Sunday 6 March 2016

You won't believe what I bought for $6.99...

Here's one thing I'm constantly amazed by as a parent: kids really do grow fast. And I mean fast!

My five-year-old daughter's shoe size went from size 8.5 to 10 practically overnight (ok, more like within a few months, but you know what I mean!). I'm proud she's so healthy and strong, but I'm also a little bummed by the extra costs in shoes.

And of course, she needed shoes during the "off season." For instance, we had to buy new winter boots last week, which happened to be the end of freakin' winter! So instead of paying full price for boots that would only be worn for a week, we went thrift shopping. 

Hello, Kid to Kid Mississauga – we bought a pair of kid's Cougar-branded boots for $10. And now that the weather is getting warmer, my daughter's going to need outdoor shoes for school. Luckily, we found these Skechers below for $6.99 (and the lights still work!). 

Skechers, size 10 for $6.99 from Kid to Kid Mississauga (and they still light up!)
Wanna know something sweet? We sold our old Snugli baby carrier, a few pairs of shoes and an old dress of my daughter's at Kid to Kid Mississauga; I got a $12 credit, so I used it towards the shoes and a few shirts. 

So really, I paid nothing for today's purchases!

Thrift Shopping Tips
If you really want to reap the rewards of thrift shopping. check out a few of my tips below: 
  • Sign up for e-mailing lists for coupons, announcements on special sales, etc. 
  • Join "clubs", like Value Village's Super Savers club card for better deals. 
  • Find out what the thrift store's conditions are for selling items to the store and getting store credit in return. FYI: Kid to Kid Mississauga can be extremely picky in terms of buying used stuff and they do take awhile to scrutinize the condition of each item submitted (i.e. frays, treads on shoes, scuffs, etc). 
I have yet to purchase gently-used clothing through social media, but I'd love to know your thoughts and tips on this. Sound off in the comments section below.