Saving Money on Kids' Stuff
Where to Look for Top-Quality Secondhand Items
Secondhand doesn't have to be second-best. Think outside the big box store for the best deals on kids' stuff.
Raising children is expensive. In the U.S., the Department of Agriculture reports the average annual cost of raising a child is more than $10,000. As someone who bought a dream wedding dress for $25 at a thrift store, I'm all about finding creative ways to live well at below-average costs. This is one reason my kids dress in, sleep in, and play with items that once belonged to someone else.
In addition to the obvious financial benefit, other incentives for buying or receiving used items include the reduced impact on the environment, the opportunity to model financial responsibility for our children, and the opportunity to live more simply, countering the idea that material consumption brings happiness.
Here are my favorite sources for secondhand kids' items:
Resale stores: For high quality kids' clothes, toys, and baby items (e.g., strollers, crib sets) look for a Once Upon a Child, Children's Orchard, or similar store in your area. Kid-focused resale stores are especially good places to find dress clothes, which are among the most expensive retail items and receive the least amount of wear. Another reason to patronize these stores is that they'll pay you for your gently used kids' items.
Thrift stores: Check traditional thrift stores for kids' furniture. While it's hard to find functional items (like cribs and beds) in good condition at these stores, they're usually bulging with end tables and bookshelves that only need a coat of paint or some light repairs to be good as new. The focal point of my son's nursery was an extra-long coffee table that functioned as a window seat. We paid $5 for the table and $6 for a small can of yellow paint, added a few handmade pillows, and were thrilled with the results.
Web sites: The obvious example is eBay, where you can score like-new items for as little as one-third of their original cost. For even better deals, check out Freecycle, a grassroots network of people who give and receive used items at no cost. Membership is free, and members can post and respond to offers of various perfectly good but no longer wanted items. If your community doesn't have a Freecycle group, you can volunteer to start one.
Garage sales: I'll admit it: I'm a garage sale nerd. My husband and I went garage saling for our first date and have furnished much of our home with nice stuff purchased from other peoples' driveways. We recently bought a bedroom set for our son for $100 - the same bed, dresser, nightstand, and hutch still displayed at our local discount furniture store for more than $400. We've also found a plethora of toys, including a wooden train table for $15 and an entire collection of Thomas the Tank Engine trains and track sets for $30 (about $300 retail value). Clothing, too, is priced lower than you'll find at secondhand stores. Our daughter's snowsuit cost $2 at a garage sale and looks as if it's never been worn. Similar items retail for $30 or more and are priced at $20 and up at our local resale store. To find the best garage sale deals, read the classified ads and arrive near the start of sales that list items of interest. Look for multi-family and neighborhood sales, where people who don't have enough stuff to justify a full-fledged sale will take advantage of the visibility by dragging a few large items out to the driveway. Also watch for garage sale signs, since not everyone will advertise in the paper. Unadvertised sales tend to draw smaller crowds - and less competition for the best items.
Friends and family: When I was pregnant with our first child, my husband and I received a crib from a couple whose children were then in junior high. Our car seat came second-hand from a trusted friend who could confirm that it had never been in an accident. That same friend gave us a crib set and later a little boy's bedding set. These people had a surprisingly hard time finding takers for their good-quality children's items. Some of our other friends have confirmed that they'd rather spend money on brand new items than take someone else's hand-me-downs, even if those hand-me-downs are in good shape and are still in style. So chances are, someone you know is looking for a home for the very item your child currently needs. The best way to become aware of these opportunities is to start offering your own outgrown items to people who might have use for them. Offer only things that are clean and in good condition, and don't be offended if the intended recipient says no thanks. Eventually, you'll find a "match" for your belongings, and you'll come to mind when other people have something to give away.
