Can you believe it? The other day I was actually accused of being ‘not frugal’ because I don’t buy second hand kids clothes (as if it’s a competition!)
I know a lot of people that love to shop through second-hand and vintage stores. I am not one of them. I barely have the patience to shop through the racks at Winners (which are so worth it) so I don’t think that I would bode well shopping through the racks of clothes and other items in a second-hand store.
For me, it’s just not worth it. Here’s an example that I give. A friend of mine was ecstatic the other day after she was shopping at GoodWill and found a pair of Thyme maternity pants that was only $10 and was practically new. Maternity pants can be expensive - you would think that she got a good deal, right?
No, I don’t think that she did.
Before we went to Mexico this year I went to Thyme and picked up some shorts and a pair of white pants off of the clearance racks. The shorts were $7 each and the white pants $9.99.
Second example, Have you seen the prices at Value Village? I haven’t really been in there in years and years so I’m not super current with the prices but even years ago I remember it being overpriced. I can buy a toddler Roxy Shirt, Hurley Shirt and other brand-names for around $6-7 a shirt. Considering that you are likely paying a few dollars at Value Village or Once Upon a Child, I would go with the new shirt.
Why?
I can sell a gently worn kids Roxy, Hurley or other brand-name shirt for $5 on Kijiji. No problem (meaning that my overall cost for the shirt was only a couple of dollars once it has been sold after we have gently worn it).
For this reason, I don’t buy second-hand clothes.
When you can shop around at the end of the season and use sales and promotions to save on the cost of kids clothes - and turn around and sell these clothes once you’re finished with them - why buy second hand clothes? Instead I shop end of season for trendy and brand name kid stuff, staying a size ahead for the next year and with diligence am paying similar amounts to second-hand.
What about you? Do you buy second-hand kids clothes? Where do you find the best deals? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Note: By no means am I against buying second-hand clothing, I am just stating that buying new clothing can be extremely frugal (depending how you shop).
I LOVE summer because of all the garage sales! My kids are growing so fast I can’t even keep up! Most garage sales are great. Some are rip offs! Most of the time you are paying for a label, not the fabric or quality.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with selling clothes or any item on Kijiji, at garage sales or etc. In an earlier post someone noted that “Those people trying to make a profit and pay bills by selling their used stuff are annoying”. This is a bit harsh and judgemental. In my mind it is being resourceful and smart! What I cannot sell I then donate to charity. If you think making money off of used items is annoying - then I am guessing you have never purchased a used car or a resale home.
Thank you to the person who commented at 12:10 pm on May 30. I try to apply the same logic to all of the things I am frugally-tempted to buy - what kind of “footprint” does it leave? Do I even need it?
I take bags of clothes to the thrift store all the time.. and there’s no bed bugs here. But of course I still wash the clothes as soon as you get them home too & I will shop at the Thrift store in town here pretty much only when they have bag sales. $5 for a bag of clothes. Do you know how many kid clothes you can fit in those bags lol. And I must admit, I do look for brand name clothes, and if it is really cute lol. You would never know by looking at my kids that I actually bought them from a thrift store. Most of the clothes look brand new when I get them. My oldest needed jeans, we pretty much have walmart here to choose from.. I debated on getting this one pair.. decided not too.. Here I go to the thrift store and found the exact pair with the tag on it & it was bag sale. Definately the better deal!
Two words: BED BUGS!!!
what a very well written comment in that last post from 12.10pm. That’s why we prefer hand-me-downs or items from I’ve Outgrown It sales for our little guy. Much more socially and environmentally friendly, and I hate to think of what’s involved for a t-shirt to only be $3 at Walmart!
Great point!
Sometimes being frugal isn’t always the socially or environmentally friendly thing to do. Think about the price tag of the cheapness of your clothes and where they are made before bragging about the great deal. Somebody made those inexpensive clothes for you in a factory far far away for very little. It’s nice that your kids have nice looking clothes, but don’t put second hand clothes stores down so quickly. They contribute to charity, keep clothes out of landfills and cut down on waste or the need to farm our fashion needs out of country to sweat shops a little bit.
I agree with you that some of the prices at the 2nd hand places are out of control.
