Kids and secondhand

I was just wondering about your children, do they mind having secondhand clothes?

Buying secondhand clothes is fairly new for me, maybe the last year or so. I was looking for tracksuit bottoms for DD11 to go on scout camp. Didnt find any that time but did find two pairs of jeans that looked brand new, from Debenhams and Next and were £1.50 a pair. I didnt admit to DD at the time where they came from and she didnt know for quite a while but then I told her and she was fine about it, but we have this agreement that we dont tell her friends/people she knows.

DS14 is quite happy to have things but I rarely find anything suitable for him as he is quite fussy about style of jeans, designer etc.

So what do your kids think?

going back now but my son had a mixture, brand new and some good second hand dont think it matters and its up to the parents really when they are buying the clothes. I guess they can buy what they want when they are paying.

Thats true, I do buy new as well eg trainers and they last my two a long time as they seemed to have stopped growing feet wise.

In less than two years DS will be able to work part time somewhere (hopefully) and be buying his own things.

Personally, buying second hand clothes is not for me. I wouldn't hesitate in accepting 2nd hand things from friends or family though, becuase I would "know" where they have come from IYKWIM.

Although I will happily buy second hand books or DVDs - in fact I prefer a book that has been well read!

Since I have started selling our old clothes at car boots, I have realised how many people do buy 2nd hand. Some people couldn't get enough it (some of the clothes were well worn and I thought, ready for the bin!)

I never pay full price for DDs clothes though, I wait until sales and then stock up for the following season, so in the new year sales I will buy DDs clothes for next Autumn/winter.

I have two boys 21 and 10. With my 21 year old I worked, had a good wage and looking back probably to cover up my guilt over having to leave him he had an extensive new wardrobe. I have done totally the opposite with my 10 year old, I had saved a lot of my eldest son's clothes so he wore those and my mum is a car boot queen so she got most of his other clothes from the car boots/charity shops apart from shoes which I have never skimped on. My initial reluctance for him to wear second hand "stranger" clothing soon diminished as I saw what someone else was prepared to throw out and he has had some lovely things over the years. My 10 year old is not bothered about wearing something that is second hand and I have even heard him say to his friends my nan got me this but not gone so far as to say where she has got it from lol. We have only recently started to buy some in fashion jeans from Next due to necessity as the car boots/charity shops seem to only cater for the younger child so he was getting a bit desperate for trousers after having a growth spurt. I also needed some jogging pants for him to use this week on his school trip and I bought some from Asda for £6 not expecting a lot for that price and I was so impressed with the quality I have ordered two more pairs. My eldest is now very snobbish about his clothing and is prepared to pay for the labels but as he works he pays for most of his own clothing.

Thanks for your comments ladies, secondhand isnt for everyone I know. I always wash everything I buy before anyone wears it and that way I know its clean. My DD has had some fab stuff and I never pay more than £2 for anything for her if its from a charity shop. I just think it makes sense, the only trouble is when you go into town and look at the prices it can come as a shock. I never skimp on shoes, my two have both had Clarks and the 11y/o still is wearing Clarks for school.

loving life, ikwym about looking on the high street after being used to second hand prices. I used to get most of my clothes from the outlet or from the charity shop where I worked. Now I'm out and about looking in regular shops I'm having to adjust to the fact that that's what things cost!