Saving Hand Me Down Clothing Can Save You Money
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When my first child was a toddler, we had no idea if we could have more children. In fact, he was three and a half before our second child was born. But, ever hopeful, I had saved his baby clothes for the next child.
Who would have thought that I would get so much bang for my buck by saving those hand me downs for the next kids?! In fact, thanks to durable clothing, proper storage, and a little patience, we’ve saved quite a bit of cash by holding onto hand me down clothing.
In fact, even my girls are able to wear some of the items that my oldest wore when he was a preschooler!
Last week, I sorted through and did a “changing of the guard,” if you will. The youngest FishBoys were cajoled into trying on a number of different clothing items to see if they still fit. What was too small was passed on to the next kid or the giveaway bag. What was left was there for him to add to his wardrobe.
Here are some tricks that have helped us save money on clothes over the years:
Buy Durable Clothing
I don’t spend big bucks on name brand clothing. I never wanted to fuss over stains and tears which is what I would do if I was buying expensive clothing. Instead, we’ve chosen to shop for classic, quality items, usually on clearance. I prefer new, though I know lots of people who find great ideas at thrift stores. Either way, buy something that appears to have a lasting quality — in both substance and fashion.
Store Clothes Properly
As you may know, I have major bug and rodent issues. I can generally handle spiders, but every other creepy, crawling thing better stay away. As such we’ve invested in Sterilite boxes to store clothing. These stack well in the kids’ closets, come in a variety of colors, and generally keep bugs and rodents from investigating your stored clothing.
Be Patient
The patience part comes in when it’s time to change your kids’ wardrobes. It can be a chore to switch out the old and figure out what hand me downs will work. Kids can vary in taste as well as body build. But, think of it as shopping in your own home. Not only will you save a bundle on gas, but you’ll save money on clothes, too.
Hand me downs have kept us afloat financially. In the years when Christmas gifts were toothbrushes and new socks, everything else (except some underwear) was from older siblings, neighbors, or friends.
Great post!
Annie Kate
With our four children saving the hand me downs has been a huge saver. It is so nice to just look through a bin in the closet for the next seasons clothes instead of running to the store.
Doesn’t everyone do this? 🙂 LOL! As a mom, now I know that not everyone does this. Seems to be that people think: new baby = new stuff. I grew up in a family of 9 and hand-me-downs were just part of the territory, whether they came from older siblings or cousins who had finished wearing them.
I agree, storage can be tricky. We use the Sterilite totes, too, and they are taking up a lot of room in the small walk-up attic we have. We have a girl (4) and a boy (2) and another girl on the way, so at least I’ll be able to reuse some of the girls’ things. Different seasons, though, but I know the bigger things will work (just not the itty bitty stuff).
We are having a huge consignment sale at a church here today and I plan on getting a few pieces for the baby that I still need and checking for clothes for the older 2. I don’t mind buying used, but I don’t buy the cheapest clothes, either, as I know we are passing them on to others.
We do this; each size goes in a box (one per size for each sex). I also have one box of boys shoes and one box of girls shoes.
Today we went “shopping” in my closet (where I keep the boxes) for shoes for 2 of my children.
I also have boxes for BIGGER sizes. That way, if someone passes something on to us, or we get something at a garage sale (I buy a couple sizes ahead) I can have it in he box, ready to go. When my son grows taller and needs new pants, I just go get the box, and I have clothing ready in the next size up. If a birthday comes along, I can also go to the box for clothing for gifts (both new and used).
This saves me so much time.
Sorting, storing, and changing the my kids’ clothes is one of my major trials as a parent. I really dislike it. I like your suggestion to think of it as shopping (thrift shopping is probably a good comparison). I also have saved money by buying gender-neutral clothing as much as possible. My kids’ (boy and girl) wore the same clothes for the first 3 months of life, and whatever else could pass as gender-neutral afterwards.
Thanks for hosting this link up, I have already found some great ideas! I goofed on #15 above and was unable to delete it so feel free to remove it. Thanks again for sharing great ideas.
I do this also. I have a 5 year old boy that is in size 6/7, and a 3 year old boy who is in mostly hand me downs. I will buy a new thing for him occasionally. I have donated a bunch of stuff to goodwill (receipt for showing donation goes in the taxes file), and actually sold some of the baby stuff at a garage sale last year. I have limited storage also. I use every space under the beds, in the closets, etc. It didn’t help that I had a summer baby, and a winter baby, because not all hand me downs worked. I have baby number three on the way. I don’t know if it’s a boy, or a girl, so I’ve got to keep everything I have right now.
Also, after the first baby, you know what works for you, and what doesn’t, and can sell what doesn’t. I can’t use footy pajamas because my boys are too long, and I hated fighting with them to change the baby’s diaper. You get the idea.
I had no idea we would be having another when we had our first. #2 was thankfully another girl, but we hadn’t saved much from #1. 🙁 No good. We saved a lot of #2s clothes not even thinking about having another come along, but then I was pregnant again with #3. All girls. All usable clothes. 🙂 Been passing them along though, because I have a few friends having girls and a rough time financially. Not thinking we will have any more. Possible adoption (in 5-10 years) or fostering. Called to it.
We have two daughters and we have saved so much money from storing my oldest daughter’s clothes for my youngest to use. Sometimes I feel badly that our youngest mostly wears hand-me-downs. But at 3 she doesn’t realize it yet.
Thanks for the link-up.
THANK YOU so much for this post!
I’ve saved most of the clothing from my oldest (he’s nearly 6) – and we’re still using the ‘nicer’ pieces 3 kids later for our 6 month old!
HOWEVER, the storage of such clothing in our little house is beginning to drive my husband a little nuts – any suggestions for how to balance the saving of clothing w/ little storage space?