| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 08:55:41 AM
I found a wonderful cotton knit baby blanket made by Gymboree at a thrift store locally. I paid 50 cents for it, and it's the best blanket we have, honestly. We call it the "magic blanket" because each and every time I lay it down on the couch, and place Violet on the "magic blanket" she coos and giggles and is out like a light in 5 minutes or so. It's been very "sticky" here lately with humidity, and it feels soooo cool to the touch, and it gets softer each time I wash it--it's made from very high quality cotton...SO, I thought I'd like to buy a couple more because we love this one so very much.
Turns out, these "magic blankets" are $29.95!!!! I knew Gymboree was expensive, and I'm not saying that the blanket isn't a good one, but REALLY? 30 Bucks for a blanket????
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
| 18 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Jun 10 2009 : 06:16:28 AM
Oh, Elise! How lucky to get a bag of cowboy button downs! They ARE expensive! And you're right, it's very easy to buy and buy for little girls, boys clothes are somehow harder to find, especially in good shape. Boys are sure hard on things!!!
Trish, I bet Owen is the cat's meow...that little boy would be just darling in a potato sack! But, I totally agree with you about thrifting and buying on clearance. Even before Violet was born, I bought items up to 18 months old, because you simply don't know how they're going to grow. Vi is really rather petite, but she's long, so we're out of some of our 0-3 month feet sleepers, just with the feet. My mom said, "cut them off!" but then I couldn't donate them, so I won't. My mom also told me that she put me in those little gowns, with the elastic bottom and that when I started to get longer, she rubber banded me in them! I won't do that to Vi :)
I hit Goodwill in Florence and across the state line in Indiana over the weekend and found some good basics for Violet to sleep in, now that the weather is warmer. All baby items were 1/2 off, so .75 to a $1.00 isn't bad. She really digs those soft knit pants, and I got quite a few pair of those.
Trish, I don't get that whole "name brand" thing. Carters is the BEST clothing going. That and Health Tex. I just bought a really cute Health Tex outfit that still had the tags on it from a consignment in Indiana...I mentioned how adorable it was to the clerk and she said the girl who brought it in said she "wouldn't dream of putting her daughter in something that wasn't name brand!"...and I thought, "well, stupid girl, thank you!" We also have one of "those" consignment shops as well, called "Hand Me Downs" right up the street from me. She'll only take items that are name brand, and then charges $8.00 and up for Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, etc. dresses and sleepers, or Talbots Kids, or whatever. I don't wear that stuff myself, so I wouldn't buy it for Violet. We like "out of the mall" clothes...she's also high on her resale furnishings for nurseries.
Lynn--how AWESOME about the coats. Shopping thrift is actually how I feed my coat fetish..yes, I have one! You will look HAWT this winter!!!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
| ranchmama |
Posted - Jun 10 2009 : 05:57:51 AM
My children are only dressed in hand-me-downs and thrift store finds. With the exception of jeans for the boys. Wranglers I can only buy new.. I do find some for my oldest but have to check the knees. He can only wear the 2nd hand ones about half as long as brand new ones, he is hard on jeans!! Last year a lady with older boys gave me sacks of cowboy shirts, those are expensive too! My boys are set! And if I can still pass them on, I've got a friend with a little boy who only wants button down shirts.
I've had to stop buying for my daughter, I'm always finding cute thigs for her! I keep saying it's because she'll be in school next year.. just 2-3 days a week, but still she's got plenty. I can always find cute skirts and dresses for her.
Winter clothes are a must at the thrift. I found a pair of Columbia snow pants and play coats for the kids.. This way if they get dirty or rip, I'm only our a few $$. If they tear up or stain the $1 shirt, I don't feel so bad! Same goes for me for that matter lol. I can make stains just as bad as the kids hee hee ;)
Elise
Every Child Deserves Our Love &
A Bear of Their Own
http://ATeddyForKeeps.org
http://ranchmama.blogspot.com/ |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Jun 09 2009 : 4:16:37 PM
I have the best dressed boy in town, and I am super cheap. We go to yard sales, and buy clearance stuff for the following seasons. Owen is wearing 2T and I have huge bins of 3T and 4T brand new clothes that I paid 75% or less of the retail price. About three months ago, i got brand new Carter's pj's at Sears for $3, regularly $18-$24. The most I paid there for any one item was $7 for a coat. I do pay $5 for levi's and Carhartt's from ebay. But that is cheap compared to retail, and I can resell them. I can't resist dressing him like his dad.
We have a ridiculous resell shop in the next town over. She will buy Nordstrom brand pj's, that are beat and ragged, but she won't buy next to new Carter's, because it's not a name brand. I don't think she is doing well, I keep seeing her ads on craigslist.
Gymboree has really cute designs, but I could never ring myself to pay that much.
Trish
Make cupcakes not war!
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| greyghost |
Posted - Jun 09 2009 : 3:25:27 PM
quote:
My friend does clothing inspections for large retail fashion houses (Limited, Express, NYCompany, etc...) and tells me the horror stories of how cheaply these clothes are made, who they're made by, etc...I'm just not sure how we get suckered into paying these prices for things that are made so shoddily and cost so little prior to retail markup.
Agreed on how cheaply things are made. Anybody who sews much can see how poorly many things have been put together - using cheaper materials that don't hold up, easy stitch lines, that kind of thing. I hate that many clothing items are almost see-though, the fabric is so cheap.
