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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Do you buy your children clothes in charity shops?

124 replies

Lifeisshort123 · 28/01/2017 20:35

One of my closest friends thinks it's strange that I buy around half of my children's clothes from charity shops, I've got a great charity shop I go to around twice a month that have lovely clothes and very good prices. I don't see a problem with it, it's inexpensive usually, good causes and you save money. I don't see the problem considering I wash everything when we get home. I get clothes for my 4&6yr old as well as shoes and I've had great deals.
Today I brought from one charity shop: Converse for DS- £2.50
Orchard game- £1
Crocs for both DD & DS- £1.50 each
Tesco Onsie for DS- £1
Swimming costume for DD- 50p
Ralph Lauren shirt for DS-£2

Do you get your children clothes in a charity shop, I don't see the problem in it.

OP posts:

Love51 · 28/01/2017 20:46

I struggle to find the right stuff at the right time in a charity shop, but if I can, I do. I've always had a thing about use of resources, and how manufacturing pretty much anything harms someone somehow (chemicals used to treat cotton poisoning water supply, sweat shop labour etc) so I always prefer 2nd hand to new. I've always done it for myself, so why wouldn't I for the kids? They get a lot more hand me downs than I do, so fewer charity shop buys.

Original poster

Lifeisshort123 · 28/01/2017 20:47

I totally agree with you, I'm a bigger size so I don't find much for me but I donate my kids and my clothes often as it's better than it ending up In landfill too.

OP posts:

Original poster

Lifeisshort123 · 28/01/2017 20:49

Me too, I've found Superdry for 10% of the original price, clothes with original tags for a fraction of the prices. I love it.😂

OP posts:

RaeSkywalker · 28/01/2017 20:49

Yes- I'd say that 60% of DS's wardrobe is charity shop and Facebook selling site stuff. Particularly as he's a baby and they go through clothes quickly, most items are barely worn. I can afford better quality items by buying second hand.

I will always buy him new shoes though.

frizzyhaired · 28/01/2017 20:50

I buy clothes, books and puzzles for my 9 year old from our local Oxfam. I also volunteer there. I sometimes find new things with tags on ( big thrill!! My sad life.) Wouldn't buy shoes or inner wear though.

Underthemoonlight · 28/01/2017 20:50

I don't get DC clothes from charity shops, I personally hated getting second hand clothes as a child might of been the choices back then. I rather do without and enjoy treating my DC. We do however donate or pass on clothes. I don't judge those who do though.

Yika · 28/01/2017 20:52

Yes. I buy loads. Have great fun finding bargains - often good quality and sometimes designer. Just bought a ski suit for a fiver for my DD. I also give plenty back to the same charity. If my DD doesn't wear it much or it gets lost at school then no worries. It's not so much the price as making use of existing stuff and contributing to social causes. I have a very good one near me. I occasionally buy stuff for myself too.

Original poster

Lifeisshort123 · 28/01/2017 20:52

The shoes I brought the converse were new in the box and the crocs had labels on so I'm assuming they weren't worn, I give them a wipe down so I don't have a problem but I'd never buy second hand socks or used shoes but I will buy the little ones second hand clothes.

OP posts:

MyWhatICallNameChange · 28/01/2017 20:52

No, whenever I've looked it's all baby up to around 4 years old, so too young for mine. And not particularly good quality when I looked when they were younger. I think I did buy a nice shirt once. I used to go in to look for Beano annuals for my oldest!

Mine have lots of hand me downs anyway, as there are 5 of them.

gamerwidow · 28/01/2017 20:53

I buy from charity shops for Dd and me. I've bought some great 'labled' items there for a few quid. I wouldn't buy second hand shoes though because I think they tend to mould themselves to the wearers feet so wouldn't fit well.

zzzzz · 28/01/2017 20:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Lifeisshort123 · 28/01/2017 20:53

Wow that's great, I brought a ski suit for DS (6) a few years back for £4.75 :)

OP posts:

Original poster

Lifeisshort123 · 28/01/2017 20:55

Does anyone have any good charity shops they could recommend, I find loads of bits in my local Sue Ryder.

OP posts:

Frouby · 28/01/2017 20:56

I do if I see something that is a bargain. Ds has 2 winter coats atm. One is from Next and one from John Rocha originally. Both £2.99 from Barnados across the road.

Saved me a few quid, saved traipsing round the shops and if/when they get lost at nursery it really doesn't matter that much.

I also buy bits for me when I see them. And ds (3) has just about solved toilet training with charity shop poo toys.

First couple of poos on the loo 'won' a trip over. Empty his jar of 10 sweeties for wees, charity shop trip.

My current handbag was from there and am looking for another at the moment too.

early30smum · 28/01/2017 20:58

I don't, but I don't think it's at all weird to do so. The charity shops round here seem to charge a small fortune anyway.

Error404usernamenotfound · 28/01/2017 21:02

I'm always popping into charity shops (luckily there are good ones near me) to see what they have both for DD and myself. I've got loads of bargains, but agree you have to be discerning re quality/amount of wear etc. I've bought shoes a couple of times, but only if they're unworn - bad for your feet otherwise. I've only known a few people get sniffy about charity shop clothes, but they don't know the joy of rifling through rails to find a gem!

Blankscreen · 28/01/2017 21:03

I never have and don't see that I will ever want to unless I really had to.

I donate a lot of stuff to the charity shop amd when I.drop the bags in there is such a limited selection of stuff.

They also all.smell.the same.

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 28/01/2017 21:04

Lifeisshort I find its more to do with the actual shop than the charity brand. There are a couple near me that seem to get very good donations but are priced cheaply e.g. our Age UK is amazing but other towns I haven't found it as good.

pipsqueak25 · 28/01/2017 21:05

most of my families stuff comes from charity and why not ? we rather have the money in the bank

MsJamieFraser · 28/01/2017 21:05

No I dont, but we do donate their clothes to charity once they have outgrown them.

newmumwithquestions · 28/01/2017 21:06

I regularily buy from our local charity shop but do find they overcharge (think £3-4 for supermarket baby items). But I'd rather they got the money than 'normal' shops. I also buy new and have hand me downs. Kids have a few too many clothes tbh but it's a big mix of things.

VeryBitchyRestingFace · 28/01/2017 21:07

If your name is Victoria Beckham, then I can certainly understand why your friend finds it surprising (not wrong).

Otherwise, not so much. You should offer to take her on a charity shop spree next time you're going. She might find she likes it.

maddiemookins16mum · 28/01/2017 21:10

No. Charity shops (for some reason) mostly smell horrendous. I can buy cheap clothes at Primark and supermarkets.

StarUtopia · 28/01/2017 21:10

I can't afford to buy new at all, so everything is from the charity shops or eBay.

It's brilliant. Decent brands at cheaper prices than the supermarkets.

TeenAndTween · 28/01/2017 21:12

Absolutely yes, if I see something I like in the right size.
There's not much for over 5s though.

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