The world is slowly opening back up; outdoor excursions in place of quarantine are happening and states are coming up with plans to reopen in phases. While I plan to wait a bit before venturing into stores I have already started on my thrift store wishlist. I’ll share what items I will be looking for in this post!
RETAIL IS OPENING BACK UP IN ARKANSAS
My husband returns to work in retail tomorrow. This feels like both a blessing and a curse; we have enjoyed our time with him at home during this pandemic, but financially the return is needed. We are a single income family and this month is the first month our budget could be affected if he did not return to work.
Even though we haven’t gone much of anywhere in public, our kids are still growing and this means that clothing needs change as the seasons do. Luckily with our daughter, I have enough leggings (she despised jeans over the winter) with holes in the knees to cut off into shorts. I also made sure to pick up short sleeve tees every time I was at the resale shop. She’s good for a bit.
My son and I, however, need quite a few things. He has very few warm weather clothing items and refuses to wear screen prints. Out of the few items he has he wears even fewer. I did some major decluttering over the last few years and am left with very little summer clothing.
MY THRIFT STORE WISHLIST
First, I guess I should explain why I will be choosing to browse thrift and resale shops over retail; after learning more about the plight of factory workers who produce the fast fashion we so happily overconsume I’ve decided to make more informed decisions.
Since my budget is rather small and some of our clothing needs are immediate I will buy what I can from thrift and resale stores. Not only does it benefit local charities in my area, but it helps keep clothing out of landfills, and saves quite a bit of money.
Any retail purchases made will be planned and budgeted. We also have not one but both kids’ birthdays coming up next month, so new clothing won’t be at the top of the budget priority list for a bit.
FOR ME:
I will be looking for a few wardrobe staples when I venture back into the resale shops later in the season. Items I plan to specifically look for include:
- Denim jacket – I miss having a denim jacket in my wardrobe. They are so versatile; they get me more wear out of summer dresses, keeping my arms warm in the Spring and Fall months.
- Summer dresses – I would like to find two or three lightweight summer dresses. Bonus points if I find any with pockets.
- A few skirts – Since I have a good-sized collection of T-shirts I will look for a few casual skirts to pair with them.
FOR THE KIDS:
- Solid color & striped tees – Since he has developed an aversion to most screen print shirts I will look for solid color and striped short-sleeved shirts for my little man. I have also considered cutting the sleeves of the long-sleeved shirts he likes to wear to get a little more mileage out of them.
- Shorts and leggings – Our son currently has two pair of shorts left from last summer that still fit. He has developed an aversion to denim and khaki so he has three pairs of sweat pants he wears most days. I’ll be on the lookout for shorts and soft knit pants for him.
- Shoes – These always seem to be on the list. Our daughter has all but torn through the toes on the Skechers I bought in great condition at a resale shop in February or March. She will need another pair before summer is over. Our son also owns one pair of Skechers recently purchased that seem a bit snug already. I still need to replace his boots and purchase a pair of rain boots for him.
WHAT IF I DON’T FIND THE ITEMS ON MY THRIFT STORE WISHLIST?
I will purchase items needed for the kids retail if I am unable to find them thrift or resale. I will either make do with what I have until I find what I want second hand or can afford to purchase retail.
I will not go with the cheapest option available, as Frugal Isn’t Cheap. I would rather buy fewer items of higher quality even if it means I have to wait a little longer to do so. These are lessons I have learned over time and principles enforced by minimalism and sustainability. I am by no means the owner of a wholly sustainable or eco-friendly wardrobe, but I am trying to do better.
WRAPPING UP…
So that is my thrift store wishlist. I’m not sure when I’ll venture out into the world and shop in a physical store, but I do have a face mask now, so that will come in handy.
I have both a sense of relief and a twinge of anxiety about the whole situation. While I have gotten out once a week for grocery pickup and to drop off the recycling, as well as the occasional family car ride… our children haven’t gotten out of the car in public since March 13th.
How weird is it that our last normal day was on Friday the 13th? Anyway, that’s it for today. I did not get a video up this week, but I will be back Monday with the weekly meal plan for my Frugal Friends and should have a new post up on Tuesday. Have a great weekend and stay healthy friends!
When the thrift stores open, instead of buying I need to sell some of my old baby clothes! I somehow ended up with an absurd amount.
Oh yes, they multiple when you close the closet doors and dresser drawers! It is the only plausible explanation! I used to do well reselling their clothes, but my kids are determined to ruin them before outgrowing them now.
Love this, your reasoning to go for thrift as a primary option is more than justified. I really hope you find the perfect denim jacket! I think the best ones were made in the 80’s, before fast fashion existed. As proof of that I discovered my mum’s old denim jacket in her wardrobe last year and it’s now mine, waiting for warmer weather so I can take it out 🙂
Teresa Maria | Outlandish Blog
Unfortunately, cases are still on the rise in my area, so it will be a while before I make it to look.
Denim jackets are perfect for this time of year! I love pairing them with summer dresses. I hope you manage to find both 🙂 x
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They’re just the best, aren’t they?
I’ve realised that school uniform is going to have to be on my shopping list a lot sooner than I thought as if the schools go back next month chances are my daughter won’t fit into her old clothes any more. And shoes, OMG, her feet are as big as mine now so that’s a definite repurchase. As you say though, quality over frugality in certain areas! Lisa 🙂
I swear they have growth spurts at the most inconvenient times!
This is a great idea. I should make a thrift store wishlist so that I’m ready to go when I feel comfortable returning to the stores after they open, I know what I’m looking for. I am a HUGE fan of thrifting! I know that I need to find some more longer shirts to support my addiction to leggings haha
I love tunic-length shirts! It helps to go in with a list otherwise I come out with very random things.
I could use some new tennis shoes, and this fall I want to get a new coat for winter. Those would be my current thrift store wishes!
Those would be awesome finds!
It’s great to start planning and thinking about what you need to get when the shops reopen. Sadly here in the UK, that’s going to be a little while longer yet. I really enjoyed reading this post though and can’t wait to get back to thrift stores soon.
I will probably wait a while even after stores reopen to see what happens locally with the virus before venturing out for nonessential stuff.
I think we’re all starting to take mental notes about what we want to do as our states begin to reopen! Glad to see that you still have a plan to stay within the budget. It’s going to be so tempting to have a shopping spree with how long many of us have been stuck inside!
I will probably have quite a haul to go to the donation center too by the time I decide it’s safe to venture out for nonessential contact! Hubby is back at his retail job and it’s so tempting to utilize that discount.
Making a list makes budgeting much easier. When the world reopens, I like to spend some time on a coffee shop again as a way to support them and also to small businesses so they can continue to sustain themselves.
Yes! I can’t wait until the little mom and pop shops in our area open back up! There are a few we would’ve gote takeout or bought gift cards at, but they decided to close completely out of an abundance of caution.