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by Hope

It’s that time of year again.  The seasons are changing and the children are growing so fast I can’t keep up.  Three of my four have pretty much outgrown all of their clothes, including shoes over the winter.  In years, past I could count on help from my younger two’s father to help with clothes, but that is not the case this year. So what do we do…we went shopping!

Thrift store win as displayed today as we left for school, on our first of many to come 80+ degree days.  Every item of clothing displayed in this photo of my oldest three this morning was purchased yestarday at our local thrift store…a whopping total of $20 for all three outfits.  With the Princess winning the Most Affordable outfit at a whopping $4.

I’m sure most of you have already experienced the joy of thrift stores.  But here are my tips for being successful at thrift store shopping:

1. Wear clothes that you can slip clothes over or under to try on.  This is not a MUST everywhere but with ours there’s a No return policy and No fitting rooms, so we find this saves us money and disappointment.
2. Patience is key.  If you don’t find what you want today, check back tomorrow.  Thrift stores are constantly getting new items in and re-stocking their shelves.
3. Be thorough.  Princess is planning to cut off several pairs of thrift store jeans for cut offs for her hang out clothes for the summer.  We actually failed on this one yesterday and got all the way to the checkout counter with a pair of jeans that had a hold in a not acceptable place.  Thank goodness for great customer service who caught our mistake.
4. Be sure.  Just like retail shops, if you buy it and don’t wear it, it’s a waste of money (especially if you can’t return it.) I really push this with my kids, even with the items that are just $1.99.
5. Go when you have time.  Thrift shopping is not something you can do quickly, things are not necessarily organized by size or color or much of anything, so you have to look.  It’s not something that you can do in a rush.  So prepare for a wandering afternoon through racks.

It can be a daunting task, but so worth is financially.  I am happy to announce that each child got a good start on their summer clothes wardrobe…and I only spent a whopping $60. Thrift store WIN!

Hope

Hope is a resourceful, solutions-driven online business manager with over two decades of experience helping clients streamline operations, manage projects, and grow their businesses through digital marketing and technology.

But life has a way of rewriting your plans.

A year ago, Hope made the decision to move in with her aging parents full time – a season she wouldn’t trade, even as it came with its own financial and emotional weight. Earlier this year, she lost her mother, and is now walking the tender, disorienting path of grief while learning what “forward” looks like from here.

Hope came to the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015 as a single mom raising five foster and adoptive children. She’s written through job changes, financial setbacks, and the bittersweet transition to an empty nest. Her kids are finding their footing in the world now – and so is she.

Rooted in faith and fueled by the same perseverance she’s brought to every hard season, Hope is ready to face her finances with fresh eyes and an honest pen. She believes that clarity, courage, and community can change the trajectory of anyone’s story including her own.

She lives in Austin, TX with her dad, loves adventures with her dog Addie, and is figuring out, one step at a time, what this next chapter is meant to be.