5 Reasons I Thrift My Kid’s Clothes

Over the past few years, buying second hand has become not only a hobby for me, but a way of life. I’ve learned that most anything needed for our wardrobes and home decorating needs can be found at thrift stores and garage sales.

When it comes to buying clothes for my kids I always try to shop at the thrift store first and here’s why:

1 – I SAVE CA$H MONEY

Most items fall into the $2-$4 range. That includes shorts, pants, shirts, jackets, pajamas, onesies, and shoes.  And most thrift stores offer 50% off certain items each day, so it’s often even less!

2 – THE CLOTHES ARE SO FRESH AND SO CLEAN CLEAN (AND SO NEW)

A common misconception of thrift stores is that clothes will be smelly, dirty, stained, stretched, or ripped. Not always the case! Some stores, like Goodwill, inspect all the clothes before they are taken out to the sales floor and only the best items make the cut. I often find items that look like they’ve never been worn! Kids grow so fast that people are constantly donating clothes that were only worn once or twice… sometimes the tags are still on!

3 – GROWING, GROWING… GONE!

There are certain items kids will only wear a handful of times in a season before they grow out of it; sports apparel, dressy clothes for weddings/events/church, snow pants and boots, and costumes. It would pain me to spend a lot of money on something and see it only worn once or twice. All of these items can be bought at thrift store for nearly 90% off what you’d pay at retail.

4 – MY BOYS ARE {NOT} SO FANCY

I have three boys under the age of 6 and they’re in the fast lane to getting covered in toothpaste, dirt, yogurt, juice, spit-up, pee, and grass stains. And I don’t care! And that’s because I didn’t spend a fortune on their clothes.

5 – IN n’ OUT

I rarely apply any sentimental or monetary value to thrifted clothes. This makes it really easy to toss them in a bag and donate them back to Goodwill after we are done with them.  No time wasted attempting to re-sell them and get our money back, and no space taken up by storing and keeping them for “a friend that might have a boy” or “the grandsons I might have one day.” We thrift it. Wear it. Donate it. Repeat.

Next time you’re in need of new clothes for your kids, try your local thrift store first! You’ll save a ton of money, and you won’t care so much next time they wipe their ketchup-covered hands all over their white shirt.