Please welcome the first guest poster ever on Diary of an Unlikely Housewife: Jill, of Scary Mommy! Jill is gorgeous, and incredibly nice. She is one of my favorite mom bloggers – her blog is funny and very relatable, and it’s always a pleasure to read. Here’s a little taste.
I am an incredibly thrifty person. I love discount stores. I clip coupons. I get the max for the minimum and never, ever pay full price. It’s how I’ve always been, and I can’t imagine any other way. Despite all of my thrifty habits, though, I refuse to shop thrift stores. Most of my friends have no problem going that route for their kids, and they’re totally right– the clothes are in great shape and a fraction of the price… Why not? Honestly, it just grosses me out. What mystery child had a blow-out diaper in those pants? Wiped snot on those sleeves? Puked all over that dress? I know what my kids do in their clothes and it nauseates me. And I love them. The thought of a alien child’s poop? Gag.
I discovered the joy of my own child’s hand me downs with my second son. Having had boys so close in age and during the same seasons, my youngest owns nothing but previously worn clothes. And I love it. I love getting him dressed and remembering my older son in the same outfit. I love comparing their sizes, their smiles, their adoring sister with them… It is quite convenient to box up Ben’s outgrown clothes and walk 20 steps to Evan’s closet to put them away, knowing in a year I’ll see them all again. It’s the best type of second hand store in the world.
It almost makes me want to try for another girl, just to see my daughter’s sweet little dresses again.
Almost, I said. I’m not insane.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t like wearing shirts out if thrift stores because I always think of other peoples arm pits in it.
I guess it depends on the thrift store, for me. I’ve bought the majority of my kids’ clothes from a few thrift stores, but they have to be nice stores, not grubby, etc.
I don’t like thrift stores, but there is a group of moms around here who have a seasonal consignment sale. One woman does all of the organizing and has it at her house twice a year, and you can find some really great clothes. I’d say about 50 moms participate, and we all know each other on some tiny level, at least, such as through preschool, supper clubs, church, etc. It’s great! My son has gotten a lot of cute outfits this way.
Crap. This has totally ruined “Thrift Shop” shopping day for me.
Nope. Wait . . . I’m over it.
I bought most of my kids’ clothes, and all of my maternity clothes, on eBay. And I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.
What a great post… I can totally relate! While I often send clothes that my children no longer wear to certain thrift shops for children, I will never ‘buy’ items there. For the reasons you stated above!
However, I love putting my oldest sons’ clothes on my baby boy. I too think back to my son at ‘that age’ and it always makes me smile. I can’t believe my big boy was that little once, and I like that his brother is getting good use out of the clothes – Lord knows we have way too many little boy clothes so it’s great that they are getting to be worn again!
Great new place you have here. Very clean. Very inviting.
Mike
http://somethingaboutparenting.typepad.com
Twitter: AboutParenting
Hmmm… Now I know where to get rid of all those pants I exploded into. Apparently it’s the status quo for thrift stores. I feel so accepted!!