The girls on other hand were greatly disappointed in new methods of clothing acquisition. Freebies, thrift stores, yard sales, consignment shops, and clearance items weren't exactly their style.

I found that changing way I approached them on subject made things a little easier. For instance we don’t buy “used” clothing. We buy “previously owned, unwanted, or gently worn” clothing.

I strongly believe that knowledge is power. And, if you want to save money on anything, you must do your research! Informed consumer = More Savings, that's my motto. It took some shopping around for me to locate best clothing value for my money. I did eventually find one place where I consistently find excellent values with a great variety of choices.

I find most of my clothing “treasures” at a thrift store about 15 miles from my home. It’s well worth drive considering great values I come away with! My cost per item averages about $3. I rarely spend more than $5 and once in a great while I’ll splurge on a $6.95 item (usually new with tags still intact and a super value compared to original price)

The thrift store where I shop is owned and operated by National Children’s Center , a local organization that provides educational services, early intervention preschool, and child care to infants and young children with and without developmental delays.

You will find that many of your local thrift stores are non-profit and support worthy charities.

I get a terrific value on name brand clothes popular with my girls peers, (Old Navy, Zana di, Paris Blues, Angel, Lei, Guess, Levi, Bubblegum, Mudd, limited Too, Adidas). Well there’s not much I haven’t been lucky enough to find at this store.

As a bonus my purchase also supports a worthy cause. And let’s not forget that recycling these “unwanted” clothes is environmentally friendly. Everybody wins with these kinds of purchases. These are important benefits that ease embarrassment children sometimes experience when they shop at thrift stores.

If your children are informed of all these benefits, they have power to explain why they shop at thrift stores, if it ever comes up, and it doesn‘t have be for financial reasons.

The wonderful part is, it will probably never come up in a conversation with their peers. My children have never had to explain themselves. Most items are of good quality and only gently used.

You would never know we are enjoying a frugal lifestyle with a wardrobe like this!

In fact, with their closest friends girls freely brag about terrific deals we get on clothing. Some of their friends are even envious because of wide selection of popular brand name jeans girls are fortunate to own.

They have come to realization that five pairs of name brand jeans at thrift store is a whole lot better than one at department store price.