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One area of our budget we have really been able to save on is clothing. Thrift stores and yard sales are great places to find kids’ clothes for less. I love that I can get name brand, good quality clothing that last through several children for a fraction of the cost. Someone once told me that, although my children didn’t mind wearing second hand clothing when they were little that would all change when they reached the teen years. I disagree, so far I have two teenagers and they love shopping at the thrift store.
I asked my kids what they thought of shopping at the thrift store and here are some of their responses. I did not prep them at all. I just took out the camera and asked who wanted to talk about thrift stores, these are honest opinions from the Happy kids.
One way I have helped the kids see the benefits of thrift store shopping is to price compare. One trip we were able to find several name brand, almost new pairs of pants for my two oldest kids. When we returned home we looked up the new prices on the internet, added it up and compared the difference. We had saved a few hundred dollars that day.
My kids were able to see the how much money we had saved and then we discussed how we could use our potential savings. We talked about different areas of the budget and how we save in some areas so we can spend in others.
If you need a little thrift store inspiration visit Jen’s blog for her incredible Frugal Fashionista series. She lives near the most incredible thrift store and finds the cutest clothes!
I cannot stress enough how important it is to talk to your children about money. If you don’t talk to them, the world will. And that message is buy now pay later. Who do you want teaching your kids about money?
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
We are thrift store and clearance rack shoppers here, much to my teenagers upset. Giggles (nearly 15) used to have a hard time with it, but our local thrift store isn’t always the best. I have found that taking her to the next town over, there are better clothes, no windows (apparently so no one can see her shopping) and more sales. I always tell her that she doesn’t have to get anything. She did get her homecoming dress from that thrift store, she loved it and got so many comments on it!
P.S. expect an email from me tomorrow
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This is an awesome post!! My local thrift store is not very nice and so I hate going in there but I keep telling myself I am going to try again. Sigh. I do clearance wracks and cash. I like cash – that helps us stay on budget.
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Your kids are too cute!
I love me some second-hand shopping. But I agree not all second-hand stores are created equal. As much as I love to find those hidden gems, I also find I need to keep abreast of retail value: often regular retail will have great clearance racks at the end of the season. Also, thrift stores that stock with consigned prices can overprice things.
All in all, thrift store shopping/goodwill is definitely something my kids are growing up with, at least so long as we’re here in Ohio. My 14yo just bought himself some great workout shorts at our Thrift Store for $1.50, he was waaaay excited. (Good brand, his favorite fit, etc.) I think you just have to be aware of the retail value and whether an item is really a good bargain vs. a retail clearance price.
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TheHappyHousewife Reply:
October 8th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Jolyn-
great points. I avoid the over priced thrift stores and try to shop on the special sale days. You do have to know your prices to make sure you are getting the best deal.
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So true! My kids have grown up with thrift store clothes or hand-me-downs from other families (and each other, of course!). My oldest girls almost never ask for clothes at retail stores anymore–they’ve seen the prices and heard my schpiel about how we choose to spend our money wisely and the more we save by shopping at the thrift store, the more money we have left over for fun things, savings, etc. Now I catch them making comments about the ‘ridiculous’ prices on things at the stores! LOL Kids are so cute, but it really is important to watch the way we talk about money–we’re shaping their ideas for years to come. And like you said, if we don’t talk some common sense to them, all they’ll hear is the world’s crazy ideas.
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my kids love thrift shopping too. i think they love to get a bargain more than i do. they beg to go buy clothes at the flea market. i think it’s all in how they are raised to think about money.
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Great post!
I hope I can say the same by the time my son hits the teen years. I have been a yard sale/thrift shop/Freecycle/clearance shopper since before he was born. He is perfectly content now with all the treasures I find second-hand.
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You are raising some amazing kids there, Toni! And they are learning very valuable lessons from watching you. Great job!
