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Consignment shopping can be fun
as well as rewarding. I was first introduced to consignment shopping
when I was pregnant with my daughter, about 12 years ago. The
trend of buying second-hand clothes was just beginning. I started
shopping at a store that consigns women's and children's clothes,
toys, and baby furniture. At first I just bought some baby clothes
there and marveled at how inexpensive they were (1/3 or less
of retail prices). As my daughter got older I didn't have any
little girls to give her clothes to, so I started consigning
her clothes. |
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The consignment store decided
how much the clothes should sell for, and after the clothes had
sold, they gave me 30 to 50% of the purchase price. For just
a few items that might only add up to a couple of dollars, but
if you make a practice of taking in all of your children's outgrown
clothes, it can add up quickly. Where I shop, they will either
give you the cash when the item sells, or they will hold your
money "on account" so that when you buy something there
in the future, your purchase is subtracted from your account.
After I had started consigning
my daughter's clothes and realizing the benefits I was receiving
(when you both buy and sell items at consignment stores, you
get the benefit of low prices, your children get the benefit
of wearing the clothes until they quickly outgrow them, and then
you get to re-sell them, making a profit that almost equals the
value of buying the clothes in the first place!), I started going
through my dressers and closet and realized how many clothes
I had that I never wore. I was a little reluctant at first to
get rid of so many clothes, but I took a deep breath, and consigned
them. I ended up bringing home at least $50 for a couple of grocery
bags full of clothes. I realized that I could use that money
to buy new (used) clothes that I really would wear, and that
no money would have left my pocket! That's when the adventure
really began. |
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As time went on, I got braver and
braver about simplifying my life and getting rid of all of the
things I didn't want or need anymore. Have you ever paid a lot
of money for an outfit and then didn't like it after all? Of
course you have! Many times people are reluctant to part with
clothes that they paid a lot for and never wear (maybe because
it shrunk the first time you washed it). Consignment shopping
takes all of the guilt away! The first step is to let go of the
guilt and get rid of the clothes. When you start buying your
clothes at consignment stores, that guilt is never there. If
you decide you don't like something you bought there, take it
back and consign it. You didn't pay much for it in the first
place, and you can use the money you get from consigning it to
buy something else.
At first I usually just kept the money and didn't buy new clothes
with my profits. I only shopped there occasionally and didn't
see much I was interested in. Then I started going more often
and realized that there really were great clothes there, but
they go in and out of the store so fast that you have to go often
to find the best deals. I haven't bought a brand new pair of
jeans in years. I have, however, bought many brand-name pairs
of jeans consignment shopping that would have cost anywhere between
$30 and $50 new, and I paid about $8 a piece for them. Many look
like they've never been worn.
I bought and sold my daughter's clothes there from the start.
She is now 11 years old and I have very rarely ever bought new
clothes for her. My sister spent about $50 on a shirt and a pair
of corduroy overalls for her last Christmas. A few weeks later
we found a similar pair of overalls in another color at the consignment
store for about $8. My daughter was thrilled. I'm glad she can
also find joy in consignment shopping. I know that in a couple
of years she may not be as thrilled about buying second-hand
clothes, but buying used clothes is becoming a lot more acceptable.
More and more people are becoming fed up with expensive prices
and the high cost of living in general. Our favorite consignment
store even recently created a section just for teens that looks
just like a department store display.
If you don't have a consignment shop in your town, the next time
you visit the nearest big city, check out their yellow pages
or ask around. Even if you make a trip once or twice a year to
clean out your closet, it's well worth the effort! In these times
of corporate "down-sizing" and just trying to get by,
don't spend a large portion of your money on new clothes. You
don't have to be as extreme as I am and buy all of your clothes
at consignment stores, but if you keep your eyes open and look
for opportunities to spend less on clothing, you won't regret
it! |
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Author: |
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Rachel Paxton is a freelance
writer and mom who is the author of What's for Dinner?, an e-cookbook
containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For more recipes,
gardening, organizing tips, home decorating, holiday hints, and
more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.
© Copyright 2002 Rachel
Paxton |
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