Hurray for second hand clothes!!

[oxocube]

This week, two mums who I know through my kids' school, have each given me a big bag containing loads of clothes that their boys have outgrown. Some of the stuff is really lovely (cutie Oshkosh dungarees, toddler snowsuits etc.). Its like Christmas has come early! I really love it when mums hand on their kids' stuff.

My cousin, who has 2 boys, was really snobby about this and absolutely refused to dress her kids in second hand clothes, which was such a shame as her mum, my aunt, is the Bargain Queen and finds some amazing stuff in car boot sales and charity shops!

Am so made up, I just wanted to share this with someone

I only ever bought 2 outfits for DD in her first year. Even now, most of the stuff she wears is what I have been given by friends with older DDs. If the clothes are in good condition I don't see any shame in reusing them. It has certainly saved me a lot of money.

When I was about 14 my friends and I all used to go to jumble sales and see who could get the best bargains but I have to admit that I haven't been to one recently. I do sometimes have a look in the charity shops but often find that prices are as high as sale prices in proper shops.

DW has bought maybe 10% of DD's clothes new since she was born and most of those were vests and the odd 'cute' outfit.

The rest has either been given to her or bought second hand.

Some of it that was given to her was almost brand new.

I do know people though that won't use anything unless it is new. I really don't know why they are like that, it's not like they aren't clean or going to be made messy once worn.

Oxocube: maybe your cousin is sensitive because she felt forced to wear 2nd hand clothes growing up?

A lot of my clothes are 2nd hand (never mind the kids' ). I'll start dressing them in "new" clothes when they ask for new. I think it funny when someone says, "I don't want to offend you, but would you like some of my child's old clothes?" I'm hopelessly scruffy, so surely I can't be offended if they realise the obvious about me...?

Zebra, it amazes me too when people tentitavely (sp?) offer 2nd hand stuff & say 'I don't mind if you'd rather not have 2nd hand' - I wish more people would pass stuff on! But I can understand it, I've got a big pile of lovely clothes & 2 grobags up to 6 months but feel a bit funny about offering them to friends with newborns. I suppose we must worry (stupidly) that said friend will think they're being treated like a charity case, when it's not like that at all (especially with stuff that has hardly been used). Aren't we silly?

Zebra, Like you, I also have loads of clothes which have been given to me from friends who have either outgrown them or who have just tired of them. Isn't it great!! I also NEVER throw anything away if it is in good nick- even if I don't want it myself, I pass stuff on to my mother-in-law, sisters-in-law etc. Just another form of recycling really

I recently swapped 2 skirts for 2 blouses in the school playground. Unfortunately the jacket didn't fit me. Why waste money when you can swap and both benefit.

Almost all of DS's things (toys as well as clothes) have come from NCT sales, car boot sales or Ebay auctions. Funny that the people I know who wouldn't dream of buying 2nd hand are the same ones who're always commenting on how nice his clothes are!!!

Hear hear!

I would quite happily cloth my son in 2nd hand clothes if I had any friends here in the uk with clothes for him. I have bought numerous things at 2nd hand kids clothes shops...Certainly my pending arrival will be wearing all her brother's handmedowns! Though I will have to break down a buy her a few new dresses(!).
The very first things my mother (who is a very unsnobby multi-millionaire) bought for my ds were 2nd hand...she spent more money sending them from the usa than she did buying them.

When I found out i was pregnant I mentioned it to my neighbour, who I didn't know very well, and she not only gave us bags full of clothes but her dd's baby walker, gym and playmat! Since then we have become really good friends, her dh and mine go for a pint every week and now she is going to be dd's godmother!

My dds live in 2nd hand, NCT sale stuff and hand me downs too!!! Here's to recycling!! GillW, what are Ebay auctions? What have I been missing out on?

Batey - Ebay auctions are on online auction for - well - almost anything. You have to register before you can bid, but then it works much like a traditional auction. Baby clothes tend to appear in 2 sections - the baby items section here and the infant childrens clothes section (can't get 2 links in 1 message) here -listings.ebay.co.uk/aw/plistings/list/all/category3082/index.html

When ds1 now 7 was born i woudnt dream of buying 2nd hand clothes, but how times change , as soon as i was expecting dd2 i loved scoureing(sp) charity shops for clothes.I recently bought 2 pairs of bhs school trousers,a shirt from next, a pair of trousers from gap, a pair of shorts from mothercare and a pair of baby dungarees also from next all for £4.50!!!, its wonderfull haveing all that spare money to spend on other things. When ds1 was a baby i wouldnt think twice about paying £40 or £50 on one outfit, i wouldnt dream of that now, unless for a special occasion and even then i would check out the charity shops first.

I dressed both my baby sons in second hand clothes, mixed with new ones (usually bought in sales).

However, don't you find it gets increasingly difficult to find nice second hand clothes once they get past 3 or 4 years? Boot sales have lots of second hand baby clothes, but far less nice stuff for older boys, especially. Perhaps because older boys are quite hard on their clothes?

Looking at my sons clothes, as he grows less fast, the clothes last him longer and are far more worn out when he outgrows them. More difficult to pass on to anyone, even his younger brother. However, I still have managed to fill two huge boxes to the brim with my older son's more decent cast offs.