Making The Most Of Hand-Me-Downs And Second-Hand Finds For Your Kids

Published on: 21 February 2024 Last Updated on: 12 September 2024

If you have kids, you know how expensive it can be to buy them new clothes, toys, books, and other items. Kids grow fast, and their tastes and preferences change often. Buying everything new can put a strain on your budget and create a lot of waste.

That’s why many parents opt for hand-me-downs and second-hand finds for their kids. Hand-me-downs are items that are passed down from older siblings, relatives, or friends. Second-hand finds are items that are bought or acquired from thrift stores, garage sales, online platforms, or other sources.

Keep on reading to learn more…

How to Make the Most Out of Hand-Me-Downs?

In the era of fast fashion and quickly outgrown children’s clothes, buying everything new can get very expensive. Luckily, there are plenty of ways for savvy parents to cut costs by making use of hand-me-downs and second-hand items. Read on for tips on how to source, care for, and refresh these gems for your little ones.

Here are some of the tips that you can use to make the most of the hand-me-downs:

Sort and Store

One of the first things you must do is sort and store your hand-me-downs and second-hand finds properly. This will help you keep track of what you have, what you need, and what you can pass on to others.

Sort your items by size, season, and category. For example, you can have separate bins or boxes for winter clothes, summer clothes, shoes, accessories, toys, books, etc. Label them clearly and keep them in a dry and clean place.
Store your items in a way that preserves their quality and prevents damage. For example, you can use vacuum-sealed bags, plastic containers, or cedar chests to protect your items from dust, moisture, insects, and mold. You can also use hangers, dividers, or organizers to keep your items neat and tidy.
Check your items regularly and get rid of anything that is stained, torn, worn out, or outdated. You can donate, sell, or recycle your unwanted items or use them for crafts or other purposes.

Mix and Match

Another thing you need to do is to mix and match your hand-me-downs and second-hand finds with your kids’ existing wardrobe and preferences. This will help you create some fun and stylish outfits for your kids and make them feel comfortable and confident in their clothes. You should try to mix and match:

Colors, patterns, and textures. For instance, you can pair a solid-colored shirt with a floral dress or a plaid skirt with a denim jacket. You can also mix and match different fabrics, such as cotton, wool, silk, or leather. This will add some variety and interest to your kids’ outfits.
Styles and trends. For example, you can combine a vintage sweater with a modern pair of jeans, or a classic dress with a trendy pair of sneakers. You can also mix and match different genres, such as casual, formal, sporty, or bohemian. This will give your kids some personality and flair in their outfits.
Accessories and details. For example, you can add a belt, a scarf, a hat, or a necklace to your kids’ outfits. You can also add some buttons, patches, stickers, or pins to your kids’ clothes. This will give your kids some fun and creative touches in their outfits.

Customize and Personalize

The last thing you must do is customize and personalize your hand-me-downs and second-hand finds for your kids. This will help you make your items fit better, look better, and feel better for your kids. It will also help you express your kids’ individuality and uniqueness.

Customize your items to fit your kids’ size and shape. For example, you can hem, alter, or resize your items to make them fit your kids better. You can also add some elastic, buttons, or snaps to your items to make them more adjustable and comfortable.
Customize your items to suit your kids’ style and taste. For example, you can dye, bleach, or paint your items to change their color or pattern. You can also cut, rip, or distress your items to give them some edge or character.
Personalize your items to reflect your kids’ interests and hobbies. For example, you can embroider, applique, or print your items with your kids’ names, initials, or monograms. You can also decorate your items with your kids’ favorite characters, animals, or symbols.

Sourcing Quality Second-hand Pieces

You can uncover great used pieces from friends and family, charity shops, and online marketplaces. When accepting offers of hand-me-downs, don’t feel you need to take everything you’re given. Politely decline items that are overly worn or stained, and only keep pieces that are still in good condition.

For second-hand shopping, hit up charity shops in more affluent neighbourhoods where higher quality kit is often donated. Check items thoroughly for flaws and be selective in your purchases. Online, sites like eBay, Depop and Vinted offer everything from babygrows to bikes being sold on by other parents, helping you make the most of your budget or fostering allowance.

Caring for Hand-Me-Downs

To maximise the longevity of hand-me-downs and second-hand items, properly launder and care for them before passing them on to your little one. Check clothing labels and wash items according to fabric type. Mend any small holes, broken zippers or loose buttons.

