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Jen: Is that a Frankie Says Relax! T-shirt you’re wearing?
Kelli: Vintage, baby!
Jen: Did you find that at a vintage clothing store?
Kelli: Pulled it out of mothballs actually. It was time. Have you been to the mall lately? The 80’s are back!
Jen: I’ve actually been avoiding the mall and their high overhead prices. I’m more at home at places like last weekend’s Just Between Friends Consignment
Kelli: Nice move being on the recycling bandwagon early! Don’t get me wrong about my Back-to-School shopping visit to the mall. Despite the new push for “going green,” I’m living proof recycling has always been fashionable.
Jen: How so?
Kelli: I spent the 1970’s in plaid hand-me-downs; the 80’s in swapped neon and big-hair rocker band concert shirts; the 90’s in borrowed roommate Daisy Dukes and unitards; and came full circle in the 2000’s putting my babies in cousin hand-me-downs.
Jen: I love hand-me-downs, or as I like to call it – regifts! I’m right in the middle of the baby/toddler growth spurt stage. Jake is pretty stable, but Caleb is growing like a weed! He seems to need new clothes every other week, so besides wearing recycles from his brother, it’s nice to have regifts from friends with boys too.
Kelli: I didn’t truly embrace the value of accepting and sharing pre-used items until I started having kids. With all the sudden expenses of diapers, formula, baby food and necessities it was such a relief to have gotten some of the big ticket items for free.
Jen: Definitely! And although most of us would love to just point at the Pottery Barn catalog and instantly have our child’s room or nursery instantly transformed, it’s probably not going to happen.
Kelli: Exactly. Especially in the current economic times, it’s hard to justify spending $40 on a new outfit that your 3 month old will wear once.
Jen: That goes for older kids too. Although they are usually harder on clothes than an infant who isn’t walking, things like coats and ski parkas tend to be easily passed down.
Kelli: As a kid I had a love/hate relationship with hand-me-downs. On the one hand, I really wanted my own, new things. But on the other hand, some of my favorite outfits came from my cousin’s cast offs. Like my first pair of Dittos jeans.
Jen: Or those stylish, stone washed Guess Jean jackets….
Kelli: Oooh, I would’ve let someone name my first born Jehosaphat if they had passed on their Guess jacket to me.
Any way, it was great to have friends who started families before me so I could reap the benefits of their baby tested and approved, but quickly out-grown items. ‘Cause those baby Bjorns aren’t cheap! Plus, you hate to have spent money on an Exersaucer if your baby is going to scream every time you put them in it.
Jen: Or, if your first child liked something, it doesn’t necessarily mean their sibling will love it too! Another thing to keep in mind is the high demand for quality and gently used infant/toddler items. They sell like hotcakes at the consignment stores and those giant consignment sales (like the next JBF sale in
Kelli: I say if it still meets safety standards, dust off Aunt Bookey’s crib, dresser, and high chair from storage and save a few dollars for all those diapers you’re going to need.
Jen: And save your extra money for that massage all you moms out there deserve!
Kelli: Or a vintage Bon Jovi concert T-shirt!
Jen: Easy on the 80’s there my friend. Remember we’re trying to remind people recycling is cool…
Kelli Wheeler is a
Jen Hall is a
Where to Find, Sell or Donate Gently Used Children/Baby Items
- Once Upon a Child. You can pick up some extra cash selling gently used kid items from cribs to books and DVDs, or pick out seasonable clothing to double strollers at reasonable prices. Elk Grove seems to be a more favorable outlet.
- Children’s Receiving Home of Sacramento. If donating to a worthy cause is what you’re looking to do with outgrown children’s items, this emergency shelter for abused and neglected kids is a great way to give back. With Halloween coming up, they are currently in need of costumes. http://www.crhkids.org
- Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services. This 41 year old institution is another great place for donations. Plus they accept just about anything. http://www.sfbs.org
- Just Between Friends. A national consignment shop with two regional locations. If you missed their big annual sale last weekend in
- Birth and Beyond. This group is very appreciative of any baby gear (0 to 3 months) donations for struggling new mothers in need of support. http://www.birth-beyond.com
- Family Tree Thrift Shoppe. Clean and organized, sales go to support research for cystic fibrosis.
- Belle Mode. Name brands can be found along with a five star rating for customer service, deals and appeal.
- Pixie Traders. Five year old consignment shop of children’s furnishings.
- eBay. Buy, sell, all without leaving your home. Careful though – it can become addicting! eBay.com
