I wasn’t always a thrifter. As a status-conscious teenager growing up in suburban Chicago, I eschewed secondhand clothes in favor of the latest offerings from my favorite stores at the mall. Who needed thrift shopping when I had my dad’s credit card in my pocket?
Flash forward to 2009, the year of the Great Recession. I lost my job, but not my all-American desire to shop. It was then, out of necessity, that I dipped my toe into the wonderful world of secondhand shopping. Mentored by a friend who was wise to the ways of secondhand shopping, I learned to scour thrift and consignment shops for great clothes at great prices.
By the time my son was born three years later, I had evolved thrift shopping to an art form. Even though a new job had put my finances back on track, I found that I couldn’t bring myself to pay retail prices for things I could get used at a fraction of the price.
This served me well as a new parent. Babies’ and kids’ clothes, although adorable, can be insanely expensive when purchased new, especially considering how little use a child will actually get out of them. And the array of sheer stuff that comes with bringing a baby home is staggering: cribs, rockers, playmats, bouncy chairs, exersaucers, toys, bags, cloths, feeding equipment – it’s enough to boggle the mind.
Fortunately, it need not drain the wallet. Thanks to a robust market in secondhand kids’ clothes, toys and equipment, it is possible to outfit and entertain your child with a minimum outlay of cash. Once the mental hurdle of buying used has been cleared, a world of savings is at your fingertips.
The key is knowing where to look.
For specific items
Try Craigslist or Ebay. Craigslist is like a giant, word-searchable online garage sale, which is great if there is a particular item that you’re after. Because the transactions are completed locally and face-to-face, Craigslist is ideal for buying large toys and equipment that would be difficult to ship.
Tip: If you’re planning a day trip to St. Louis or Chicago, be sure to browse the Craigslist ads before you travel. The metro areas always have a much wider selection of offerings than Springfield.
EBay is a great choice when you’re hunting for smaller items that can be shipped at a reasonable price. The prices, however, can be all over the map. You might be able to scoop up exactly what you want in an auction with few to no other bidders at a fraction of the retail price, or you might find yourself in a bidding war that nets you only modest savings in the end.
Tip: You can usually find the best bargains on clothes, books or toys sold as a lot.
For the best bargains
Try garage sales or thrift stores. Garage sales have the best bargains, hands down, but the trick is finding a sale run by a family with kids the same age and gender as yours. Look for ads in the newspaper or on Craigslist that advertise kids clothes and toys.
Tip: If you plan to bargain for lower prices, visit at the end of the day. Many are happy to sell at a discount – one less thing to box up and store or donate.
Thrift stores such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army have their benefits and drawbacks. On the plus side, the bargains are significant: kids clothing items generally cost between $2-$4 each. On the negative side, the selection and quality of clothing and toys at thrift stores is very hit-or-miss. However, if you have the patience to do some digging, you can usually unearth a treasure at a great price, particularly when it comes to buying jeans.
Tip: Go often. The inventory changes quickly, so you might find nothing one week and strike gold the next.
For stocking up on clothes
Try consignment stores. Consignment stores offer a winning combination of a wide selection of clothing and toys at great prices. Their prices are slightly higher than thrift stores, but the quality of the items is usually better, as they accept only clothing that is in good condition and relatively current and toys that are in working order. Consignment stores are also a great place to make a little cash on your kids’ outgrown clothes. Koke’s Kidzone in Chatham and The Clothing Rack in Sherman are two of my favorites.
Tip: Nothing beats a sale at a consignment store, when prices are slashed to rock-bottom levels. “Like” your local consignment store on Facebook or sign up for an email list to be the first to know when sales happen.
Erika Holst is an enthusiastic thrift shopper and mom to a three-year-
old son.
This article appears in Capital City Parent November 2015.
