Other than a stop at the health food store to purchase the above (I was so excited to get coconuts for $0.59 each!) and peanut butter at Aldi (we were hoping to get some $0.99 strawberries and $0.99 pineapple, but they were completely cleaned out!), we didn’t do any other shopping this week. Our pantry and freezer still have plenty in them so I’m curious to see if we can make it to the end of the month on this minimal shopping.
It also helps that we’re sticking to super simple meals which can be made in around. Dinners have been mostly marinated chicken, fish or steak with frozen veggies, toast and fruit. Yes, super, super simple, but no one is complaining yet. We’re also having a lot of peanut butter and honey sandwiches — even having them for breakfast a lot of mornings (weird to some people, I’m sure, but the children actually love them and it seems to keep them full until lunchtime!). I have missed baking and creative tinkering in the kitchen, though, and I’m looking forward to having more time in a few weeks (once my manuscript is turned in) to resume more varied meals. 🙂
In other shopping news, I also went to a kid’s consignment store on Thursday. I had a $15 Groupon to use (that was only $7 to buy) and was hoping I could get at least 10 items with it. I guess I was a bit naive and didn’t realize how much more expensive some consignment stores are than Dollar Days at the thrift store! When I pulled out the first item and looked at the price tag and saw $6.99, I just about had heart failure. I try to pay no more than $5 or $6 per item brand-new at retail stores, so paying $6.99 for used clothing seemed crazy.
I ended up only getting four items with my $15 Groupon and I still had to pay $10 out of pocket. They were all in great, like-new shape and one was even GAP brand, so I figured that it wasn’t the world’s worst deals ever. But I’m certainly not impressed with that particular consignment store’s prices. I’m going to try some other consignment stores in our area to see if they have any better clearance or regular prices. If not, I may just stick with shopping at the clearance racks at Target and Old Navy, as well as going to consignment sales, as that seems to be working fairly well for buying children’s clothes inexpensively.
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My son’s favorite breakfast is cheese and crackers. Whatever works!
I use consignment stores for special items like school picture day. For every day stuff I have better luck at the mom-to-mom sales. Our Goodwill is okay but it takes hours to dig through all the junk to find the good stuff. I do like the thrill of the hunt, but usually don’t have that kind of time. At one consignment store near me there is a mom who must buy out stride rite and then consign everything. I’ve been able to pick up her barely worn sneakers and rain boots a few times for about $7 each.
I pricematch at Walmart, too. I hate driving the extra distance to Aldi’s only to find they are sold out.
Thanks for the linky. Can certainly tell you’ve been busy! Can’t wait to read the book!
Wow Crystal, you got off really light this week! Good luck finishing up your manuscript, I can’t wait to read your book. 🙂
I am not impressed at all with kids consignment stores!!! I went to one the other day and found very used polos (faded, etc) for $12.99. I can find brand new polos at TJMaxx for the same price~ I think the kids consignment business will be gone in the future.
I got my pineapple for 0.99 and strawberries for 0.99/lb at Walmart with their ad match! I like to minimize my shopping trips so I take advantage of their ad match as much as I can!
I try to minimize my shopping trips, too, because I hate shopping, but the quality of Aldi’s produce is much better than Wal-Mart’s where we live even though Aldi is a few miles farther away. Lately I’ve been doing most of my grocery shopping at Aldi anyway, though, and it works out better for me to just go there instead of trying to price match at Wal-Mart.
I’m with you on the high consignment store prices, which is why I usually try to buy at the thrift store, too. And from an environmental perspective, it’s still wiser to buy used whenever possible (even if those clearance clothes at Old Navy are tempting!) because it’s re-using, rather than creating demand for new items that have a high cost (environmental and personal – think poor labor conditions) to produce.
Hey Crystal- so this is about your consignment store bit and about sticking to Target and Old Navy. I just wanted to share my finds this week on that.
My husband and I both have relatives in easten Europe who are much less fortunate then we are so once or twice a year we send them a big 50lbs or so package- no worrys it’s not thru the USPS that would cost a fortune. Anyways, usually I fill these packages with various toiletries that I collect for free using coupons over a period of a few months. Well for the package that I’m working on now, my cousin asked if I could please send some winter clothes for next fall as they are too expensive over there and she really can’t afford them. This worried me a little because I live in AZ where we’ve had ridiculously high temps already and stores don’t really sell winter clothes here this time of year.
