Where to find cheap/used kids clothes

[christie1]

My kids need summer clothes. Where can I shop in the UK for cheap kids clothes. Are there any shops where they sell used clothes for kids, how are the charity shops for kids clothes. I have been to woolworthes and marks and spencer but prefer to buy used if I can. Any suggestions please?

here?

The charity shops vary - I find British Heart Foundation dear, but good quality, and Salvation army is very cheap but variable in terms of choice.

Charity shops, second hand sales (look for flyers advertising these locally) post an ad in the wanted section here on Mumsnet!

The quality varies wherever you are. I have 5 charity shops near me and any one time I go looking for clothes for my children, I can usually find one or two items worth buying.

I found Barnardo's cheap, but not much there, ebay is quite good.

How old are they?

Charity shops are probably hit and miss - need to go in regularly to see what thy have in. I imagine good stuff is pickd over quickly.

TK Maxx is worth a look occasionally, if you can cope with the jumbled up, busy rails. Can get some good bargains though.

The supermarkets have some lovely llothes in most summers.

Ebay and Mumsnet are good for cheap clthes. Keep reading the For Sale sections on Mumsnet!

Watch out for inflated postage on |Ebay though

Supermarket clothes (I like George @ Asda) are very cheap but fair quality for the price.
I love charity shops but prices do vary from shop to shop.
Car boot sales will be starting now I think, there are often clothes for sale at those.
Are you anywhere near a city? There are many discount clothing stores like Primark.

Yes Mumsnet is, on the whole, far more reasonable than ebay (but I would say that as a regular seller!)

Primark. I just got my daughter 3 bottoms, 3 tops a cardigan and 3 pairs of tights all for the princely sum of £8. Cheaper than most charity shops!

look on the NCT website for your closest Nearly New Sale, they're usually held twice a year and sell good quality 2ndhand clothes. Our local toddler groups do them too.

I have to go now but if you needed boys clothes aged 4-5 5-6 I have a fair bit, anyway will check this thread later.

Oh yes, TK Maxx is great, but try to go without children if you can!

Go to a car boot sale, nearly new sale, use freecycle or buy from ebay

Or just ask people (at work/school etc) if they have any clothes they would like to sell on!

Charity shops are always worth a look (although British Heart Foundation fund animal research). Supermarket clothes and other cheapies are often from sweatshops and Asda's George brand (and Disney store) have been found to contain toxic chemicals.
However, Primark are trying to become more ethical - at least some of their clothes are made in the EU - and they are starting an organic range.
Sometimes there are NCT or playgroup sales which can be excellent.

Car boot sales.

I just brought my dd some lovely linen shorts fron tesco's 2 pairs for £5 & a couple of lovely t-shirts which were £2.00 each.

I also went to primark & got some 3/4 length trousers & 2 x t-shirts for £6 the lot.

I Have just bought loads of summer clothes for my dd from ebay. i love them! You can get things so cheap providing you dont overbid. Half the stuff is new but not worn too. So worth a look!

I find most used kidswear shops tend to be the 'designer resale' type and cost more than new 'normal' clothes.
I second NCT Sales, they're great fun and your money is going to a good cause. Charity shops are a lucky dip but it's always fun, I buy lots of books in them and DH is a vinyl fiend.
Sainsburys, Tesco & Asda are generally excellent quality given the low prices but probably ethical issues there??? We have a non-food Sainsbury's near us that always has reduced stuff, gorgeous little rugby shirts for £3 right now and I bought some cords for DS that were 50p!

You need a friend whose children are slightly older than yours

Ebay.

Agree that postage costs can sometime be high, so here's a tip to save postage: Make sure you filter the search by entering your postcode (box is on left hand side of the screen) and selecting within which distance you're prepared to travel. This way you can collect in person from someone local. Most sellers are usually happy for you to collect in person and pay cash, but you should email and check first.

Also agree that supermarkets are good. Got my DS some T-shirts in Tesco sale for £1, so cheaper than the charity shops.

HTH

For new stuff that is a bit nice I use La Redoute & Vertbaudet, which both do lovely kids clothes. What I do is not buy for ages and then they send me offers like 20% off and free postage, so I get something for my 2 DD's then. I like to wait for them to offer free postage too, and save more. Get recommended by a friend to get money off.

How old are they?

NCT sales are amazing!!! look on the website

also twins clubs sales can turn up great clothes

or why not buy in hennes etc and then pass yours to charity shops - that way they are recycled and you get what you need

First, very sorry it took me so long to get back. I had not intended that I wouldn't get back online for so many days. I am started studying for exams and other stuff going on so it got busy. Kids are 10 on down to 2. I am in london and find it hard to find good (cheap) charity shops around here and can't face the prices for clothes they will soon grow out of. I like the supermarket clothes idea. The sainsburys I shop at doesn't sell clothes but will look further afield to see what I can find. I appreciate the advice very much.