Reply to Earning Well but Drowning in Debt...how to dig out?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My bet is that OP went out and bought all 3 kids brand new boots, snow pants, jackets, mittens, hats, new sleds, new shovels just their size and blew $250 because it's snowing and the kids wanted to go outside for 15 minutes[/quote]
Impossible to buy all of the above for 3 kids for $250.[/quote]

Agreed, and for the record, my two have been outside for hours and hours. I have the dryer running non stop.not od wet into dry and repeat.

I'm certainly not going to hate on patents who want to warmly clothe their children.[/quote]

You can warmly clothe your child for much less. I got snow pants for $5 and boots for $3 at a consignment sale. I think that was pp's point. [/quote]

Get those bargains at a consignment sale/thrift store requires:
1) Being there when the store's open (they often close @ 5) 
2) Happening to see something in your kids' sizes -- you won't go 3-for-3, but maybe 1-for-3 and 2-for-3. So then there's 2-3 trips to different stores
3) Beating out Everyone Else for the stuff in your desired sizes and that isn't horribly inappropriate for whatever reason (e.g. something from 1985).

Maybe doable for a SAHM with a preschooler or whose kids are all in school. But a woman working 40+ hours a week is supposed to do her consignment/thrift shopping when, exactly? I hardly think most dual-income families want to spend their weekends combing over thrift stores.

This is something where the time spent looking for bargains can really add up. [/quote]

Exactly!  There is no way in hell I'm going to take the time to drive out of my way and browse through a giant (or tiny but jam packed) store on the off chance I might find a pair of boots in the correct size that are not too worn out.

Not to mention that a lot of second hand things (either at consignment or yard sales) are higher-end things that I would not have purchased in the first place and the price is higher (much higher sometimes) than what I can get at The Children's Place, especially with coupons and free shipping.

[/quote]

Well you've already dismissed the idea so not sure what else I can say. I was tuned in to a big consignment sale that happens a few times a year in my area. Starts after work during a weekday so no problem getting there. I got some really great things and it certainly didn't involve the level of commitment your describing. It involved driving there after work two or three times a year. 
I wish someone had told me how easy it was earlier when I was paying full price for kid clothes and gear. It has saved me tons in the early childhood years. 
I used to think like you about the time and effort but if you focus on one sale or stopping into a consignment store now and then you might be surprised. [/quote]

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