Now to my whole point- (sorry it took me so long) I went to Walmart this week and was ecstatic to find Hanes brand sweaters and sweatpants for $1 on clearance!!!! Having no kids I never check the kid clearance areas so I was excited to find such amazing deals!! I also picked up winter hats for $0.10!!! So ya- clearance section is way better!!!
I agree! Consignment stores are way overpriced as a whole. I don’t know how they stay in business!! LOL I saw a used Nike coat there for more than you would pay at Target for a brand new one! And, Target was just across the street. I don’t get it. Name brands are great but kids grow too fast to spend that kind of money on used stuff. I bought a huge dump truck there for a couple bucks. They seem to sell their large toys cheap to make room I guess. Something to consider if you want a big toy. 🙂 I also buy new clothes a season or two ahead when the clearance racks are marked $2 or less!
I haven’t tried a consignment shop for all the reasons above, and I too have had bad luck at Goodwill and other thrift shops. However, I do great buying clothes for my three boys brand new at online clearance sales (usually Gap/Old Navy) and in “lots” on Ebay. I find high-quality brand new or nearly brand new clothes for Wal-Mart prices (or lower) that way. It doesn’t work for me to buy mine own clothes that way though, because I’m odd-shaped and have try things on : )
Wow, Crystal, I’m amazed by how many things your health-food store puts on sale! I wish we had one like that. I never see markdowns at our nearest health-food store, so I hardly ever shop there. I did get some strawberries at Aldi this week, though, and we’ve been enjoying strawberry-orange smoothies. I love Aldi’s produce. And my kids love peanut butter and honey sandwiches, too. 🙂
See if there is a moms of multiples group in your area. Our Do awesome sales. You can get clOthes and equipment at better than garage sale prices. Us momma’s of multiples have alot of stuff to sell 🙂 also if you have multiples you can usually shop these sales early/ before the general public.
I know the Groupon you’re referring to. I deleted it when I saw the email because I had heard that their prices were high. Someone mentioned above that she shops clearance at Macys. I did that while on vacation in San Antonio because my KS town doesn’t have Macys. I got 8 outfits (all 2- pieces) and some jammies (3-piece)–mostly Calvin Klein brand for $40. They were super cute, and I have some that she’s currently wearing this summer from there. Our vacation was last August. I told my husband the other day that I can find clothes on clearance for less than Goodwill charges me for each piece.
When I first moved to San Antonio, my drivers license was in another city. When I showed the cashier my drivers license for a check I was writing for my purchase she gave me an additional 20% off my purchase thinking I was a tourist. So, that was neat – most places on the riverwalk or in the malls that I went to the first two months we lived here before we got out drivers license changed we would just show our drivers license and get discounts.
Most big cities I have heard do this as a “Tourist Discount” – I always ask now when I travel if they offer tourist discounts!
Get on the email list for your local consignment store. I only go when one particular store sends out an email telling you that a certain color tag is 75% off or $1.00. I went once and she had a rack that was 2 items for $1.00. There was still a good mix of clothes left. I spent about $10-15 (can’t remember exactly) the last time I was in there and got 3 Gymboree rompers, 1 Old navy romper and 2 pairs of shorts. After my son uses them, I will turn around and consign them at the big sales for at least what I bought them for, probably even more since several were Gymboree.
I went to consignment stores twice for my son, and must say they are NOT worth it. The first time was before he was born and we didn’t know what we were having, I was able to find a couple of $1 neutral items. The second time he was about a year and I had a coupon so I thought I would get a great deal on something, ended up leaving with nothing.
Now my son is so well stocked on clothes for the next year! I get 99% of his stuff at Mom to Mom sales, garage sales, Carter’s Outlet (on their big sales) and Kohls (when they have 50% off – or clearance – and I have another 30% on top of that.) Most of his stuff comes out to $1-$3 per piece when the retail is $24 or higher.
The outfit he is going to wear tomorrow was $42 new at Macy’s and I got it at a Mom to Mom sale. It was marked $7, but I waited and bought it near the end of the day and the seller sold it for $3.50! It is a two-piece set that is so adorable!
