School shopping at thrift stores?

[House_Of_Six]

Am I the only one who does not take my children to the mall, or stores school shopping? I am an on need basis type of shopper plus I find deals all year long here and there at our local Salvation Army.

I go on and get 50% off of tags making almost every piece of clothing, shoes $1.00 or under. School bags I stick with janesport as they seem to last for us. MY son has had his for over 3 years with no wear and it's black so it goes with everything.

I do let my kids pick their clothes as long as they fit and are appropriate. This is all they have ever known as far as clothes shopping. With four kids it does really help with our budget. I could spend the money on new, or even clearanced clothing but I get great deals at the sal val so why go anywhere else.

Your plan, or past plans for getting kids ready for the new school year?

[TheWoman]

I have found that if I shop the clearance at quality stores I can get new stuff for a couple of dollars. That isn't much more than the thrift stores charge. However, I think thrift stores are great for those items that I didn't plan ahead well enough to get at last year's clearance.

[ShoppingCartDiva]

It really depends on the stores in your area. A lot of consignment stores, you pay almost as much for the clothes as you would a good sale price new. And thrift stores are definitely a YMMV type here. We have 2 in town (Salvation Army and Good Will), one is HORRIBLE, the other is mediocre. There is simply no way I would actually be able to outfit my child at either one.

I tend toward quality clothing that can be passed down (or re-sold), I guess I almost think of it as an investment. :) There's this nightgown, it is a very soft pink Baby Dior nightgown. My aunt bought it, and both her daughters wore it, then my other aunt's 4 daughters wore it, and then my daughter wore it. And it's still going strong, it has been passed down to my cousin's daughter. (We are an extended family with LOTS of girls, heh.)

Not that I would ever pay that kind of a price for a nightgown, but, well, you get the point. :D

[faeryedark]

I do alot of thrift store shopping and clearance shopping for my kids, nothin' wrong with it.

[ShoppingCartDiva]

Never anything wrong with it. :) If you've got the stores, that's for sure.
I miss my favorite consignment shop from before I moved, I used to get the best stuff there.

[TsPlace]

Most definitely! I got pulled into the taking the kids to the mall and other stores, spent too much, and upset with myself but hey they looked good. What a dumby I was! I have learned my financial lesson the hard way. No more....my teenagers have no problem going into the local Goodwill store to find a good bargain. And, we have a great store here in Winchester, VA called Gabriel Brothers (Gabs as everyone in town calls it) and they have name brands left & right but at cheap prices. You have to pick through them (some are imperfects or a button missing) but for the most part they are good (and anyone can sew on a button for an Urban Outfitters shirt (with tag still on it at $70) and you pay $3!
Just got back yesterday from buying my daughter 12 Delia undies, 3 American Eagle bra/undie sets, 2 sets of 6 pack socks, 1 American Eagle skirt, 2 Acrombie Fitch shirts and 2 pairs of shoes (one of which is Converse) and 2 pairs of American Eagle khakis for my teenage son and 8 pack of undies for myself. Oop = 47.99

[faeryedark]

I check out those type of stores, thrift and consignment stores and the clearance racks. We do pretty good, but we're blessed with alot of thrift stores around here. Last year at Christmas, I found 2 colletible Monopoly sets, still wrapped (1 Peanuts, the other Disney) My sons had looked at these exact same sets at a board game store for $30 ea. I got them for $10 total.
Sonetimes if we have extra $ money I'll give the kids each $25 to spend wherever they like, on whatever they want, as long as it's for school and appropriate. My daughter got a pair of jeans last year w/ hers. My sons got bags full at the thrift store and we found a pair of jeans similar to what she bought in her size(for$3) I think she's converted now.

[puakinikini]

Our Goodwill has 50% off every other Saturday - I used to go regularly, and need to get back in the habit. We have a lot of different Goodwill stores close to where I live - some are better than others (of course). I love a good deal - and do not mind buying used. Most of my kids clothes come from a consignment sale put on by my local twin club - great deals and you know the sellers.

[angielee]

I LOVE thrift stores! I have found the best time to go is Wed, Thur.
The one I go to puts out stuff Mon -Tue. The biggest shoppping days are Fri Sat Sun. If you go Wed-thur you have a good couple days of stuff put out without many people going through it.

[kmmmom]

I used to always clothe my kids from the Salvation Army. I could go in there and spend $50 and come out with enough clothes to last the three of them all year. The store would usually run a half off day and that's when we shoppped.

Now that they are older, we generally just hit the sales. The first place my kids go is to the clearance rack. The deals going on at Meijers the past few weeks has given us free underwear, free socks and free backpacks. You can't beat that!