Second hand clothes

[parentpanic]

Do you buy second hand clothes for your children and AIBU to ask why and how you feel about it?

@Aria999

I also went through a phase of doing knee patches but DS destroys them faster than I can sew, so there is a growing' weds mending' pile in the cupboard.

I got fed up and turned my boys' holey trousers into shorts!

I buy a lot second hand and then sell on after. Partly for environmental reasons and partly because I like nice brands but I’m not prepared to pay full price. I also try not to buy fast fashion where I can help it, I’d rather spend three quid on a good quality, second hand t shirt on Vinted or ebay that’s been made in ethical conditions than a brand new one from primark that’s been made in a sweatshop and is only fit for rags by the time it’s grown out of.

*ForestLake
No. I just don't like second hand.

So no antiques? vintage? Always brand new houses? Do you ever stay in a hotel? Sit in a train? Eat in a restaurant? Go to hospital?

I'm making enormous savings. You are paying full price. What your full price is, is kind of irrelevant, as for me to purchase the equivalent would be 80% cheaper.

You are making those savings if you believe the RRP and if you value the brand of what you buy. In many cases some of those items you are paying for prestige/brand, rather than intrinsic materials/goods etc.

DTwins had gorgeous Moncler snowsuits, £565 (I think) each. Except I paid £70 each. One had only been worn once, and I had both dry cleaned, so when it came to put them on, they were new for all intents and purposes.

The "price when new" is irrelevant because most people simply do not believe those items are worth paying that much for.

Your example is neat in that it happened you were able to sell those on for more but that isn't always possible and you take ths risk of having spent £140 on children's snow suits. You can get an excellent Columbia down one for £35. I think most people will agree that more money spent doesn't always equate to a commensurate rise in quality, often what you are paying for is a fashion brand and many people value those less highly than you.

@MollysDolly

People who claim it's more expensive have have obviously never looked (the super overpriced listings are promptly reduced). If they hate secondhand so much it's unlikely they have actual seen the sites or shops themselves.

Completely agree. DTwins had gorgeous Moncler snowsuits, £565 (I think) each. Except I paid £70 each. One had only been worn once, and I had both dry cleaned, so when it came to put them on, they were new for all intents and purposes. DTwins wore these almost daily last winter. Superb quality and looked awesome. I sold them this winter for £120 each. So, my two had £1000 odd, of brilliant quality snowsuits, that I ended up being paid £100 for them to wear.

But, you know, I could have been "smart" and bought them both a brand new one from River Island for £50 each. Because who would spend £70 on a snowsuit.

The only issue is that Moncler use real fur...

Yep, and hand me downs too. I've found buying clothes second hand costs me less than kitting out for new, and it's greener. I also like second hand for myself.

@ForestLake

No. I just don't like second hand.

Why not?

Nope. Never. I don’t like the idea personally but I think that goes back to my childhood in the 70s when as the child of a struggling single parent I wore second hand and hated it. DD never had a huge wardrobe of clothes and wore a lot of inexpensive supermarket stuff too.

Yes. I buy second hand / shop in cheaper stores like primark for my son's clothes for nursery. Then generally stick to a few nice new outfits from river island / zara etc for the weekends.

I do, most of my sons clothes are second hand (hes 6), shoes are always new as everyone had a different foot shape etc which does change the integrity of the shoe.

We’ve recently started buying things for when our little girl moves in, we’ve bought, washed and stored enough in the size ranges to clothe her for at least a year. We spent about £90.

@DeepaBeesKit

I'm making enormous savings. You are paying full price. What your full price is, is kind of irrelevant, as for me to purchase the equivalent would be 80% cheaper.

You are making those savings if you believe the RRP and if you value the brand of what you buy. In many cases some of those items you are paying for prestige/brand, rather than intrinsic materials/goods etc.

Again, no I'm not.

Just because you wouldn't pay a high brand new price, is irrelevant. The point is, whether you buy something for £10 or £100, I'm buying it for 80% less. The fact you don't ever buy expensive items is neither here nor there.

I'm saving (on average) 80% on the things I buy. Whether that is a £1000 table you wouldn't spend £1000 on, that I get for £200. Or a £25 dress that you would buy, that I get for a fiver.

If you want to argue that a brand new £600 sofa from Argos is just as good as the handmade ones I have (£900 for both, I won't tell you the new price, lest you spontaneously combust), or your new £10 Primark dress is just as good as a Boden one I got for £4, then ok...

