two "nice outfits" that the kids can't wear except for mostly-clean occasions.

Do you have boys?
My experience is quite the opposite, as my DD gets older, her stuff holds up longer.

I have the same experience as the original PP. Stuff gets worn out much more than it did in early childhood. I think it's that they wear the clothes much longer and that much more is demanded of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You put Target and the Dollar Store in the same category?

Yeah I do. Target stuff is cheap as hell, IMO.

Just clothing and shoes.