hand-me-downs

[miclason]

generally, I have a couple of friends that have children that are older than my DD and, will give me some of their clothes once they no longer fit (always in perfect condition!)...a couple of them were so hesitant about offering the first time, it made me wonder...would you consider this offending??(I don't...growing up, I remember, while there were always new clothes in our closets, there were always some hand-me-downs, as well)...

[DivaJen]

I said sure! DD gets awesome hand-me-downs from the girl across the street. They're always nice clothes in good condition, and very cute too. I get hand-me-downs from my MIL when she buys something (at the thrift store ) and then decides it doesn't work on her after all after she gets it home. I've gotten several sweaters from her that I really like this way.

I'd pretty much take any hand-me-downs. If I or DD didn't care to wear them for whatever reason, we'd pass them along.

[PrincessPerky]

I allwsys take them and reserve the right to pass them on if they arn't right for us or something.

[SeeAPenny]

Absolutely. I haven't had to purchase clothes (except for specialty items here and there, plus gloves/underwear/socks/shoes (although I do gratefully accept these items too! But sometimes demand exceeds supply)), for either of my two kids for like, er, well... ever!!! Between relatives, friends and neighbors, their clothing needs have ALWAYS been met through hand-me-downs (from babyhood on)-- and at what a savings $$$. We're talking winter coats and everything -- all good quality too. DH and I are certainly open to hand-me-downs for ourselves as well, although we dont' quite have the resources for us as we do for our kids. Anyway, I accept it all with a smile and thanks, and redistribute whatever we can't use. I try never to refuse, because in my experience, I wont be asked again and they go find someone else to give stuff to.....

[Lori63]

Hand me downs are great! I have three people who give them to me for my youngest son. He is 9 and loves his 'new' clothes.
He is the third son, so he's used to not getting much new, so far he doesn't care.

[Tammy]

Of course! I take what we can use and then pass them to someone else, goodwill or freecycle.

[MrsChambers]

whenever we get donations of womans clothing at the MENS shelter( don't ask me!)
if they fit!!
I'll take um'
I have no pride

[Tamara G]

Hi, I'm new. Will post an intro when I'm more awake.

As regards hand-me downs, I consider them to be a moral as well as frugal imperative. Hand me downs prevent perfectly good clothes from going to a landfill, and prevent additional money from going to sweatshops, etc.

I love buying clothes as second hand stores. (I got a winter coat for $8 at a thrift store, and a winter coat and snow pants for my son (4) at Once Upon a Child for the same price.

Can't beat that!

[seaar2000]

I sure would! My one sister's friend about once a year gives me a couple of boxes of clothes and what don't fit me I give to the girls. Than I will see if anyone else wants them if they don't I take them to St. Vincent de Paul's so I can get a tax write off.

[Momof3grls]

I have only gotten hand me downs a few times since having my oldest most of my friends have kids younger than mine. But I have 3 girls so they wear each others hand me downs it helps us alot! I love having all girls so they can share & pass down clothes I think its awesome

[Armywife]

Wow I wish my daughters were more like yours! I have two feuding rivals that refuse to share even if a little financial incentive pushes them toward the prospects! I don't remember being so selfish in my youth (then again I was an only child!)

[amomof4]

I love hand-me-downs!

When I had my first daughter 30 years ago, we were so poor that I had to handwash her cloth diapers. I could not afford to buy her clothes, so all my friends gave me hand-me-downs. Unfortunately, they were all boy clothes. When I could finally afford to buy her clothes, she insisted on "girlie" clothes. Hmmm. Maybe I should have used that tactic with my last two?

[miclason]

speaking of hand-me-downs, this friend from work (and prayer group) gave me about 4 shirts this week!...DD takes one look at me this morning and asked me if I felt 'right'...I said:yes, why?...she said: Mommy, you look so different!...Ha! the little Fashionista recognizes the shirt is not entirely my style! (I like it, it's nice, it's flowered, but, not bright flowers like I generally use...I generally use these colors - brown and tan and green - for geometric prints!)...LOL! and DD picked that up!!

[Armywife]

Originally Posted by miclason

Ha! the little Fashionista recognizes the shirt is not entirely my style! (I like it, it's nice, it's flowered, but, not bright flowers like I generally use...

Ha that is sooo cute! My daughter is just starting change her endless "Lizzie McGuire" fashion ensemble. My cousin dropped off a bag full of clothes the other day that will save me a couple of bucks since her taste in style has lowered a bit

[Razzy]

When I was a kid I could not stand hand me downs because I felt everyone was laughing at me for wearing there clothes. Now that I am an adult and have a child of my own I love hand me down whether they be for me or my dd. I figure when someone gives me their hand me downs that they don't want the clothes to go in the dust bin and they know I will wear the item or give it to someone who will. Plus I feel it saves me money on buying clothes for me and my dd.

Razzy

[PRICEPLUS]

My sister gives us hand me downs for our daughter. A great deal of the stuff has never even been worn. Hey, I'm not proud and since it is mostly new or rarely worn my daughter has no issues either.

My brother cleans up his extensive wardrobe every so often and I get some great shirts, ties, and jackets. I also just got a brand new raincoat he wore only twice.

As I say all the time,"use it up, wear it out, make due, or do without"!
When you don't have a great deal of money hand me downs can really make a big difference.

[Razzy]

I know what you mean. I don't like to see good clothes in trash bins on garbage day. If a person is getting rid of clothes don't throw them out for the landfil, the landfil cannot wear clothes. Heck if someone want's to give me their clothes and if I can use them I will if I cannot them I will put them on the Freecycle list or find someone who can use them. Either way I will put the clothes to good use.

Razzy

[BlingBling]

Always! We either use them or pass them along.

[skipper]

I wish I could find someone to give me hand me downs my daughter is the only girl her age in our family and no one in our family has any little boys as young as my son. We were so poor as kids that we had to use hmd but we were lucky ours came from my aunt in Florida each summer so no one figured out that they were hmd.

[miclason]

Skipper,
are there any older boys in your family? Get the clothes and store them! (I have size-10 clothes already in store, and DD is a -very- petite 4!)...Also, some items, like jeans and shorts- can be easily "girlified"