The end of the sales is the BEST time to buy! No one wants to haul stuff home so they mark it down. One seller put everything at $1, no matter the first price. I bought several pieces (in one size) and she was so AWESOME! She asked if I saw everything she had and then proceeded to GIVE me everything she had in the size I was buying, just for the price of the pieces I was currently buying! So Awesome!
I also do Babies R Us on their Buy one Clearance, Get one Free sales and hit up Walmart on their Clearance sales when things are marked to 25 cents! You pretty much have to be there when they bring that stuff out! 🙂
Wow, our local WalMart stores only mark clothes down to $1.00 each. I can’t imagine finding clothes for 25 cents!
I like peanut butter on pancakes…gives them something to stick to your ribs, as my grandma would say.
And I never bother with thrift stores. I love clearance! Other than jeans, I rarely pay more than $5-9 for an item, depending on what it is, and then I definitely get my money’s worth from it!
I used to get good deals on the consignment store here, but they quit accepting things in trade and charge very high prices for stuff I can get new for the same price or a little more with better service!
Are you drinking the goats milk?
We have several kids’ consignment stores locally – I’m starting to learn which ones have the best selection in different areas (for example, the “best” big store doesn’t have a good shoe selection, but a little store closer to me has bins full of (sorted) shoes.
I generally go to a consignment store with certain items in mind. Accessories (shoes, sunglasses, hats) and specialty clothing (dance wear, sports wear, swimsuits) seems to be the best deals.
Consignment stores in Greenwood, SC are expensive too. Just about like yours. Rarely ever get anything there as I also pay only like $6 for something new. I like the consignment sales that we have in our area. While many things are still high I can get a pair of children´s pants, shirts, etc. for $2 or $3. I rarely pay more than $4 for something used unless maybe it is a winter jacket. So far we have not had to buy many new clothes as my son usually get enough for birthdays and we mostly do play clothes around the house as we are potty training and little boys can just not stay clean no matter what.
If we do need something new I sometimes shop clearance at Old Navy and can get stuff for my 2 year old for $5 or less each.
I usually get my kids clothes off the Target clearance rack or at Goodwill. Our Goodwill has half price day and quarter day and those are the days I usually shop, but even if it isn’t on sale it is only $2.38 per piece here so that beats Target and Walmart. This winter my twins grew 2 sizes and my older daughter one, so no more hand me downs. I went to Walmart and bought them new summer clothes. I got 30 pieces for $120 or $4 a piece. I will fill the rest in with GoodWill purchases and Target clearance. I am hoping the growth spurts are over for now!
Consignment stores seem to vary so much price wise. Most stores tag their clothes in different colors for different months. When I shop I try to only look for the colors that are at least 50% off. I also like them for “filling in the cracks” or for when I want to make a quick trip out of the house to shop, but don’t want to spend much. I usually prefer stores like Union Gospel Mission over privately owned consignment stores. It is a nice rare break and I only end up spending a few dollars.
Consignment sales seem to be hit and miss. Some of them have good prices, some people must not shop much!
We crack the coconut open with a little hand saw (hubby’s job so I don’t know exactly how its done) then after we eat all the yummy meat we use the “coconut bowls” as our popcorn bowls. We have about 10 of them.
Also, I have teenage boys and while I used to be able to get their clothes at garage sales and on clearance at stores it just doesn’t happen any more. My boys wear 28 -30 waist and 32 longs, so they are man size now. Goodwill half price day has been the absolute best for their jeans. I can usually find Arizona or Levi’s and and pay less than $4 which beats the mall or Target any day.
On consignment stores, I think the reason the prices are so high is that when entrepreneurs have high hopes and open their own shop, they find that paying the rent and utilities and still trying to turn a profit is challenging at best. So many shops here in Western NC come and go. I feel sorry for the store owners sometimes, but it’s just hard to sell used merchandise at price that is usually higher than the mall’s sales.
