Choosing to go to second-hand stores for kids has changed the game for me!
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There is a time to buy new. And day-to-day clothing that kids will use as a napkin when having spaghetti for dinner isn’t it. That is essentially why I personally resort to second-hand stores for kids.
Being a stay-at-home mom oftentimes means searching for the best deals for most things in your routine. After all, we are in a household with one income only and need to stretch it out as far as we can.
For my family, that means buying a lot second-hand, when we can. That includes furniture, clothes for me and my husband, and even more so, for our kids.
Looking for other budget ideas? Check out my list of free things to do during summer with kids!
WHY BY SECOND-HAND?
As you probably know, kids outgrow clothes and shoes faster than weeds spread. My son, for example, upped his clothing size 3 times within a year. That’s a lot of money to spend on clothes that they will only wear for a couple of months.
Other than the fast growth, the second reason why my kids get a lot of second-hand clothes and shoes is that they can damage them very easily. Food that’s wiped on shirts and dresses, playing at the playground, or drawing with markers: kids are messy, and that’s exactly how they should be! It fuels their imagination and creativity, it helps develop their sensorial attributes, and, simply put, it’s so much fun getting dirty and messy!
And thirdly, repurposing and buying used is a great way to care for our planet. Single-use items can fill the earth with unnecessary waste that ends up in landfills. Caring for the environment and our planet is as great of a lesson to our kids as it is for ourselves!
It’s funny because, coming from Brazil, buying second-hand is not something that is culturally widely spread. I only learned about GOOD thrift and second-hand stores when I moved to America, back in 2015. My mother-in-law (an avid second-hand shopper) would take me to Goodwill and all other thrift shops and always find the best deals for pretty much anything she needed. So this list is immensely owed to her – thank you mama for teaching me what’s good!
I still have my favorite spots for kids as far as buying new, so that happens too. But when I can, I try to get second-hand for day-to-day routine and activities, especially if I know they will get messy!
My favorite second-hand stores for kids
I’ve been buying used clothes, shoes, and toys for both of my kids since before they were born. I can basically find everything I have ever needed for them in these stores. And the best thing: most, if not all of them, are available nationwide!
- Kid to Kid
Kid to Kid is a resale franchise with more 120 stores all over the United States. It was founded by a mom of 6 kids, and it’s one of the places where you can sell used clothes for cash or store credit, as well as buy them. What I love the most about Kid to Kid is that not only the stores are super organized, clean and neat, but it’s also extremely affordable. The used items are generally marketed at 70% OFF of the retail value of the item new. They also have some new things available, which I personally have never felt the need to buy. At Kid to Kid you can buy pretty much anything you might need for your kids: clothes, shoes, accessories, tools, cribs, pack and plays, baby gear (such as strollers), carriers, toys, mattresses, party dresses, Halloween costumes, and so much more. It is usually my very first stop any time I need something for my kids. Check if there is a Kid to Kid store near you by clicking here.
2. Local Christian Thrift Stores
In my state, we have a wide variety of Christian-based thrift stores. I love supporting them because a large amount of the profit is diverted to missions, women and child’s support, and homelessness projects. These stores are usually also very cheap, and you can find everything for kids, adults, and household.
3. Goodwill
Goodwill is usually my third stop when looking for something second-hand. They have stores all over the country and you can find literally anything you want in them. I’ve actually gotten most of the furniture in my apartment from Goodwill. I usually have to make a couple of trips during the week if I’m looking for something specific, but I have yet to not find what I was looking for. You can get solid wood furniture for the price of a plastic bin! Then all you need to do is refinish it how you want it. They have a great selection of adults’ clothes, although the kids’ area is much smaller than Kid to Kid and other thrift stores. They also have a very large amount of used toys and books that you can get lost in!
4. Kidizen
Kidizen is an online marketplace that buys and resells used clothing, shoes, and accessories for every stage of your kid’s life. It’s much more convenient than driving to thrift stores if you are looking for something more specific, however, it’s pricier than most walk-in resale stores. You can also create your own shop within the app to resell your kids’ apparel and make some $ out of it! It’s a very easy-to-use platform and super helpful to us moms on a budget.
Whether you get it online or in stores, buying second-hand is definitely something I recommend for all parents of any economic status. If you have more money to spare, there is always room to save it up and spend it on your kids’ development aspects, such as classes, experiences, and travels. You can also choose to donate any amount at most thrift stores to support local charity programs in your community!
Of course, it’s always fun buying new things, especially if those things are for our kids! I, too, am guilty of that – guilty but not guilty, right?! There’s definitely room for that, just as there is for the opposite, too. The most important thing is that you buy smart!
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What about your favorite second-hand stores? Do you have the habit of buying gently used items?
Please let me know!