While browsing the aisles at my local thrift shop, (the kids needed sneakers for camp and I wasn’t buying new ones - have you seen what camp does to sneakers?! They have brand new ones that they have been forbidden to wear until their big debut on the first day of school) I noticed the racks and racks of children’s jeans, all looking nearly new. Or at least as “new” as the current style of worn-out, faded and holey would allow.

Kids grow out of things so fast and inevitably will wreck the thing you spent the most on first. Why not save some money and get some of their clothes off the deep, deep discount racks of your neighborhood Goodwill store? 

If you stick to just buying jeans, skirts and shorts (nicer pants don’t fare as well second-hand) and buy shirts, shoes and sweaters at regular retail, you can literally save half or more of what you would typically spend to outfit them for school.  Jeans even at Target’s bargain prices run about $15 - $25. Goodwill prices all children’s clothes for ages over 2 years old at $2.07.  Other thrift chains are similarly priced.

They’ll look just as nice and put together and you’ll have a healthier bottom line.