Kids just keep growing. It’s an inescapable fact of life that as they grow, they need clothes in bigger sizes. For that matter, you also need to buy clothes from time to time. Every April or May we take out our summer clothes only to find that some of them are so old and faded they simply can’t be worn anymore or are just totally out of style. As an example of this, when I took my shorts out of storage a few weeks ago, I found that several pairs were so short that there was no way I would be seen wearing them in public.
Their trash could be your treasure
There is an old saying that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. This can certainly be true when it comes to clothing. The recession we have just gone through (or may still be going through) has forced many people to think of new ways to supplement their income–or loss of income. One of the most popular of these is to take their “excess” clothing to what is called a consignment store.
Consignment stores?
If you are not familiar with these stores, they are called consignment stores because you consign your items for sale. When and if the items sell, you get some of the selling price less whatever the store charges – usually a fixed percentage.
What makes these consignment stores a good place to shop for clothing is because the clothes there can be of very good quality. The simple fact is nobody takes cheap and shoddy clothing to a consignment store because they know it would never sell. Even wealthy people like the idea of making money on clothes they are no longer wearing. This means you can actually find some very high-quality clothing at one of these stores. The trick is to find a consignment store in or near an upscale neighborhood, as it is more likely to have good quality clothing than one located in a very urban area.
Clothes for growing kids
This can be an especially good way to clothe those growing kids. There are dozens if not hundreds of parents like you whose kids have grown out of jeans, shorts, shirts and tops and who have taken these “gently used” clothes to consignment stores. If you find the right store, you may be able to find really good quality clothing for your kids at a fraction of the normal price. For that matter, you might be able to take the clothes your kids have outgrown to your nearest consignment store and make some of your money back.
Consignment stores vs. thrift stores
Don’t think of these consignment stores as thrift stores. Thrift stores are generally stores where people have contributed the clothing, often exchange for a tax write off. The clothing that you typically find that one of these stores is likely to be in poor condition. However, the clothes you find at a consignment store can be in excellent shape. We have found it’s not uncommon to see top brand names at these stores, including Levi’s, Juicy Couture, Aeropostale, Abercrombie and Fitch, American Eagle and Pink. Your kids might at first balk at the idea of wearing used clothes but once you wash, iron and spruce them up and they see how good they look, you can bet they’ll stop complaining.