My mom used to make me Fluffernutter (Peanut Butter and Marshmallow creme) sandwiches with Banana and Honey when I was growing up. When I had morning sickness, that was the only thing that sounded good…probably because of the comfort food memories 🙂
The baby clothes are abundant and easy to find deals on at the local consignment store here, but larger sizes I definitely do better buying new. Also, that doesn’t mean having to buy poor quality, or no-name brand clothes (which seems to be a common misconception). I often get GREAT deals on Gap clothes. I also love Children’s Place, Lands End, and Old Navy (for kids clothes, not so much for adults). Lately I’ve even had great luck on a few ebay auctions for new Gymboree clothes, but that’s rare.
I ate Peanut Butter & Honey sandwiches almost every day for lunch in elementary school. Then I had a cavity in a baby tooth. No foolin. 🙂 Be sure to brush those teeth!
Some folk get cavities easier than others. Even without the help of peanut butter and honey. Regular chicken and gravy can cause cavities too.
I’ve had a lot more luck with kids clothes at the few twice yearly consignment sales. You have to plan ahead for them, but I can usually spend $25 and get a big bulk of my sons seasonal wardrobe. We are very very very lucky to have a relative pass on many nicer pieces to my son so we just need everyday play clothes.
I went to our local children’s consignment store yesterday. I bought 3 baby sleepers and 1 pair of baby overalls for $1 each (small $1 bin) for future baby shower gifts. I also got a 3T red turtleneck for $.75 from the 50% off rack. Then I got two pairs of velcro sneakers for $4 each. I only quickly browsed through the regular priced clothing, but only got the sneakers.
With children’s clothes, I find consignment stores to be too pricey in my opinion. They want too much and kids put such heavy wear on clothes. However, if it’s for myself or my husband I love Plato’s Closet! I bought six name-brand shirts and a scarf for $20 or so – some of the shirts didn’t even look they had been worn before. Yay!
I dislike consignment stores (and the thrift stores around here) also. I do much better buying on clearance new or occasionally buying used at yard sales. I know that consignment and thrift stores vary around the country but around me they are very expensive (except this *1* thrift store but they have really crappy stuff). And I have never been impressed by Good Will stores no matter what state I was in. As far as the quality question about Target/Walmart/Old Navy/ etc, it depends on what they are getting. I just pass up the cheapy stuff but some of the pieces I have gotten are just as good in the quality department as the Gymboree/Childrens Place stuff I have. You just have to look and feel the material and seam when buying it and factor that in. And if you buy kids clothes at Sears, you can enroll for free in the Kid Advantage or whatever it’s called and if a piece of clothing or shoes starts to wear or tears, gets a hole, etc they will replace it for free (in the same size) and if it was clearance and they don’t have it anymore I think they give you something similar. Even if you child is about to outgrow it, it will still get lots more use if you have younger ones.
I only shop at Good Will or the local charity shop on 1/2 off day. The Salvation Army here seems to have better prices, but there is no fitting room, and no returns. They do run a back-to-school sale in August, though, where all kids clothes are 50 cents a piece. I stock up then, because I figure even if a few things don’t fit, it’s just a little out of my pocket, and I just consider it a donation.
Not sure what area you are in, but the best cosignment kids store I have found in the Puyallup /Tacoma area is called kidz kaboodle they are in Tacoma but have fantastic prices and a huge selection of clothes and toys. I when my daughter was a baby i bring in her old clothes and use the credit to get more…. a cheap way to dress the little ones!!
I feel the same way. The consignment shops here are more expensive then buying even off season clearance name brands at the mall. I have learned that twice a year they do an off season clearance, where I have scored items, at our local kids consignment, for $1-$1.50 and have been thrilled. You just have to go at exactly the right time. I still prefer garage sales and thrift stores too.
I’ve never bought clothes for my son or myself at consignment shops when I can get such good deals at the stores. I only buy off the clearance racks and most of the time, only if I also have a coupon. I very rarely ever spend more than $1 per piece for my son and NEVER over $1o for myself on anything. And it’s usually way less than that. I always buy my son’s clothes at least 1 year ahead so I don’t have to buy something. He’s 5 now and I’ve already bought all of his size 6 clothes and some 7-8 stuff. I wait until it’s off season and really marked down and then buy those items for the next year. It’s harder for me, especially since I just lost 40 pounds and had to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe, but Kohl’s clearance racks with the coupons they almost always have going has been my best friend. Our Old Navy has had a few sales with coupons lately, too!
