by Claire
The kids needed summer clothing in a bad way with both of them growing taller in the last few months. If you aren’t careful you can blow some serious cash on keeping kids in clothes. It amazes me to see people paying high prices for clothes that will likely no longer fit in 3-6 months. With that in mind, we shop resale when we can. I’m thankful for the current movement toward thrift shops because my son doesn’t have any need to get mall clothes. He’s very practical about it all and I pray that continues. My daughter is just happy to get any clothes as she just loves fashion and isn’t old enough at almost 9 to worry about where they come from. We hit a resale shop called “Kid To Kid” and both of them hit the jackpot! For $123 my son got 4 pair of shorts, 2 shirts and my daughter got a dress, 3 pair of shorts and 10 shirts! All name brand, all gently used. It was a victory shopping day!
As we drove home my son mentioned that he admires that I don’t need to keep up with others. He said that because I’m a lawyer people assume we would only shop expensive brands and at certain stores. I offered that yes, a lot of professionals do that but not all of them. A lot of people who aren’t professionals do that, but not all of them either. I suggested that many people are shopping on borrowed money and incurring debt for material things. I was proud to see that he wasn’t embarrassed but instead excited about our finds. He also gets that just because his mom is a lawyer doesn’t mean he can’t wear used clothing. He knows that he grows fast and he knows that it makes little sense to spend $40 on a pair of shorts that aren’t going to fit next year.
To answer a few of your comments I want to share that I hope to be debt free in the early part of 2014. If I get lucky and find new ways to cut corners, December would be a very lofty goal. We’ll see.
Born and raised in Texas. I’ve at least driven through every state in the US courtesy of a roadtrip loving Dad.
I’m single with two children and a good parenting relationship with their father.
I am a “life is just half full of funny” kinda gal. Humor is my saving grace and I am thankful for it every single day. I have a strong Catholic faith and am thankful for that foundation.
I read a lot for a living but still enjoy a good book. I love biographies but in recent years have found the need for fun fictional books–sadly, for a long time I just didn’t enjoy fiction!
I love live theatre of any kind–from local productions to Broadway.
I love to scrapbook and pride myself in my kids’ albums.
I love being a mom but also love my career. I’m blessed to have found a balance allowing me to be at everything my kids need and want me to be at–while also having a career.
Favorite Quotes: Well behaved women rarely make history.
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. -James Bryant Conant
Claire,
Congrats on the new debt numbers. Remember Romans 12:19 as you consider ex hubby and NW!
Nice finds! We have a “Kid to Kid” and a resale store called “Uptown Chic” here that are both hugely popular. You can find $150 jeans gently used for $20.
As far as a lawyer shopping in these types of stores, keeping up appearances can be a big problem for those who care about that sort of thing. Hubby and I get strange looks and a lot of judgment from his coworkers if we talk about buying on the cheap, foregoing vacations and driving our cars until they’re 10 years old. They all pretty much know each others’ income levels and they assume we are deeply in debt or don’t know how to manage our money. Nope, neither. We’re just trying to save up $30,000 and knock out our mortgage in the next 5 years. They can’t even get their heads wrapped around that.
Meanwhile, it’s hard watching everyone take fancy vacations and buy new cars when you can afford to do the same, but you choose not to.
A side effect of this journey is teaching your kids to be independent minded in ways that don’t involve money. Your kids youth may not be the reason that they accept buying things smarter. It may be that you’ve taught them by your behavior not to follow the pack.
My daughter, for example, never wants to shop in malls because she has come to dread looking like the other girls (Uggs, skinny jeans, etc.) She’s a lucky 15 year old who gets some great hand-me-downs and also loves shopping at SA and a local store called Savers. My boys are the same (though they have no interest in the hunt).
I think raising independent-minded kids is the best gift you can give them. It will serve them well as they get older, as they will be able to reject the bad choices of others and feel good about it.
I have a lot of luck with facebook groups that are Buy Sell Trade Free for my area of town. My kids are both under 6 and at that age, i just refuse to spend 25$ on ONE pair of shorts, unless it’s for a special occassion. Even then…LOL But you should see if your area has something like that. I think we have honestly like 7 groups for my part of town…some specific for just kids, some for all kinds of stuff. But i’ve gotten gymboree clothes new with tags for way less than 1/2 the price it would cost to buy them new myself.