Got a Christmas jumper and t shirt for Ds from school second hand sale and it’s reminded me how much I like second hand clothes! Would love to receive / buy more tbh. Our local charity shops do a better line in adults than children’s clothes.

Yes and also buy second hand bundels on ebay for myself. I don't have any particular feelings about it. I just buy things I like.

@coochyboochy

I do just find second hand shoes beyond the pale. You can't wash out the traces from the previous wearer- they always carry the sweat et. It's just grim. Yes toddlers get dirty but I presume you still bath them to remove the dirt, we don't just leave kids dirty. I don't know why you would subject a child to that,

There's always one ...

I don’t have DC but I won’t buy second hand clothing or anything else. I don’t want it, even if I know where it has come from and I know their home is spotlessly clean. If I can’t afford it new, I just save until I can buy it. I’d rather go without than have second hand.

I would never in a million years judge anyone else for buying second hand, I’d congratulate someone on getting a bargain and I regularly donate stuff to charity.

I don’t have DC but I won’t buy second hand clothing or anything else. I don’t want it, even if I know where it has come from and I know their home is spotlessly clean.

Why not? What do you think will happen?

@Omicrone

I don’t have DC but I won’t buy second hand clothing or anything else. I don’t want it, even if I know where it has come from and I know their home is spotlessly clean.

Why not? What do you think will happen?

That’s a bit of an odd question Omicrone. I don’t think anything will ‘happen’. Why do you think I think something would happen?

I don’t buy anything second hand because I grew up in poverty. Where nothing (and I do mean nothing) was new. Ever. And a very common consequence of growing up like this is that the thought of wearing some stranger’s clothes makes your skin crawl.

It’s wonderful if you’re finding really high quality furniture or you’re saving loads of money or you’re being green. It’s not so nice when there is literally no other choice. And now that I have a choice, I’d rather darn holes than buy second hand.

I don’t buy anything second hand because I grew up in poverty. Where nothing (and I do mean nothing) was new. Ever. And a very common consequence of growing up like this is that the thought of wearing some stranger’s clothes makes your skin crawl.

I get this about the clothes, if it holds bad childhood memories. And clothes are physically wrapped around your body.

It’s wonderful if you’re finding really high quality furniture or you’re saving loads of money or you’re being green. It’s not so nice when there is literally no other choice. And now that I have a choice, I’d rather darn holes than buy second hand.

I appreciate what you say when it's not out of choice. But you say that you now, do have a choice. So why can't you "find high quality furniture, save loads of money, and be more green" at your choice? Just not with clothes.

No. I do get occasional hand me downs from my sisters DC though. I just wouldn't consider shopping for second hand clothes. It's not the norm where I'm from.

I appreciate what you say when it's not out of choice. But you say that you now, do have a choice. So why can't you "find high quality furniture, save loads of money, and be more green" at your choice? Just not with clothes

It extends to everything, not just clothes. I’m well aware it’s considered weird by lots of people and I’m fine with sitting on friends sofas etc. And I know I’d be really impressed at the quality of your furniture. I just don’t want it in my home.

My son is obsessed with charity shops and finding old things so I indulge this hobby. He's autistic. As a result of this I have embraced charity shop buying! I would never have done this otherwise. I have bought him some fab clothes and indeed a few things for myself. I recently found a gorgeous Boden coat for a fiver for my friends DD, it's still on the website for 70 quid! I also got myself a perfect condition TopShop parka for £4!

As long as things are in great condition I feel that I'm doing some good for the charity and the environment 🤷🏻‍♀️

To add to my previous post, I'm able to afford new but if I can find bits for a rapidly growing child then great! I also regularly donate and pass on. It's so much better if you can do that and reduce waste. Anything knackered goes to recycling.

DD is clothed almost entirely in hand me downs from her cousins who are 1 year older. Absolutely perfect for nursery where they come home covered in paint, mud, glitter every day. I tend to buy new for DS but nicer stuff in the sales which I then pass on to a friends' DS. I also buy a lot of second hand for myself - it's rare that I'm not wearing something from Vinted or Depop every day.

Yes. I buy bundles and we’re given stuff plus stuff is given away after. Good for the environment. I do buy them things as well. Pants, socks, vests, thermals, decent shoes, good gloves, swimwear type stuff and if they needed something I’d buy it but fairly organised in getting bundles in advance.