You can still price match the strawberries and pineapple at your Walmart – the Aldi sale is good thru 4/20…at least at my store, it is! The new flyer for next week at Aldi starts 4/20. Odd, because they usually go with the new on Sunday, but maybe it’s because Easter is that Sunday?
Little Tikes stuff at Aldis starting the 20th – the new Cozy Coupe is $39.99 which is an avg price but they are hard to find, normally! If you need a new one for a gift or something, that might be a good way to go.
If you don’t feel like spending the time searching yard sale, I always find FANTASTIC deals at children’s consignment sales that are held twice a year (spring and fall). I bought Gymboree and Gap outfits for $3-4 each (total, not each piece). You can just google “kids consignment sale (name of your city)” to find one near you…
I agree with everyone here on consignment stores! I get much better prices when Target hits 75% off and Old Navy has extra 40% off their clearance rack prices. I never pay more than $5 per shirt or shorts – sometimes pants are a little more. And just like for food, you can buy ahead! It’s so nice when spring rolls around and I can pull out the next size of shorts and tops from the kids’ dressers and we see what fits now. If it’s still too big, it just goes back in the drawer for a mid-season fitting. The kids prefer this to shopping and it’s much cheaper to buy at the end of the previous season! When there is an occasional item that they liked 1-2 years ago when purchased but don’t like now, I sell it on consignment for more than I paid for it!
I wish I could do that, but we leave in a really small house with very little storage 🙁
I haven’t ever found a deal at a thrift or consignment store. Way overpriced and not worth my time. Target clearance and lands end and Carter’s are where I get clothing deals!
Ditto on consignment stores being way overpriced. I usually go to mine when they have a sale (fill a bag, half of a certain color tag, etc) or need in season clothes that aren’t on sale yet.
Oh yes, even thrift stores in South Florida are expensive….so I understand your feeling. I only go on half price days:) Still, quite often I can get much better prices on brand new clothing at the clearance racks, and a higher price does not always mean higher quality.
JR
Frugality Is Free
I’ve found that some of our local kids’ consignment stores have coupons online I can access through my entertainment book membership…that always helps!
A couple of weeks ago I was on the hunt for sandals for my almost-two year old daughter and found brand-new black leather ones at one store for $6 and almost-new pink leather Stride Rite ones at another store for $7! I felt like those were totally worth the money, as they would cost many time more that new. 🙂
Each time I read your dinner menu, I laugh at the toast. I don’t know why rolls and biscuits are fine but toast is something I can only do for breakfast – can’t imagine serving chicken, veggies & toast.
🙂 It helps that my husband is not a big bread person, so he doesn’t really care — so long as there’s meat and veggies. 🙂
I love toast! Any time of the day!
So do I. If I serve it for dinner, I usually turn it into garlic toast.
I sprinkle garlic on it and suddenly it feels like a dinner side 🙂
I’ve never had good luck at consignment stores. I buy a lot of things on clearance at Target. They always have a rack of freshly marked down clothes on Sunday mornings after church!
Peanut butter and honey sandwiches are the bomb! So glad you all enjoy them too!
I would ask the consignment stores in your area about their clearance items. I have a few by me and when the items don’t sell by a certain date they reduce the price. One store just puts a red mark on price and that means it is half price. I have found several Under Armor and Ralph Lauren clothes for my sons for $4 or less. This last trip I found OshGosh & Gap shirts for next year for $1.50. Hope this helps!
Our consignment stores are priced the same way. I only stop in if I haven’t been able to find something at rummage sales, yard sales or the thrift store.
I went to Goodwill Thursday and newborn-5t was 4/$1.49, and I found 8 super cute items for my son and daughter.
I also stopped by a rummage sale this morning, it was fill a bag for $4. I filled 4 bags- two with fabric, one with books and sweaters and cloth napkins (4 sweaters to felt for crafting and 1 for me to wear), and 1 with kids’ clothes.
My experience is that consignment shops have the best deals on more expensive brand name labels I couldn’t find at Kohls or Sears. I used to shop at one for work clothes all the time because my workplace was very trendy and you were pretty much expected to wear that stuff. It isn’t so great for casual clothes or situations where labels don’t matter so much.
