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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I can't ever imagine being so financially well off that...

293 replies

DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou · 30/10/2019 19:44

... I would pay £49 for a toddler puddle suit from Mountain Warehouse when I could buy a second hand MW one on eBay or fb for £3.

There's a few of these like this.

Same goes for buying things such as Bumbos brand new. Jumperoos or vtech walkers.

Who actually buys these brand new when they can constantly be found for a fraction of the price in immaculate condition elsewhere.

OP posts:
hopefulhalf · 31/10/2019 06:07

In my defence we hand down and are handed down to loads, but admittedly less now dcs are teens.

MsTSwift · 31/10/2019 06:26

My 13 year old only wears clothes from 3 shops as it is no way would she accept anything second hand. Make the most of it while your kids unaware....

We did a mixture when you sahm second hand makes sense but when you work no time for fiddling about just before we left London I attended a second hand children’s clothes sale run by investment bankers wives. I bought a bin bag full of clothes for my toddlers then left London. Felt a right prat in my new city where my toddlers kitted out in designer wear amongst everyone else in normal clothes. Think I said apologetically “they’re second hand” about 100 times Grin

Applesanbananas · 31/10/2019 06:31

I dont buy second hand for us or my DC. I have had enough of hand me downs as a child. I do want the nicer stuff Instead of just scraping by.
But I wouldnt just throw money away as well.

SoyDora · 31/10/2019 06:47

I’m a SAHM and still rarely buy second hand. When you try and arrange times to collect things in between school runs/babies nap times/when they’re actually going to be in and risking them not even being there when they said they would.... nah, I’ve got better things to do with my time.

sheshootssheimplores · 31/10/2019 06:56

I LOVE people who have the money to spend £££ on new clothes. They have to exist for me to buy them second hand later on for a few quid.

Theducksarenotmyfriends · 31/10/2019 07:09

Totally agree with what Purpletreefrog said.

Someone else said: I would not buy second hand clothes when I can find new so cheaply.

Have you thought about why new stuff is so cheap? Maybe the little kids in sweatshops have something to do with that?

We have so much stuff, way too much, especially clothing. Textile waste is a massive environmental problem. There's nothing wrong with second hand stuff, but we need to challenge this mindset that we need so much stuff all the time and repair the stuff we already have.

BeanBag7 · 31/10/2019 07:13

I would rather buy good quality stuff second hand than cheap sweatshop stuff new. I've had frugi clothes second hand which wear like new, compared to primark stuff which looks baggy after 2 washes.

I do buy new but almost exclusively in sales, and can often sell for at least half what I paid making it even better value. I rarely buy stuff full price and new but if i needed something then I would.

SoyDora · 31/10/2019 07:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SoyDora · 31/10/2019 07:32

Oops wrong thread! Reported.

hopefulhalf · 31/10/2019 07:52

Beanbag I don't disagree in principle, however teens grow quickly nothing of Dd's from last year fits....I have a professional job which entails wearing clothes which are smart (not repaired and not too "worn" looking. Your idealogical stance is a priviledge of not having to present in a certain way in a professional enviroment.

Jokie · 31/10/2019 07:52

I buy new but in the sale so can get JoJo/frugi stuff at more than 70% off. I also buy second hand clothes where appropriate but it depends. It's often not available when I'm looking for it (e.g. a jumberoo) so it all depends what's available at that time.

I also refuse to use eBay after some bad experiences and Facebook marketplace can be a real mix.

hopefulhalf · 31/10/2019 07:55

I have just googled jumperoo, sorry but just why ? I thought it was one of those door way hanging things. It looks like a technicolour baby prison why would you want such a monstrosity ?

hopefulhalf · 31/10/2019 07:57

As pp said appalling developmentally.

ChickenyChick · 31/10/2019 08:02

Haha, I had kids before jumperoos were invented too

Wtf?!

Ridiculous baby prisons Grin

SoyDora · 31/10/2019 08:02

Yeah, just like a prison. I kept mine in one 24 hours a day and only let them out for meals.

hopefulhalf · 31/10/2019 08:03

HahaHalloween Confused

Velveteenfruitbowl · 31/10/2019 08:05

We have two children. We buy everything new. About 50% gets work through before DC2 grows out of it. The rest is usually on its last legs. Buying second hand would be a false economy especially when there is a risk that it will fall apart after a couple of wears.

hopefulhalf · 31/10/2019 08:06

I wouldn't judge anyone for new or second hand baby stuff, but would judge you for using one of those contraptions. Babies of 6-9 months should be out on a mat, rolling, propping, sitting, pulling up and crawling in a baby proofed room. Not imprisoned like that- it's horrible.

hopefulhalf · 31/10/2019 08:07

Going to stop now. Have to go to work.

MintyMabel · 31/10/2019 08:09

Funny how this kind of post is absolutely ok. I can imagine the response if posted:

“I can’t imagine being so poor I could only buy second hand things for my child”

SoyDora · 31/10/2019 08:19

My baby spends approx 98% of the day doing all those things, hopefulhalf. He also spent 10 mins in the morning when I was doing the older two DD’s school reading and spellings jumping happily in his jumperoo, and maybe another 5-10 mins in the evening while I was dishing up dinner (crawling babies and open ovens aren’t a good combination).
He’s 9 months and we’ve sold it now as no need for it anymore.

SoyDora · 31/10/2019 08:20

Oh and he’s walking at just under 10 months so think his development is ok so far.

Looneytune253 · 31/10/2019 08:21

I don't understand? Do u buy everything second hand yourself too? I love finding bargains but you can't always find what you like!! I knew which kind of winter coat I wanted recently and bought it new!! Like others have said if no one buys new then there'll be no second hand bargains for anyone. If that snow suit you mentioned was the specific one we liked; then yes of course I'd just buy it from the mountain warehouse. I don't mind finding a bargain but some things are nicer new

Oblomov19 · 31/10/2019 08:24

You learn quickly. I bought a few things brand new, but you learn quickly.

However, selling and buying second hand, is hard work. Time spent? Is it really worth trawling through, to save a few quid? For many, it's just not.

I sold on eBay and car boot sales and I worked really really hard to make it all nice, set up etc: everyone wants everything for nothing. It's demoralising.

MintyMabel · 31/10/2019 08:30

Have you thought about why new stuff is so cheap? Maybe the little kids in sweatshops have something to do with that?

You do realise the expensive shops use the same labour as the cheap ones? H&M and Arcadia score better on worker welfare than Gap and Boden