2nd hand should be 75-80% off a new price at the minimum.
I find it’s really hard to shop for boys clothing all the stores have all these girls clothes on sale but have very limited stock for boys even on-line shopping I can barely find anything and when I do they never have my son’s size. I shop at once upon a child and go for there clearance and I think they are pretty reasonable price wise. I also shop at old navy and H&M but I usually run into the issue of barely any boys clothes. If you can suggest some stores for more boys clothes that would be greatly appreciated. If I could afford it I would fly to Vegas and go shopping at the outlet stores and come back with 2 years of clothing for my son.
One of my frugal tips is shopping at baby/kids sales. I find so many great deals! People want to get rid of their baby stuff and kids clothes some new! I just went in my first baby sale and was more than willing to be bartered with. So ladies keep your eyes open for those sales there are great deals to be had:)
I agree that you can find good prices when shopping end of season and clearance. Old Navy is always sending 15-30% off coupons, and combining with Superbucks usually means a good deal. I also buy used clothing off of Kijiji, but only in large lots. I can’t be bothered to pick up three or four items for a savings of a dollar or two per item. I usually go with the “50 items for $50″ kind of deals to make it worth my while.
I picked up sweatshirts at old navy a few weeks ago for $0.47 and pants for $0.98 when they had 50% off clearance! I agree the consignment shops are expensive generally and I get far better deals on the clearance racks, also this enables me to turn around and sell these clothes myself at consignment when they are finished with. I have got some good bargains at garage sales & charity shops over the years too.
I have gotton Roxy shirts for9.99 lots at Costco.Hurley etc.in fact they have Roxy shirts for 9.99 right now! Boys Nike shirts and ocean pacific for the same before. They have ffila jackets in for 19 right now. Santana Capris for 19 and Calvin Klein. The childrens place outlet on the south side e every time I was there in the morning first thing have 1 to 4 dollar areas. Goodwill snd value village ate you kidding me way to Much.
I definately don’t buy from Value Village because they are so high priced! I watch for end of season clearance racks, especially the ones that offer and extra 50% off the lowest ticketed price. That said, I will still buy second hand if I come across a great deal. This past weekend I came across a garage sale where the woman was selling GREAT CONDITION clothes that would fit my 3 year old boy this year and next year. Each piece was .50 cents. I spent $20 and walked about with over 40 pieces of clothing for him. My sister picked up Children’s Place clothing in near perfect condition from a difference garage sale that day for $1.00 a piece. I also purchase alot of my kids clothes from Costco.
I’ve found that small town second hand stores will often have the best deals, they rarely sell clothing items for more than $5. No chain stores like VV for me. I make the rounds of all the small town stores in my area about 1-2 times a month. I only buy the best quality, new looking and often is new stuff. I’ve gotten things like a Moby wrap for $1, $100+ set of brand new cloth diapers for $10 and Adidas Coat for $3. I got O’Neil and ..co-lab.. Purses for $1 each and they were new as far as I could tell. I do buy new too, but only on sale and only if I can’t find it 2nd hand.
I shop at GW and Garage sales for alot of my family’s clothes.I buy only brand name and pay dirt cheap prices (2.00 for a brand new Mexx Snow suit!!) and when my kids outgrow them I can sell most of the to OUAC. I end up paying next to nothing for great brand name clothes! Much better than the crap you can find on clearance or at Walmart.
Another thing to remember is to check labels on where items are made. I prefer made in Canada or USA because I think it’s an atrocity to employ those huge companies who only pay the poor old lady in china ten cents a day to make something that will sell for $100! Clothing is rarely worth the price we pay for it.
Rarely value village has good prices. I go on 50% off day but still only come away with little. If I do buy something there it has be under a certain price and condition. Clearance racks are awesome! I also find that I like garage sales and second hand because I am not trendy and hate the fashions right now. I must be getting old!
Buying at VV or OUAC is only one way to buy used, and I agree VV is a rip off. There is often a lot to pick through for not much savings. VV is a publicly traded, for profit company (unlike Goodwill and many local second hand stores with much better prices). I find the best savings buying clothes second hand from sellers directly, either at garage sales or on Kijiji. Yes it does take some picking through, good luck, buying for the next year/season etc. However, at $0.50 or $1 an item, it’s worth it. My kids are also very hard on their clothes so reselling them is not an option.