I love garage sales too. I linked up a few posts from this week, and one was my garage sale finds from thursday. Thanks for the link up!
For my kids clothes…I am always get the majority of them at yard sales. Yard sale clothes are usually $1.o0 or less, where as my local good will wants to charge 2 or 3 for an item. I do not have much luck with adult clothes, but kid clothes are always easy to find.
Several weeks ago I bit the bullet and spent about $100 at Goodwill because I had almost no clothes that fit or that were presentable (after buying almost nothing for almost 10 years, you know…). Went to put on a pair of pants today that fit me perfectly in the store only to find they’re too big. While losing baby weight is good, spending money on clothes that you can’t wear is not!!!
Bummer! Can you return the ones that don’t fit?
I don’t think Goodwill excepts returns. At least not the ones around here.
*accepts*. My brain’s leaving me pretty early today…
Many Goodwills accept a return but you have to exchange it, no money given back. The fine print here is “EXCHANGE”
Returns are only good with tag still on with receipt within 7 days. Normally I can work with that… sometimes I go and buy a ton of stuff to try on at home because I can’t be out too long with little ones! Then I can return them on a Sunday after church or something. But this time it’s been at least 8 weeks since I was there.
The Goodwill stores here do not accept any returns. I have also noticed that they do not have the .99 sales anymore, plus their prices are going up. I am not paying 3.99 for a used shirt that cost 5.00 at Walmart brand new!!!
I agree with you 100%! Our Goodwill stores prices are crazy high! I can’t afford to shop there!
Wow, I am floored at some of your Goodwill practices! I didn’t realize how regional some issues were. My Goodwill most definitely accepts returns and has a gracious 90 days to do it!
Our local Goodwills do accepts returns, as long as tags are still attached and you have the original receipt.
Just want to comment on the consignment shop issue. For me, with THREE girls, paying a bit more for higher quality name brand kids’ stuff is worth it b/c it can generally last for at least two kids. While the clearance prices at Target/Sears/WalMart can be great, they do not wash up well or hold up as well.
Another thing, I make a profit on my kids clothing. I shop Gap and Gymboree sales with coupons and end up spending pretty close to Target prices. Then I turn around and sell them either on Ebay or at a local mom-to-mom style consignment sale for often more than I paid new. 🙂
I agree on paying for quality. Whenever I’ve gotten kids’ clothing at Target or Walmart, it ends up falling apart, wearing out or just looking shabby very quickly. On the other hand, we have Hanna Andersson and Mini Boden clothing that has been passed down through all three kids and worn more or less constantly for the past 5-6 years and still looks great! I’ve given up on the cheap stuff and buy high-quality clothes when I have coupons combined with a great sale.
My daughter seems to wear her Target stuff a lot more often than her Gymboree/GAP/other name brand things because I don’t freak out as much when she spills stuff on them 🙂 But, I think as kids get older (mine is 2), paying for quality is well worth it.
Just wondering … what do you do with the coconuts? I’ve never used fresh coconut before.
My MIL likes to drill a hole and drink the milk/water. Personally, I don’t like the liquid, but the flesh is yummy. When I spent a summer in Africa as a teenager, it was one of my favorite treats: fresh coconut flesh. Mmm! (Of course, it takes a lot of work to get to the good stuff!)
The older coconuts generally are used for the meat, the younger ones for their water. The flavor profile may change as it ages, so make sure you try a young coconut before you dismiss the water entirely!
Yes, it is the young coconut my MIL likes to get for the water. Not my thing, but I’m sure it’s good for you!
I gave two away (to my mom and to a friend) and we’re going to crack the one left open and drink the juice/eat the fruit. Fresh coconut is yummy — well, if you *like* coconut it is. 🙂
How do you crack them open? I’ve seen them….and LOVE coconut, but have no idea how to crack that thing open…it’s kept me from buying them in the past.
Some coconuts are sold “pre-cracked” – there’s a line scored in the shell and you just give it a whack with a hammer and it splits right open.
Great, I’ll have to look for those. Thanks! I bet it would be great in smoothies!
I just take a screwdriver and punch a hole in the coconut, drain the milk, then put it in the oven until it cracks. I love cooked coconut, but absolutely do not like the flavor of coconut in baked goods. For anyone who says they don’t like coconut, I recommend trying it baked. It’s delicious, and very easy to get out!
