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

[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.

Some things are, but not all. I hate that there is always someone who has to make the blanket negative statement about something......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I would consider people who shop at thrift shops poor, not cheap.

Please keep thinking this. Please also keep donating your almost-new brand-name stuff to the thrift stores. Because if you didn't, then I couldn't buy it. Thank you!

+1

Our annual HHI is $200K but many of our clothes and household items come from Value Village.

+200

I'm the original poster who said I think people who shop at thrift shops are poor and not cheap.

We currently have a HHI of $700k+. However, we were at $200k a few years ago before DH started earning. I went to a thrift shop once and I felt dirty just being in there. I would not be proud shopping at a thrift shop. Fine if you do.

I feel humble shopping at thrift stores, which is logical because they are pretty grubby. However, I would love to hear what your kids are wearing! And where do you enjoy shopping these days?

[Anonymous]

HHI of $250+, do a lot of shopping at Target and the outlets. For DD (almost 2) I'll shop Carters and Children's Place with coupons (@ CP I tend to average $2 or less for a piece of clothing), Macy's as well.

We try to avoid thrift stores b/c I know there are people who need those items more than we do.

[Anonymous]

I use hand me downs or thrift store purchases for nearly all of my kids' clothing. We have a very high net worth. I figure they'll be happier in years to come with no college debt, parents who have plenty of retirement to support themselves + a large inheritance. But I'm just guessing they'll feel that way.

[Anonymous]

Thrift stores are not charities for poor people. They are fund raisers for the organizations that run them. We have such an over supply of used clothes in this country that many are just sold for textile recycling.

[Anonymous]

You know what, there's a used clothing store for children in my generally very high-income neighborhood. I go there all the time and find good bargains for high-quality brands. They're not cheap (common to find shoes for $10, for example), but they're massively discounted, built-to-last stuff. We go there often. Mostly it's that I like to recycle.

One of the many, many benefits of living close to $$ is that you can get their used stuff.

On the other hand, a visit to Value Village a few miles away requires a lot of patience, if the goal is to find something of high quality. Rare to find very good things in a sea of less-great stuff, and snapped up very quickly.

So I'm not averse to used, but I do want to get things that'll last, rather than landfill stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the many, many benefits of living close to $$ is that you can get their used stuff.

That is my experience as a thrift-store shopper too.

[Anonymous]

I have a baby on the way and have vowed to mostly buy used clothes for them. I buy used for many reasons, to save money, to eliminate waste, and because the majority of new clothes in stores are made with slave labor. I have gone back and forth as to whether it is immoral for a person of my household income to shop at thrifts, but concluded it's fine. I say this because my shopping there creates jobs for low-income workers, reduces the demand for sweatshop clothing, and because I am helping to keep stuff out of landfills. I also have never been to a thrift that was low on clothes, so don't think I stealing good deals from people who can't afford to buy new. I've also noticed that class influences tastes and a lot of high-quality preppy clothes that I buy at thrifts sit in the store until they are discounted because they do not appeal to some lower income patrons. I always give back to the stores I shop at, and do not take more than I need.

For anyone looking for tips on how to save money or thrift shop there is a great blog I follow that gives this info, plus reviews various thrift stores. You can find it here. http://bmorebungalow.blogspot.com/2014/05/around-town-wise-penny.html

[Anonymous]

Children's Clothes are meant to be bought at thrift stores. Children grow so fast, they get dirty and are supposed to drag their clothes through the mud, climb on trees and whatnot - I would never buy my children new, expensive clothes...they will be used, worn out clothes after two weeks of wearing them anyway. And I will rather spend the money saved on more important things that NEED to be great quality like shoes, bicycles, things with safety involved like car seats, strollers...and save money for when the kids get older to be able to buy them more costly items.

[Anonymous]

Classic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously. How much are you saving buying used underwear? I get like a pack of 8 or 10 with characters on it my kids' like for like $10. So in the end, are you really funding a lot of your college fund by using used underwear? I'm the poster who negotiates her bills, but seriously, used underwear?!

Costco is cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know what, there's a used clothing store for children in my generally very high-income neighborhood. I go there all the time and find good bargains for high-quality brands. They're not cheap (common to find shoes for $10, for example), but they're massively discounted, built-to-last stuff. We go there often. Mostly it's that I like to recycle.

One of the many, many benefits of living close to $$ is that you can get their used stuff.

On the other hand, a visit to Value Village a few miles away requires a lot of patience, if the goal is to find something of high quality. Rare to find very good things in a sea of less-great stuff, and snapped up very quickly.

So I'm not averse to used, but I do want to get things that'll last, rather than landfill stuff.

So what is the name of this great store? I am constantly told about great consignment stores and it always turns out that i can get much better stuff one sale + the money they give if you want to sell is ridiculously low.

But maybe this store is different. Do tell!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I use hand me downs or thrift store purchases for nearly all of my kids' clothing. We have a very high net worth. I figure they'll be happier in years to come with no college debt, parents who have plenty of retirement to support themselves + a large inheritance. But I'm just guessing they'll feel that way.

You sound ridiculous unless you have low income (you only mentioned net worth).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a confession to make. I have enough high-quality, clearance clothes to keep my 3 year old dressed until he enters 1st grade...maybe longer. I"m so glad to see others do this "I liked x, it went on clearance, I purchased in next 3 sizes". Makes me feel far less like a crazy hoarder.

Ebay-ers...can you tell us more about how you get good quality for sure? How do you know?

This is fine for a 3 yo. You will stop doing it soon though. Harder to predict sizes and kids start picking their own clothes and refusing to wear the ones you pick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Children's Clothes are meant to be bought at thrift stores. Children grow so fast, they get dirty and are supposed to drag their clothes through the mud, climb on trees and whatnot - I would never buy my children new, expensive clothes...they will be used, worn out clothes after two weeks of wearing them anyway. And I will rather spend the money saved on more important things that NEED to be great quality like shoes, bicycles, things with safety involved like car seats, strollers...and save money for when the kids get older to be able to buy them more costly items.

If you are talking about car seats and strollers you are talking about babies. Nobody cares what they wear. But when your kids are in second grade, you better start buying them real clothes if you can afford to.