For items like bikes or baby gear, inspect them thoroughly and replace any worn parts. Give everything a thorough cleaning to remove grime and make sure pieces are fresh for their new owner.

Refreshing & Repurposing Finds

Sometimes second-hand stuff just looks, well, second-hand. Luckily there are inexpensive ways to give things new life. For clothes, accessories and soft toys, a spot clean followed by a wash in Oxiclean or similar can freshen up fabrics.

Embellish with ribbons, embroidered patches or appliqués to add decorative flair. Turn that dull vest into a one-of-a-kind piece your child will love. Repurpose old pieces too – vintage babygrows make adorable doll clothes, and adult t-shirts can be made into dresses.

Making Second-hand Finds Feel Special

Hand-me-downs and pre-loved items often come with a history. Share what you know about an item’s origins with your little one – they’ll love having their own “special story” attached to their clothes and toys.

Help them personalize pieces by adding custom touches like initials or fun fabric paint designs. And display their second-hand treasures proudly by letting them select special books or toys for their rooms. Soon these pre-used gems will hold pride of place in your child’s heart.

Additional Tips

Check items’ safety before passing to little ones – no small broken parts, frayed edges etc.
Store off-season clothing rotated with your child’s growth
Mix second-hand pieces with new ones in your child’s wardrobe
Pass pieces along to younger friends/family members when outgrown

Sourcing and caring for pre-loved items takes a bit more effort than just popping out for new gear. But with some time and creative vision, you can kit out your kids in great finds without breaking the bank. And by giving their clothes and toys a history, you’ll add an extra layer of love.

Bottom Line

Hand-me-downs and second-hand finds can be a great way to save money, reduce waste, and give your kids some unique and quality items. However, they can also pose some challenges, such as finding the right size, style, and condition for your kids. By following these tips and tricks, you can make the most of hand-me-downs and second-hand finds for your kids.

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Ankita Tripathy

Ankita Tripathy loves to write about food and the Hallyu Wave in particular. During her free time, she enjoys looking at the sky or reading books while sipping a cup of hot coffee. Her favourite niches are food, music, lifestyle, travel, and Korean Pop music and drama.

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10 Helpful Kid Closet Organization Hacks

