School shopping at thrift stores?

[Dealio]

My mother was so frugal. We never got new clothes for back to school. Her theory was what we were wearing still fit, and by the time mid-term came around, we'd outgrow that size.

We got new shoes for back to school, and new clothes at Christmas.

This was 30 years ago, when there weren't many clearance racks and Goodwill wasn't in our town.

[spadesbouncer]

HI,

I am not against thrift stores. but i do like my kids to get to clothes shop for school.. we buy clothes once a year and (unless they keep growing)

But here we have no stores like that except one and it is smelly and is more like a food pantry.. they sell a ratty old t shirt for 2.50.. i mean hello... Can i say walmart??? clearance..LOL..

But i do love garage sales..LOL...

this year we have seen very very few of those.. so my kids ogt walamrt clothes...i only bought a few outfits.. i will keep looking for a couple of weeks and see what i can find on sale..LOL

[darkwing932]

I used to shop at thrift and consignment stores when the kids where little. Most of the thrift / consignment stores around me only have baby, toddler, or old lady clothes.

These days I get most of their stuff at places like JC Penny. They have the 75% - 80% off clearance sales and we get all kinds of clothes for under $5.

[Jenna26]

I shop for both of our kids' clothes at garage sales (and got 17 onesies for 10c each for our baby due in January!), Once Upon A Child (great consignment shop) - I look for the 50% off tags and we also get a 10% military discount, and clearance racks at Target and Kohl's. DD's closet is well-stocked for the fall!!

[House_Of_Six]

By the way what are the top brand name clothing for boys and girls these days as far as middle school/high school. That way I can be on the lookout at thrift stores and the rest of the yard sales around here.

Does anyone ever go to a certain clothing site(s) just to see what styles are current. I figure it like this my kids have feelings and if you don't fit in it's hard but we can find items cheaply...lol...very cheaply!

What does everyone think?

I love hearing about what everyone else has done for back to school clothes shopping:)

[my3girlz]

I do a little of both. I used to find great deals at our local Goodwill & another local consignment shop, but the consignment shop closed earlier this spring & the Goodwill has been lacking in good finds over the last year or so.

So I've been mainly hitting up the outlet stores & I buy off season. I just got tons of summer clothes for my 3 yr old next summer for $1.99 each at TCP outlet. Also got shorts last year for my 13 yr old from the Hollister outlet for $9.90. I just got her some T-shirts on Friday for $9.90 too.

I hit a really great consignment sale yesterday. I brought stuff my kids had outgrown to sell, so I got to shop early. Tons of name brands & I picked through to find good prices. My 13 yr old got two pair of American Eagle jeans for $10 each...they look like new! I'm going back Wed when they mark everything down to 50% off

House_Of_Six, I find my 8th grade daughter loves Hollister, American Eagle, PacSun & Aeropostale the most, but also wears Arizona, Angel jeans, Gap, SO (Kohl's) & whatever she thinks looks nice on her. I have no problem buying her name brand clothing, as long as it's for a really great price. She doesn't mind getting stuff from consignment shops, since she says no one else knows where she got it & she's super happy to have name brand clothes. She knows that paying less for her clothes, means she can get more for her money

[MrsPinecone]

Thrift stores around here are pretty expensive. I have found that I can shop sales/clearance + store coupons and get new things for less than I would pay at a local consignment/thrift store.

If it is less at the thrift store around here, it's usually in such crappy condition that I would never let my kid wear it.

[beth119]

Originally Posted by MrsPinecone Thrift stores around here are pretty expensive. I have found that I can shop sales/clearance + store coupons and get new things for less than I would pay at a local consignment/thrift store. If it is less at the thrift store around here, it's usually in such crappy condition that I would never let my kid wear it.

Same here. I have never been a big fan of consignment, and the ones around here are soooo bad!

I do swap with friends sometimes and that is fun.
A lot of Old Navy clearance, Target, TCP, etc...

I also LOVE LOVE LOVE the Baby Depot. There isan't one anywhere near me, but there is one back home in CT. I try to fly up once a year with an empty suitcase for clothes for DD. CAN'T beat the prices!