Good luck, and I think it’s awesome your kids are on board with this!!
I once found brand new Tommy Hilfiger capris (tag on) regularly $70 which is nuts, and on sale for $5. I also found a great little cropped Chanel syle jacket for work. I bought it because I loved the apple green color and it was $7. Later I researched the label and found out it was from a shop in Paris. I loved it even more after that.
I didn’t ask because I kind of figured you would be done this year (with the debt). Not only are you slaying it, but traditioanl setbacks (many of which you have had recently) seem to be pushing you full steam ahead. I think you will likely be debt-free in 2013. & if not, early 2014 is the same difference in the grand scheme of things. 😀
Can you believe it is June already?!? Do you feel that time is flying as you are so busy with paying down the debt? I just feel like you will be done with this in a blink. January will be here before you know it…
I think that’s great that you were able to get some good finds on some gently used clothing. I’d probably add to that conversation with the kids and talk to them about being respectful of our money and about happiness in general. I think it’s important for them to be able to make choices when they have money-spending it on things that are important to them and spending less money on our items that maybe our less important to them. Clothes that they will outgrow in six months might fall into the latter category and saving their money for something they really want, but want to purchase new, would be o.k. Being respectful of our money means that regardless of our annual salary or income level, that we respect our money and don’t waste it or spend it carelessly. Maybe later you can even give them some money for clothes and something they want and let them make choices on how to spend it.
And finally, I think it’s important to know that money doesn’t buy happiness (although some days it can come awfully close, lol). A home cooked meal made from fresh, wholesome food, eaten with good friends and family in a clean, tidy home can be marvelous. Much better than a restaurant meal that costs more and may not be as good for you. Granted, over their heads at this point, but the point being that you don’t have to spend money all the time to be happy.
Very good going but re-sale stores and boutiques are not necessarily that cheap. Now find the thrift stores in your area. You could be spending less for very good buys.
I make most of my own clothes which include several dresses from 100% cotton, very high quality name brand bedsheets; one of them from a Laura Ashley sheet has garnered compliments 3 times, when out shopping; “Excuse me for asking but where did you buy that dress?”
My husband has cashmere sweaters, 2 Armani suits and 1 Oxxford suit, all from The Salvation Army stores.
Admittedly we live near what is nick-named “Chateau Country” near Philadelphia where clothing ends up in thrift stores because of a small stain or a missing button, but we used to live in Huntsville, TX and found exactly the same situation, when exploring the thrifts near and in Houston, San Antonio and Austin.
I smiled when I read about your kids not caring about buying their stuff from re-sale. It’s so important that they learn young NOT to keep up with the Joneses (who are probably in debt up to their eyeballs!). I’m teaching my nieces/nephews the same thing – that money doesn’t come easy (mom/dad work VERY hard for their money) and when you can buy something just like/almost like what everyone else is wearing for so much less and keep the money in your pocket – well, that’s a no-brainer! You take it home, throw it in the washing machine – and WHO KNOWS?? They love that! While our own financial situation is safely secure, I LOVE to shop in thrift stores – I have THE BEST wardrobe, and I have to say 75% of it comes from thrift! (I draw the line at underwear! ha ha) I agree with the other gal who said you should try out a Salvation Army or Goodwill in your area. The re-sale stores are the “middlemen” – so cut them out and save even more! I’m telling you – you MUST check them out. I guess I’m to the point in my life that I really could care less what others think – to thine own self be true is my mantra. I love “Cathy C.’s” comment about how people just assume what your financial situation is! She’s right – it’s probably never even entered their “orbit” of thought that they were paying off their mortgage! But guess what – we are the ones smirking because we know we HAVE the financial stability that many of them will NEVER have/achieve. And that in itself gives me great comfort! So keep up the great work at being frugal! It actually just becomes habit – realizing that you don’t NEED so much crap in life to be happy! I cannot wait to read about when you become Debt Free and the awesome feeling you are going to have!