Do you buy your children clothes in charity shops?

[Lifeisshort123]

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.

For me it's a no, but to be honest the only things I'd feel uncomfortable with would be shoes, underwear, socks and swimwear, past that I'd think go for it.

I like to buy from ebay secondhand. Don't really have time for going into shops.

nothing wrong with charity shops, as long as it's good condition. I don't buy shoes from charity shops though.

Yes. I'd say 85% of their wardrobes is charity shop/eBay purchases.

No I don't. Tend to find everything is a bit grey and looks scruffy and so over priced. It's also much easier to buy something when you need it, not collecting stuff you may or may not need.

I thought I was doing well buying something new with tags off eBay last week. It still makes me feel uncomfortable.

I never thought I would but after getting pregnant I got almost all of my child's stuff second hand.

Got a huge huge sack of pretty much brand new newborn clothing for £40 and since then the addiction to second hand bargains began!

Harder to find decent stuff now he's crawling age - I'm guessing because the clothes get worn so easily at this stage?!?

But no - I think people thinks it's weird but as long as you get stuff that isn't gross I think it's fine! So much that we've got still has tags on for goodness sake! It's a bargain!

At least three quarters of DD's stuff is secondhand off eBay.

Most of my DC's clothes come from shops on the high street and online but if I go into a charity shop and I see something that I know one of them would like then I'll buy it for them,I've never bought them shoes from a charity shop though unless they're new.
I do buy myself quite a few things from charity shops,clothes,jewellery,handbags and bits for the house and gardens and I've bought a few lovely ornaments for my MIL from some charity shops as well.

I think were most probably very lucky we have alot of charity shops not that far from us and they all usually have lovely things in them.

I only buy certain items second hand, I'm not a fan of second hand shoes/swimwear but that's just me. I also won't buy brands I normally wouldn't. Nothing wrong with a good bargain

I do, but only stuff I couldn't afford to buy otherwise.

I've had some bargains too, last week I bought a skirt from river island with the tags still on, rrp £33 I paid £2.50.

There are only two shops clothes shops where I live and about 7 charity shops so there's not much choice if you don't shop there.

Absolutely I do! I love how you never know what you might find. We have great charity shops around here though. I got baby ds3 a cashmere jumper today for £6 (I know it sounds expensive for a charity shop but it would probably have been £50+ new and is gorgeous!) and I found ds2 some Frugi trousers for 20p the other day! You can always find lovely hand knitted jumpers and cardigans for a couple of quid too. What's not to love?! Kids grow so fast and clothes get washed anyway....

No but only because the nearest charity shops are in the city centre which I don't get to often.

Yes, they're 8 & 10. It does often mean buying a year or so ahead but I've saved a lot of money. I doubt I'll be able to get away with it once they're at secondary.

DD already has a padded Boden coat for next winter.

I wouldn't have a problem with it in principle but in practise I think it's harder buying children's clothes in charity shops than adults....there's usually just the one rail with everything from baby fleeces to dresses for 6 year olds so it's harder to find what it is you specifically need e.g. 'Trousers, 9-12m' or long sleeved vests or whatever.

I have found some lovely children's books though.

I don't buy in charity shops but do buy a lot second hand off eBay. Most of my friends don't do this.

Yes, we have some really good ones near me. I get myself bits and bobs there too.
Best bargain ever was a cashmere cardigan for an elderly relative - I found it in the 'bargain bin' in a small, independent local charity shop, paid 50p.
When I checked it all later before giving it a wash, I discovered it was an LK Bennett one, from the previous season, that had retailed at £90.

I don't, I have always brought all new.

I do donate to charity shops anything that's is in good condition

I absolutely LOVE charity shop shopping! My own wardrobe I would say consists of about 70-80% charity shop clothing. My sons is about 50% - there just doesn't seem to be as much quality items for his age range (6-7).
I picked him up a gorgeous winter coat (Next) for £3.99 just before Christmas.
In my local Banardos EVERY clothing item is £1.99, regardless of quality/designer/brand new etc I have had some absolute steals from there.
A designer jumper with labels that should have cost $149 new (American clothing), brand new New Look real leather coat, a gorgeous long sleeveless Top Shop shirt in bright orange plus a Wallis blazer just to mention a few!
I don't have to shop in charity shops (as in I can afford brand new) but I begrudge paying out £30 for something I can pick up in a charity shop for £1.99, it means more money in the bank, money for charity and clothing not going to waste.

Sorry OP your friend sounds a bit snobby. I used to work in a good charity shop. Most of the stuff that people donated they'd already washed and dried before coming in anyway. Then we had to iron it in the back before we put it on the rails.

I have gotten some lovely stuff for the DCs and myself from charity shops. There is one I won't use but that's not snobbery its because of the ridiculous markups they put on their clothes and the way they treat their staff (not hearsay I saw it with my own eyes). I was really struggling a few years back after I'd split from my 'D'H . My DSs present that year was a guitar that cost £2 from the charity shop. They retailed for the minimum £20 in the other shops.

My aunt comes from a family who are quite well off, (her DH is very well paid). She'll often talk about some of the very good bargains she'd pick up from the charity shops who were charging next to nothing for second hand designer clothes.

Yes - children at private schools, more than one car, multiple holidays a year. I drop stuff off at charity shops & if I see something nice while I'm in there I'll buy it, for them or me. No different to wearing an older siblings clothes or those from a friend.

No, everything tends to be worn and scruffy. Much nicer and easier to buy new and then pass it on.

"Queen employs Royal shoe-wearer to soften up new leather"

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/queen-elizabeth-II/9278018/Queen-employs-Royal-shoe-wearer-to-soften-up-new-leather.html

No I don't and i wouldn't I'm afraid it's just not for me. All to their own though. I do however let my kids wear stuff from people I know and I pass all my stuff on.

No I tend to buy new.

Dd will be my only baby and I enjoy the shopping and I want to buy her new.

I do donate anything in good quality condition

I look but the ones near me don't tend to have much so only ever got a few things. There was a beautiful Monsoon skirt I saw recently for £2.50 but was just too small for DD. I've got a few kids books over the years-always worth a rummage.