Is there a difference between coconut milk and water?
Actually, I just googled it, and apparently I was wrong. I grew up calling the liquid inside the coconut “coconut milk”. It’s actually “coconut water”, and you get milk by mixing it with the flesh, then straining it. You learn something new every day! 🙂
I persuaded my mom to buy a coconut when I was about 17. I spent the afternoon drilling a hole into it (I think I used a hammer) and trying to pry it open while my younger brother danced in the background hoping I’d give up because he was sure he knew a better method. When my dad traveled to Mexico on a Coast Guard trip a bit later, as a Captain, he was the highest ranking dignitary from the US visiting Acapulco at the time, so the mayor hosted him and my mom (who took advantage of dad’s trip to join him down there). They were served a light refreshing drink, my mom asked about it and discovered it was coconut water. Mom related my story of cracking it open. Apparently the mayor & folks attempted not to directly & rudely laugh at the story and he sent my dad’s driver, Pepe, off to the market to get a bunch of coconuts & a machete which he sent back with my dad on his ship for us. Apparently, a machete is the “proper” tool!
We’ve always just eaten the meat on it’s own, too. It’s soooo good!
I shop for my 8 year old at Macy’s. YIKES..a high price retail store…NO. On the clearance racks, I can find Adidas windpants for 5.00 and long sleeve shirts for 3.00. If I find a really good price shirt, I might buy the same color in the next three sizes. Put those in the “future” closet. I only buy on clearance and it always helps to have save an extra 20% coupon. Why buy used clothes at the consignment store when I can get it so inexpensively at Macy’s:)
our consignment store prices are ridiculous. i get better prices on clearance brand new! on the plus side though i usually end up making a few bucks on my kids clothes bc i sell them at the consignment shop 🙂
Our local consignment store is pretty pricey as well. I have better luck at the Salvation Army store getting used clothes there and named brands like Aeropostale and Hollister for my daughter for $6 or less.
I went into the consignment store here once. They had lots of clothes that were stylish a few years ago for only a little cheaper than the mall. Apparently sometimes they run specials or have sales, but I stick with just buying new clothes on sale or clearance (Kohls, Belk) and going to the Goodwill in hopes of hitting the jackpot there- which sometimes I do!
I LOVE Kohl’s clearance! I can spend money there easily, but at least I know I’m getting a great deal! I have a card there because of the extra discounts they send out often and the last time I went, I paid $40 and saved more than $200! The clearance is marked up to 90 % off and it’s all nice stuff. I love it there, but I should avoid going there too much…
Kohls is definitely my go to place for items that I can’t find at consignment stores or to go along with items I get there. I also don’t buy shoes used – they are bad for growing feet. Kids need to break in their own shoes, not fit to someone else’s foot!
Yeah, I usually only use consignment shops to fill in an item I haven’t been able to find at consignment sales or rummage sales — or if it’s on sale at the shop. But I do sell a few items at my local store to build up credit, so even if I don’t like the prices, at least I’m not paying cash.
Exactly!
Consignment stores are great if you shop them right–like when they have sales. And if you look at their prices in comparison to the name brand item cost (at retail price) it is great savings. I think that you’re amazing you can get your children’s clothes for those prices. My daughter is getting older and her clothing prices have increased dramatically in the past year. Good for you!
I agree, if you can find a consignment shop that you like, get on their mailing list and find out about their sales. This weekend I shopped one in our area that had a 25% off sale. I got 26 items for my daughter for slightly more than $65 = on average $2.50 per item. Most of the items were name brand and in very good condition – Gymboree, The Children’s Place, Gap, Old Navy, etc. This store only takes items that are three years old at the most. And if it is a bit worn or an off brand, it is priced appropriately (like 99 cents). I have, however, been to those consignment stores that charge an arm and a leg for used clothing! I’m sorry that you had a bad experience at the place you went. I hope you can find one that you like.
I’ve had the same sort of experience at the consignment shops in my area. My little guy needed a few more pairs of pants. At the consignment store the pants were marked around $7. I found a pair on clearance at Sears for $1.99. It was an easy choice.