Every parent knows how hard it is to keep their kid's room clean. In a matter of minutes, a perfectly clean space and be destroyed by little hands. This applies to closets as well. But the good news is there are things you can do to keep your child's closet more organized. We've gathered the top 10 helpful kid closet organization hacks you can try out at home. Check them out below! 1. Start with the Essentials : When doing any sort of home or DIY project, you have to make sure you have all the supplies you need. This totally applies when it comes to kid closet organization. The good news is that you don't have to spend a lot of time creating or assembling things. Most of these items are available at local stores and are simple to implement. Here's a basic list of things you may need: Kid-sized hangers (Adult ones are too big and will lead to disorganization) A hamper Storage baskets Drawer inserts Hooks for the wall Shelf dividers Head to your local home decor store and you will be on your way to complete closet organization. 2. Utilize Storage Bins : Another kid closet organization hack is to add extra storage. As you've dealt with your child's closet, you probably have noticed that there's not enough storage space. This is a common problem. But there are many solutions! The biggest thing is choosing what kind of storage solution that you need. Do you have young children who can't reach their hangers? Or do your kids have a lot of toys and nowhere to keep them? Perhaps you have two kids sharing one closet. No matter what, adding storage is your solution. Here are some potential options: Bins Baskets Extra wire shelves Rubbermaid containers 3. Have a Designated Place for Shoes : Have you ever walked into your kid's room and found pair after pair of little shoes lying around on the floor? This is a common frustration for many parents. One way to solve this problem is to have a designated place for shoes in your little one's closet. You could have a specific basket on the floor of their closet that your kids can easily access. Another way to organize their shoes is to have a specific shelf that they can reach that is for shoes only. 4. Develop a Hanging System : It can be hard for kids to pick out clothes when there is no organization system in place. One way to fix this problem is to come up with a hanging system. One idea is to hang them by category. You can split things up according to these styles: Short sleeve shirts Long sleeve shirts Tank tops Dress shirts Dresses Shorts Pants Pajamas And any other categories they have You could also coordinate them by color if this system is too complicated. Either way, this is a great kid closet organization hack. Your kids will know exactly where to put their clothes, whether they're Nicki's Gucci for kids or their pajamas. 5. Another Kid Closet Organization Hack: Go Vertical : Some closets are so small or are so packed already that there's no room for extra shelves or bins. In this case, consider going vertical with your storage. One great way to do this is to utilize the door. Pick up an inexpensive shoe organizer that hangs on the back of the door. This can be used to store a variety of things, including shoes, clothes, and toys. If you have a baby, you could keep diapers, wipes, or onesies in a shoe organizer as well. And the best part is that you're not taking up any shelf space with it! 6. Label it All : With so many bins and baskets, it can be hard to keep things straight. That's why labeling is a great idea. If you have a label maker, this is super easy. Just create different ones for toys, shirts, pants, etc. If you don't have a label maker, that's totally fine as well! You can create them just using paper. Then just glue or pin the labels to each storage container. This will make your life much simpler! 7. Double Your Hanging Space : Many apartments and homes only have one closet rod and, usually, it's up high. For little ones, these are often impossible to reach. That's where closet doubler rods come in handy. You can install them below the normal rod and they're not that hard to do. Having this means your kids can reach their clothes easier but it also doubles their amount of hanging space. 8. Color Coordinate Bins : If your kids can't read yet, labels will do very little to help them organize. Instead, consider color-coordinating their storage bins. For example, red could be for books, blue could be for toys, and yellow could be for shoes. Whatever you decide to do as far as colors, help your child understand the difference between the various containers. 9. Keep Two Extra Containers in Their Closet : If you're like most parents, you have a lot of clothes for your child. Some they have outgrown and others they haven't grown into yet. These can cause a lot of clutter in your kid's closet if you're not careful. That's why it's a great idea to always keep 2 large containers, one for each category. That way it's all organized. This is especially great if you have more than one child. This makes organizing hand me downs much easier. 10. Stop Sibling Fights : Did you know that the average pair of siblings fight or argue 3.5 times every single hour? As a parent, you want to do everything you can to stop this from happening! One great way is through keeping their closet organized. If you have kids that share a closet, divide the space. Make a clear division between their clothes to avoid unnecessary contention. Final Thoughts : Now that you've read through these closet organization hacks, it's time to implement them! Choose your favorites and try them out. Have questions? Feel free to contact us. Want to discover more parenting hacks? Check out our blog! Read Also : 10 Effective Homework Tips For Your Kids Things Every Employee Ought To Know About Medical And Family Leaves

Steps To Emigrating To Australia

Emigrating to Australia can be exciting and daunting at the same time. There are a lot of horror stories about emigrating out there, but if you know the right steps to take you could avoid some of the major issues. Of course, if you are nervous about your move, it is recommended that you hire a solicitor or registered migration agent to help you. Determine The Visa You Need: When emigrating from the UK, you need to determine the visa you are going to need. Emigration to Australia is run on a score-based system with various factors influencing your score. If you are moving without a job offer from an Australian company, you will need to get an independent immigrating visa. To qualify for this visa you will need to be under the age of 45, have an education that matches the list of skilled occupations, provide the professional experience of this and have a firm knowledge of the English language. Preference is given to people with Australian education or those in occupations that are in demand in the country. If you have family in Australia, you can emigrate through the sponsorship program. When this program is used, the score you need to emigrate will be lowered. Sponsorship will not provide you with a permanent right to live in the country. You will need to get a temporary visa for 3 years followed by a permanent visa for 2 years. If you have a job offer from an Australian company, you will be emigrating through company sponsorship. You will need to meet many of the same criteria as an independent visa applicant, but it will generally be easier to get this visa. If the company is based outside of the major cities, requirements will generally be less stringent. Allow Enough Time For The Visa Application: Emigration visas take time to be processed and it is recommended that you apply for this at least 18 months before your planned moving date. There are some visas that can take up to 2 years to be granted and you need to be aware of this. Prepare Everything For The Move: While you wait for your visa, you should prepare everything for the move. Clear out everything in your house that you will not want to take with you. Shipping your possessions to Australia can be expensive and will have to be done by ship. The less you have to send, the easier and cheaper it will be. If you have children, you need to tell their school about your planned move. This is important because you will need transcripts. Additionally, the school year in Australia runs from January to December and the 6-month difference will need to be planned for. Something that you might want to consider doing before you leave the UK is opening an Australian bank account. This is something that you can take care of once you are in the country but doing this beforehand can make life a bit easier. There are a number of banks that allow you to do this and they each have their own requirements. Read Also: 7 Helpful Tips During An Emergency Moving Process Construction Plans In Australia The Five Most Important Things To Know Before Moving Moving House? Here’s The Ultimate Checklist

How To Prepare Your Child For A Youth Conference?

