Tips On Buying Secondhand Clothing

What:  

"Vintage." "Recycled." "Loosely worn." These terms are all ways of describing second hand clothing. Tough economic times and a growing concern for the environment has encouraged people to shop secondhand or donate used clothing. Secondhand clothing can be found in various thrift shops, consignment stores, garage sales and on the internet with auction websites such as eBay. Today, many used clothing that are in good condition are waiting in stores for someone to notice them. 

For the budget-conscious and the environment conscious, shopping secondhand clothes can be fun and challenging -- you never know what surprises you'll find!  You might not find anything in your size that you like, but if you get lucky, you may find an item that's absolutely perfect for you, or better, a real treasure!   In fact, a friend of mine purchased what she thought was a cute little purse at a garage sale for $15. Little did she know that it was a designer brand whose purses usually go for several thousand dollars a piece and the appraised value of her secondhand treasure was close to a thousand dollars!

Why:

Secondhand is cheaper, less likely to shrink, and eco-friendly. By buying secondhand clothing, you give used clothing a second life and keep it kept out of the landfills. In this day and age of environmentally friendly options, buying secondhand is a great idea and can be especially beneficial for families on a budget. Some charities can run secondhand clothing stores and make money from the sale of the clothes to help others. Buying secondhand clothing also gives you an opportunity to discover great clothes for a very low price, not to mention there are different styles and sizes for everyone! You'll get to enjoy the thrill of the hunt, find unique items that no one else will have and help reduce textile waste in landfills.

How:

• Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for secondhand clothing and other everyday items. Yard sales are great for finding cheap used clothes and you can haggle the price.

• When you're sifting through thrift shops, look for labels that you know and trust. The prices may be a little higher especially if the garment was well-cared-for, but the quality and reputation of the manufacturer guarantee a longer wearing.

• High-end clothing for both adults and children is sometimes donated to secondhand stores. You can check out stores near upscale neighborhoods for new donations.

• Make sure to thoroughly check all of the items. Ensure that all seams are tight and secure, especially around the collar, armpits, buttons and zippers. Check for moth holes, loose stitches and stretched-out necks, armholes and waistbands.

• Don't waste time in piles and piles of clothing -- it's time consuming and can be frustrating. Pick stores that organize clothing well enough for you to quickly and easily find what you need.

• Bring clothing that is too worn, ripped or stained to be sold or donated to recycling centers.

TIP: Make sure you wash all your newly-bought secondhand clothing before wearing them. When buying toys, you must disinfect before giving them your kids. Blankets, sheets, towels need to be washed thoroughly as well.

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Baby clothes on a budget

Children grow quickly, too quickly.  Parents always lament this all too well known fact.  It seems like little Johnnie and Suzie are newborns on Monday and by Friday they are packing their things to head to college.  In the meantime parents spend a great deal of money providing essentials for their children.  Feeding them, taking them to soccer games, sleepovers, and clothing them.  It seems like children can outgrow their clothing in a matter of weeks, especially newborns.  Mothers who want to keep their new babies decked out in the latest and greatest can spend a small fortune, or more likely a large fortune clothing the little tike.

So how can someone keep their precious little bundle of love outfitted in designer baby gear without taking out a second mortgage on the home?  Thrifty moms and some ingenious retailers have helped to answer this question in spades.  Used clothing stores is a great way to find gently worn, quality name brand clothing at a fraction of the price you would pay if purchasing new.  Basically, these stores offer to pay people for their used children's clothes.

People take clothes that their children have outgrown to these stores by the bag, bucket and box full. Next a knowledgeable attendant sorts through the clothing checking for tears, wear, fading and other signs of deterioration.  They select the clothing for which there is a market and pay the owner.  Sometimes they may even work out a trade or store credit.  So as your little one outgrows that wonderful onsite, trade it in on one a bit bigger at your local recycled baby clothes retailer.

Another possibility is to jump online and look for advertisements to local yard sales or garage sales that advertise clothing is the size you need.  This is a great way for those who enjoy bargaining with people to save money and have a little fun.  You can pick up some items for pennies compared to what it would cost to buy new.  You just need to be a little discriminating.  Since most newborns outgrown their clothing in a matter of weeks, chances of finding something that has very little wear and something you like in the size your child needs are fairly high.

If you're a bit of a packrat and find yourself trying to figure out where to store another box of clothing your children have outgrown, you might consider having a yard sale of your own.  You could make a bit of extra money and get some storage space out of it as well.  Who knows you might even find a buyer for all those old license plates you've been hanging onto for the last several years.

If you're not the type to want to purchase someone else's used clothing, there are still other options.  One thing that may help you to save a bit of money and doesn't require you to leave the comfort of your computer is going online and checking out what might be offered through your favorite online auction site.  Not everything on these sites is used in this category, some are brand new.  People acquire these items by purchasing in reduced prices from big box stores items that have been overstocked.

You may wish to employ all of these methods; it is really up to you.  If you do, who knows, you might save enough money to buy something nice for yourself.

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