Cheap or Not So Cheap - Buying & Selling Girls' Clothes

Today I have lots of posts stuck in my head because it has been a while since I've posted - sorry about that.

I want to share with you my morning's purchase. I hit the mother-load at Gymboree this morning.

• I used a coupon on top of a 30% off your entire purchase sale
• I bought sale items (not full-price, on sale for 30% off but clearance stuff)

You know I sell my girls' used clothes on eBAY - and I've said before, I get it all on eBAY. Gymboree dresses, hair accessories, and swimwear sell used for about as much as I often pay for them, between $10 to $15 (new, full price dresses retail for $32ish and swim $22ish). That makes dressing my girls in the summer close to zero-cost.

READ ME - I save 'here' to spend 'somewhere else,' so I buy things like jewelry, outfits and the occasional pair of sandals, which don't turn over as well but still sell used. (This is a case of do what I say and not exactly as I do.)

My point is that it doesn't always save more to spend less - there are super-cute things from Kohls and Target that last through the season and might last for hand-me-downs for the next child. But you don't get much back at a consignment store, yard sale, etc. I can spend about the SAME amount per outfit on Gymboree clothes that someone else spends at Kohls or Target, and the difference is that I get more money back.

I take the time to list my girls' clothes on eBAY and then take that money to buy their summer clothes. Another instance of time versus money - I have or make the time so I can have the money. In the month of April, I made $1138 selling mostly used Gymboree and Lilly clothes - eBAYers lose about 10 - 15% to fees, but that's still $1000 take-home. My friend has a PayPal debit card to help control spending, a bit like 'my' money and 'our' money. I transfer most of my eBAY earnings to my savings account and withdraw when the occasion calls - like this morning.

To illustrate my best finds:
seashell shorts $4.47 & matching clam tank $4.47
Full price = $25.50

pineapple tee $8.67 & pineapple shorts $9.37 pineapple sandals $13.15
pineapple ponytail holder $2
FULL PRICE $81.25

stripe short $6.71 & matching top $5.59
FULL PRICE $44.50

Of course, I bought dresses and hair accessories from the watermelon line, which at present is full-price, 30% off plus my 20% off coupon - but those aren't the best, best deals, shown above.

The prices for tops and bottoms shown above are right in line with what I saw at Target last night, except those are complete Gymboree outfits. As I said above, for girls' clothes, dresses sell the best. But I have had 2 -piece outfits sell between $5 - $15 used. And I never, ever sell the hair accessories with the outfit. Some people pay MORE than retail for USED hair accessories still on the card (my personal best is $11.50 for lemony fresh, from 2004, I think, for which I paid $3).

In sum, you don't always save more spending money on lower quality clothing. I recycle my same money summer after summer, selling my old Gymboree clothes to buy my girls new ones, rarely spending more than what I have. Hit the sales, use a coupon, and find the time to list and sell and ship your auctions - I think you'll fare better than if you shop Target/Kohls or consign.

This works best for me, and I hope it works well for you, too!!