There comes a point in every child’s life when she no longer wants her parents to pick out her clothes or styles. My daughters reached this stage well before my son and well before middle school. I’ll never forget the day my daughter told me that her style was “hobo.” I laughed when I realized she was trying to describe her “boho” style and that she mixed up the name.
It can be expensive to keep up with her changing styles, especially since she started enjoying vintage clothing and expensive brands. However, VarageSale, Facebook Marketplace (and other Facebook buy-and-sell groups), the Depop app, consignment stores and thrift shops have helped to make the endless style switching more affordable. Hand-me-downs from friends and cousins are also often appreciated. It can be fun to swap clothes with friends or pass down outgrown clothes.
Online Shopping
It is thrilling to find a flattering name brand outfit at a fraction of the price it would cost new. It can be fun to shop in-person at thrift and consignment stores. It’s also convenient to browse social media sites from the comfort of your couch (long after retail shops are closed). My neighbour warned me how addictive VarageSale shopping can be. VarageSale is also convenient because you can follow categories such as “dolls and dollhouses” and “junior and teen girls” clothing in a certain size and clothing category such as “shorts.” By following categories, you can ensure you never miss a freshly posted item. You receive notifications as soon as new items are posted in the categories you follow. You can “heart” items to watch them and you’ll be notified if the price of an item you follow is lowered. After you message a seller that you are interested in buying something, you arrange a public meeting place (such as a coffee shop or in front of a police department for safety). You can also pick up your item from a bin on the seller’s porch. At the time of pick-up, payments are made via cash or etransfer.
Thanks to VarageSale and Facebook seller groups, I’ve grown my youngest daughter’s doll collection. I’ve also sold my oldest daughter’s doll collection through these sites. My son has enjoyed remote control car and book purchases through these sites. My children also enjoy saving their “wish list” items on the apps and then I can purchase items for their birthdays.
These sites have rules and moderators, and you can rate and review sellers. You must be aware of possible scams and ensure you aren’t sending an etransfer before you have seen an item in-person.
In-Person Finds
When I’m shopping in-person at thrift shops, I often tell store clerks “I am just browsing.” This seems to be my lucky phrase as then I find the perfect outfit to purchase for myself or my children. Some of my family’s favourite thrift stores include WIN retail shops and the Salvation Army thrift stores. At the Salvation Army, when you donate, you receive a discount coupon for your next purchase. If you have time to browse, it can be fun to look through the thrift shops.
Another way to save some money is to buy secondhand items from Play it Again Sports, especially if your child changes sports often and tries out many different options that require a variety of equipment. They will buy your child’s outgrown items as well, or you can trade in outgrown items.
It’s also great to have a shopping team. This is when you engage your friends and family members to be your personal shoppers. I collect rubber duckies, so my friends and family are always on the watch for rubber duckies at thrift stores or garage sales for me. I give my parent’s a list of items to seek out for us such as a lid replacement for a casserole dish or a certain style of glass we broke. They often find exactly what we need.
The best thing about buying secondhand items is you’re keeping them out of the landfill and giving them a new life in your closet. The second-best thing is saving money.
