The cost of clothing children is a major household expense. San Francisco based ThredUp offers an online solution to kids’ clothes swapping that could save growing families a lot of money
Cost
Bloomberg Businessweek reports that the average 17 year-old has already cost the family around $14,000 on clothing. This is the price-paid to purchase 1,300 garments that they have outgrown.
This is a significant expense that most of us would happily reduce, if given the opportunity. This doesn’t seem like all that much money, at less than $1,000 per year. But, if you have two, three, or more children, the search for bargains reaches a critical level.
The thing that I find with keeping our three children in clothes, is that the expense seems to hit all at once. One day they suddenly don’t fit into anything they own, and an entire wardrobe needs to be found. Then there’s the back-to-school frenzy. With all the other mandatory cash outlays, I would rather not be paying for expensive new clothes.
How Does It Work?
The ThredUp operation is simple enough. Members swap their children’s used clothes, and toys too. A member fills a box with about 15 items. They list this on the ThredUP site. Other members can then search for needed items based on size, color, etc. When someone wants your box, ThredUP provides a postal sticker for your parcel, and you simply put it in the mail, at no charge. The purchaser simply pays $5.00 to ThredUP plus shipping.
There’s no limit to the number of boxes you can list, so this makes ThredUP a pretty good option for recycling gently used clothes, and decluttering wardrobes. Plus, there is a whole community online, like any socially interactive site. Your profile earns points for the volume you contribute, and your fellow members can rate the quality of the boxes that they receive from you.
How Does It Save Me Money?
For the $5.00 fee per box, plus the shipping ($10.95), swappers can expect to receive a parcel of clothes that would typically cost $50 from a retail store. This represents a 68% discount. For the family looking to save some money, this represents phenomenal value.
This is not the only way to save money on used clothing but they seem to have a sustainable system. Their 200,000 members think so, and they are adding 1,000 more each week. It wil be interesting to see how ThredUP performs over the long-term.
Does this appeal to you?
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No, this is not an infomercial, or sponsored in any way. Although, it certainly seems that way from my glowing review : )
Very timely, I am going to have to look into this.
Please let us know what you think Niki.
I have a method for clothing small kids close to free, which I outlined in a post last year. It’s worked well for me so far, but is getting much harder as my boy gets bigger – there just aren’t as many gently-used items for bigger boys, who wear out their clothes before they outgrow them. I’ll check out Thred Up for him.
Here’s what I wrote about kids clothes and my method:
http://thesavedquarter.com/2010/03/clothing-kids-close-to-free/
Thanks for sharing your article Penny. Very comprehensive. I find the same think with our two boys, they wear out their clothes before outgrowing them, frustrating.
I’ve never heard of ThreadUp. Interesting. It’s true that it does seem like they wake up one morning and nothing fits.
I had not heard of them until I read Bloomberg Businessweek last night. They had all good things to say about them too.
That seems like a pretty good idea. Kids grow out of clothing very quickly so this is definitely needed.
I just wish I had thought of the idea. I think they’re doing very nicely at Thredup.
You post makes me glad I am passed that stage of my life. When my children were in middle and high school, they wore uniforms. Simple khakis and a polo shirt. It saved a bunch not just in money. As your kids get older whether there is a uniform required or not generic khakis and polo shirts can work quite easily.
I grew up with a uniformed school system too. While we all rebelled a little, and tried to make ours unique. We all basically had the same khakis and polo shirts. Very practical, and very cost effective.
Not yet time for me…
I’ll alert the Mrs. This sounds like a great service. I guess it depends on what you get in the mystery box.
Thanks for recommending my post!
Don’t havev kids, but it’s a clever idea and I’m sure it fulfills a huge need. Funny some of the most profitable ideas are the most simpliest. Early bird gets the worm? Will keep this in mind!
[...] Financially Consumed features a new way to save on kids clothing. [...]
Thanks for the link love…
It depends a bit to me…since I have three boys. I try to get the clothes through all three kids. To purchased used items, I run the risk of having to buy more clothes for #3 because the clothes do not hold up. However, I do see the value in it.
[...] Financially Consumed – Thread up and Save on Kids Clothes [...]