I just got two AWESOME winter coats that are older than I am, with the tags still on them, for $25 each. Full length, wool, beautifully cut, absolutely classic - I am going to look HAWT this winter, let me tell you! |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - May 29 2009 : 06:05:01 AM
I did that, Elizabeth--you're right, they still sell for crazy prices on there, and I thought to myself, you would actually BID on one of these and stress out about winning the auction (because I'm highly competitive!). I'd probably end up paying $30.00 for it anyway, by the time it all ended :P
I totally agree with you about these prices. I bought all of Violets clothes from either the thrift, or dirt cheap at TJ Maxx or some other deep discounter on clearance. I said: "the first time she poops, pukes, or pees on something I spent $30.00, she'll never wear it again!" Unfortunately, that's just not logical, so I have tubs and tubs of thrift clothes that if she does the former, or doesn't get to wear them because she's a long as the day, then I'm only out .25 cents or so.
Smart women unite!!!!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
| babysmama |
Posted - May 28 2009 : 4:40:45 PM
Jonni-
If you really need some more of those magic baby blankets you can check ebay for them. They still sell fo crazy prices on there but not quite that much!
I just can not pay those crazy prices for kids clothes (or adults) when I know I can find the same clothing at a garage sale for $1 or $2 (or sometimes 25 cents!). Plus, my kids are like dirt magnets and have honestly ruined a shirt the first time they wore it. I don't get angry about throwing away a shirt that cost 50 cents but would blow my top is they stained or got a hole in a $20 shirt! So the cheaper clothes keep me sane and my children alive. lol
-Elizabeth |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 7:06:53 PM
Don't think there isn't a small part of me that hasn't thought about that, Katie-Ell!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
| Especially For You |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 3:54:16 PM
I have a friend that has a store here in Watkinsville. It is a childrens clothing store. Now I go to the mart with her because of my business, but she marks things up 150%. And she wonders why her business is not doing well and mine is doing great. She will charge (for an infant dress, just a cotten dress no smoking or anything) 75.00. I think she is crazy as a betsy bug!!!!!
Tina |
| katie-ell |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 2:07:45 PM
Just to throw in another perspective: if the blanket is indeed magic for Violet, then maybe it is worth $30!!
www.youaretoocreative.blogspot.com |
| knittingmom |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 1:24:42 PM
Thrift is much smarter and it's amazing what you can find.
"There is no foot so small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world" |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 1:09:28 PM
I guess so, AnneMarie. I really didn't know what "Gymboree" was until my baby shower. Someone bought me a little layette set from there, but because I don't set foot in malls, I had no idea where or what it was.
I seem to think that if it's not under $20.00 (at a department store) then it's too high. I even put things back that are $9.99 at Target, so I think the thrift has made me a lot smarter.
My friend does clothing inspections for large retail fashion houses (Limited, Express, NYCompany, etc...) and tells me the horror stories of how cheaply these clothes are made, who they're made by, etc...I'm just not sure how we get suckered into paying these prices for things that are made so shoddily and cost so little prior to retail markup.
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
| knittingmom |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 1:03:03 PM
You're paying for the name. The actual blanket probably only cost less than $10 to make.
"There is no foot so small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world" |
| LauriP |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 1:02:46 PM
>> I can't see paying that price for something !! <<
And it seems insult to injury that the price is for a baby blanket...but I have to agree that when you get used to shopping pretty regularly at a thrift store, going to any other store is something of a shock. I get so stunned by the "Sale" price of blouses, it's just not funny.
I recently bought a shirt at a thrift store, in really good condition, and when I realized it was something that was "on sale" in a high end department store, I nearly screamed out loud -- "Forty Dollars?? And this is on Sale??!!"
Poor Noah..he just sat at the breakfast counter an' shook his head...
I wont go into what most products cost to manufacter..that gets really depressing!!
Laurianne |
| Sitnalta |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 1:00:53 PM
It is crazy what baby items are going for these days. I go thrift shopping and shop their "sales"..lol When I go into the stores like the Childrens' Place or Baby Gap, I walk around with my mouth hanging open saying to Hubby..this is nuts! Crazy people pay these prices for the same thing I can get at Goodwill...LOL
hugs
Jessie
Farmgirl Sister #235
"You are my strength when I am weak. You are the treasure that I seek. You are my all in all. Seeking You as a precious jewel; Lord, to give up I'd be a fool. You are my all in all."
Stop by my blog for a visit www.messiejessie2.blogspot.com |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 12:25:16 PM
Yeah, I agree...everything IS getting higher (especially food!) and I always shop thrift, so I'm thinking that "my" sticker shock is a lot more "shocked" than most folks :) Things are overly pricey for little ones--the Baby Gap makes me want to laugh out loud! I think I might hit more thrifts and also that Once Upon a Child to see if I can find the blankets there. Lately, I've been barring myself from those types of stores because I never leave empty handed, and I already have enough stuff!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 11:53:58 AM
Jonni, I like the .50 blanket used much better than a new one. Maybe you could find a new one on sale and have that for a back-up if something happens to the other one. Things sure are expensive for kids anymore. I have found really good kids clothes from Gap and Gymboree and the Children's Place at thrift stores lately for just a few bucks. I have been to those stores and am amazed at the high prices for such itty bitty small things. And they grow so fast, too. By the time they wear a cute little expensive outfit one time they've outgrown it by the time it's washed.
Just wait til she gets bigger. You ain't seen nothing yet!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Contrary Wife |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 11:44:53 AM
Everything is getting expensive. I thought I would pick up a couple of inexpensive blouses at Shopko to wear at the cemetery where I work.....no! I will not pay 30 dollars for a shirt from Shopko!!
Teresa Sue
Farmgirl Sister #316
Planting Zone 4
"Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly." The Dalai Lama |
| Alee |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 10:27:39 AM
Wow! That is crazy!!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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