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I have a 15year old and she does not mind used clothing. I have shoped thrift stores, yard sales and accept hand me downs since she was a kid. So its nothing new to her. A friend from work just have her a bunch of nice clothings from her grand daughter. We went though them. My dd picked out what she like. Enough to get her though the school year and look like she got new stuff. And asked to go to the mall. She got make up, a few special t-shirts that was on sale. And I think some jewlery. Funny thing is she never paid full price for any of it. lol. In her mind if she has the basics given to her she can spend her money on a few cool things to create her own style. And it saves me tons of money in the end. And I have a happy teen who goes to school looking quite nice most days.
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We buy nearly all our clothes at a thrift store. The one closest to us has great selection — lots of high end, mostly new stuff for low prices. My kids have been raised with a thrift store mentality so they get psyched when we score a good deal. I don’t imagine this will change as they get older (ages 11, 9 & 6) DH and I have found amazing stuff for us as well — cashmere sweaters, high-end mens wear (brooks brothers, jos bank), expensive retail brands (banana republic, ann taylor, garnet hill, etc.) with new tags. We live in an affluent area so everyone else’s excess becomes our second-hand treasure.
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You’re going to have to forgive me…I couldn’t even pay attention to what they were saying because I fell into the dimple of the Happy Child in the green shirt. It appears on his right cheek at about 9 seconds into it…yep, lost me at 9 seconds. LOL
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“I’d rather spend my parents’ money at the mall and my own money at the thrift store.” Smart girl! Love that.
Our thrift stores… blech. I should probably try them again sometime, though.
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Loved this vlog! Your kids are precious. But I wanted to commend you: what a great job you and your hubby are doing with teaching your children to be smart with their money.
Now, I’m off to find some decent thrift stores in my area.
Goodwill is way overpriced, here.
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I, too, love the eldest’s honesty – she’d be totally willing to spend someone else’s money at the mall, but not her own!
I feel that way sometimes too… sure, I’ll splurge at a really nice restaurant or get that really snazzy decorative piece – if someone else is buying!
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We bought my oldest son, dress pants, shirt and tie to wear tonight for Homecoming. He’s been nominated for King. A sweatshirt for my DH and a Halloween mask for my youngest, all for $13. I love the Thrift Store, and my boys do too.
Thanks for sharing, Toni!
~Liz
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Great thoughts! I definitely want to be the one who teaches my children about money, not the world! Have a great weekend!
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I am so lucky that my kids love the thrift store and even cheaper- their sisters old clothes!
I think it’s so much fun to go hunting at the thrift store for fun fashion finds!
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OMGoodness! Your kids are adorable, your teen is GORGEOUS and so sweet! And I couldn’t agree more, yard sales rock
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Don’t tell other Grandmothers this, but I have the best time with my grand daughter shopping at thrift stores. We found this really great one in Washington Court House, OH! I bought her an like new Anne Taylor black dress and she looked like a Hollywood star in it (of course she would look like that in an old feed sack)! I have shopped in Thrift and Consignment store since the ’80’s… I should have been shopping there since the ’70’s… guess you could call me a slow learning. Btw my husband buys 95% of his clothes a thrift store!
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Oh, I forgot… you sure have some cute kids… and very smart too!
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Great post and all that, but OH MY WORD AT THE GORGEOUS CHILDREN!!! They are adorable!
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I just took my son to the thrift store last weekend. He is not a shopper, but we were able to tough it out and find a couple of things. He is very into bargain shopping since his dad and I have talked able finding deals his entire life! Great post!
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This is such great advice. My parents never talked to me about money growing up so when I moved out I didn’t even know how to balance a checkbook or pay bills. Talk about a learning curve!
I have made it a point to stress to my children the importance of hard earned money and that they should spend it wisely. The oldest still gets caught up with all the advertising (which is everywhere…so can totally understand) and the youngest forgets she has money…huge help too! hehehee! But my husband and I really want them to learn some life lessons. Our children have the opportunity to earn money and they are allowed to purchase whatever they choose. They are usually quite shocked at how quickly it goes when making impulse purchases. I try to discuss what other options they could have explored for next time.
I absolutely loved this post! And I love all the frugal ideas coming in. Great post!
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Smart kids. LOVE the video so much.
Nell
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I love your video. Your kids are so cute!!
Unfortunately we don’t have a good thrift store where I live, but I love finding a bargain when I can!!
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