As summer starts to wind down, most parents turn their attention to back to school readiness for their families. According to Google, most families spend about $890 on back-to-school shopping such as clothing, school accessories and personal items. With the high cost of living, parents are always looking for options that are affordable. When it comes to clothing, you might be wondering whether you should buy new, buy gently used or do without? It really depends on your financial situation. However, with some ingenuity and new shopping habits, you can reduce your stress, spend less and refresh your children’s wardrobe.
Shop Sustainably: Find Quality Secondhand Clothing at Retailers
When it comes to spending your money, we are big fans of mindful shopping, while doing good for our planet. For parents on a budget, Once Upon a Child is a wonderful store. They are “Family Focused and Planet Proud.” They have an extensive collection of gently used children’s clothing year round – for every kid – for every season, and are part of a larger group of retailers which includes: Play It Again Sports, Plato’s Closet, StyleEncore and MusicGoAround. This group of companies understand the importance of not filling up our landfills with unnecessary garbage, and how to repurpose almost anything for our kids. It’s amazing that they have kept over 800 million children’s items out of landfills. Whether you are looking for gently used clothing or have clothing to sell, they pay cash on the spot for everything from toys, shoes, clothes etc.
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Participate in Any Sport with Used Sports Gear
Play It Again Sports is the go to destination for gently used sports equipment for all ages, not just kids. Canadian parents spend about $1,658 per year on their kids’ sports activities, and having high quality and durable equipment is a must. They have stores all across Canada. For them, sustainability in sport is essential.
Elevate Your Look: Fashion Tips for Moms and Caregivers
Once you have your kids school clothing sorted out, now is the time to turn the attention to you. In keeping with our goal to provide you with retail options that offer value for the money, update or refresh your look at StyleEncore. Not only are they an award-winning retail franchise but they are a big supporter or sustainable living. Like Once Upon A Child, they upcycle gently used clothes and promote “getting paid for your style.” And, if you are looking for a fun side hustle, they are hiring.
Image credit: istock
We want our kids to look good. But we also want to save money, live more sustainably and spend less. With a few changes to your shopping habits, you can refresh your kids wardrobe and your’s too.