I do a combination of new and used for our son. Re-selling isn’t an option because we pass the clothes on to a nephew (our daughter receives hand-me-downs from our niece). I bought most our sons jeans at WalMart, this year, as they were $8 and they came in “slim fit”. I also found a couple of pants at the thrift store for $0.50 each. I have also shopped Landsend.com for clearance items. It’s good quality and they also have “slim fit” for boys.
Another frugal note: as our son moves into a new size, we keep his older clothes for “play clothes” as he outgrows only the length.
I shop at thrift stores. I have three growing kids, I could care less what the brand is. The reasons I shop at thrift stores are because I’m not rich, it’s better for the environment (a lot of those clothes would be in the landfill) and because the money always goes to a good cause. I’d rather not line someone ones pockets on Kijiji and hear them go on and on about how much they paid for this brand and that. Really? It’s Kijiji, get over it. Same with garage sales. Those people trying to make a profit and pay bills by selling their used stuff are annoying.
I love love love FB consignment. Second hand… Still cheap… And from the comfort of my own home!!
@Jacida - I get all of Toddlers Roxy t-shirts, baby Roxy t-shirts for $7 from Roxy.com (ALWAYS FREE SHIPPING!!!) and I check the clearance sales every week for her size and find cheap, cheap Tees. I sort the sales lowest to highest price and go from there. The key is to check it regularly. Often, the same shirts are still nearly $20 at Roxy in SEC. Hurley tees, Ebay (combine shipping to lower price) usually $6-7 and finally, Winners where I find them quite often for $7.99 (Hurley). Costco most recently had Hurley/Roxy toddler/kid dresses for $9.99 too. Clearance sales are awesome!
Aha! I googled it. Mennonite thrift shop: http://thrift.mcc.org/shops/edmonton-mcc-thrift-shop
I’ve found a few good facebook consigment ‘stores’. When I buy second hand its often the items missing from the kids wardrobe or a something from a high end line that the kids wouldn’t get otherwise (my daughter LOVES triple flip and getting it on sale is hit and miss). I agree often the sale price is better then a second hand price and if its in good condition you can resell it-. Its all just a matter of right place right time.
What is MCC?
I buy at V.V./Once upon a Child. I agree however, that prices are outrageous and if I could find somewhere else to shop I would! lol
Where can you find such good kids clothes for so cheap? I have never seen kids Roxy or Hurley clothes (etc) for that! But I would love too! 

So please let me in on the secret…
Thanks for the post! I love reading them
Jacinda
I don’t buy second hand clothes. Period. Like you said, it’s so incredibly time consuming to go through the racks trying to find what you want. I have a hard enough time finding my son’s size at Walmart-let alone a place that only has 1 of each item. I’ve gone to goodwill with a friend a few times and really they sell alot of garbage. At Wal-mart I can get tshirts for $4 and pants for $7, he’s 3 and wears out clothes like crazy and they have the ‘if he wears it out before he outgrows it’ policy and they will replace it. I buy $40 worth of clothing every 6-8 months and that lasts. Sometime’s the children’s place has awesome deals with instore sales PLUS % off coupons to double up the sales.
I never buy any of my clothes second hand, as you are right I can get them on Clearance for about the same price. I usually end up going to a thrift store to look for some for a Halloween Custome for one of my family members, if I’m there and something jumps out at me for my husband, like a tshirt, then I will grab that. As he wears through his shirts at work at least one a week.
I buy a lot of my children’s clothing at at the local MCC thrift shop. Their kids clothes are $1 each, $2 for denim. If I go at the end of the month, everything is half price.
I probably visit about once a month, maybe less and I’ll spend less than $10 at a time and I’m buying only the very best of what’s there. I also buy a couple sizes ahead so there’s always something to be grown in to.
My favourite MCC buy is a gorgeous kids winter jacket for $1.50. It looks like it has never been worn.
I agree with you about V.V. So expensive. Shopping there is my last resort.