Youth conferences are essential since they provide them with a rare opportunity to discover, interact with others their age, and learn new things, and celebrate God. These events provide a stimulating setting for young minds to broaden their horizons, develop their capacities, and create enduring connections. Preparing your child for a youth conference as a parent or guardian may significantly influence their overall experience and progress during the gathering. Children's participation in a youth conference can change them because it exposes them to different viewpoints, cultures, and activities outside their regular routines. Here are a few ways to prepare your child for a youth conference: Reviewing The Conference Details It is crucial for parents to fully comprehend the specifics of an event before heading to a youth conference. Find out as much as possible about the event itself beforehand, including its subject/theme, schedule, and keynote speakers. Parents may have educated talks with their children about what to anticipate during the event by being aware of the agenda and discussion themes. Furthermore, parents can convey the conference's aim to their kids if they have explicit knowledge of its objectives. It's essential to go through how going to the conference may be a worthwhile educational experience and a chance for personal development, especially in faith. This way, they can create excitement and passion by matching the child's desires and goals with the conference's themes. Define Expectations Setting clear expectations is essential to preparing a kid for a youth conference. Parents should explain the purpose and underlying reasons for such a magnificent Christian gathering, and how it could affect their child's social and personal growth. Furthermore, parents may encourage their child's active participation during the conference, helping them find ways to help themselves and others while getting the most value out of the activities and speakers. This process will help the youngster feel important and motivated. Setting reasonable expectations for your child by explaining how they should behave and what they should do is key to this encouragement. They should have a good grasp of when they can laugh and play and when they need to listen and be respectful. The youngster has a sense of responsibility and enthusiasm due to this clarity since they know what to anticipate. Furthermore, parents should address any particular objectives they have set for their child for the youth conference. Setting goals helps the kid concentrate their efforts and focus on getting the most out of the conference, whether connecting with like-minded peers, honing public speaking abilities, or researching future career interests. Preparation And Packing Proper packing and planning are crucial for a child's seamless and enjoyable time at a youth conference. Parents can make a list of essentials to pack for the occasion, ensuring their child has all they need for a relaxing, pleasant stay. Practical items like attire for conference activities, comfy shoes, toiletries, and essential medications should be on the list. Including the kid in the packing process might help them develop a feeling of independence and responsibility. Parents may assist their children in packing their belongings by offering recommendations that will be beneficial and making sure that they pack all necessary goods. This collaborative effort allows the kid to own their conference experience and instils a sense of readiness and independence. Parents and guardians should also urge their children to review the conference schedule in advance to get the most out of the conference experience. Children can decide the discussions and workshops they wish to attend by becoming familiar with the program and debate themes. By matching their interests with sessions relevant to their objectives, the child is better equipped to make the most out of their experience. Encourage Independence Even though there may be many other youths present at the conference, maybe those your child may befriend or already know, it’s important that they make their own voice heard and participate in activities and sessions they would enjoy rather than just following along with their friends. These exciting events are not just about studying the word and celebrating God, but also about building bonds and enjoying life. Encourage your child to manage their conference calendar to promote independence. Parents can assist their children in looking through the conference schedule and selecting the sessions and pursuits that match their interests and objectives; this will ensure they benefit most from their choices and have even better memories. Also, parents can talk to their children about safety precautions as the conference draws near to foster a feeling of consciousness and accountability. Your child can take more proactive actions if you remind them to stay in the allocated areas, adhere to conference rules, and ask for guidance from conference organizers when necessary. Develop Social Skills A child's participation at a youth conference, where contacts with peers, facilitators, and other participants are typical, depends on their developing skilled social skills. To prepare your children for valuable connections and interactions at the event, parents may play a critical role in helping them practice and improve these abilities. Playing out various social scenarios with the kids is an excellent technique to help them develop their social skills. Parents may take on different personas and discuss with their kids using acceptable body language, effective communication methods, and active listening. The youngster gains more confidence in starting and maintaining discussions with others owing to this participatory exercise. Parents may offer valuable advice on how to connect with strangers and establish friends in addition to role-playing. These conferences are an excellent opportunity to make new friends, and they may feel more at ease in social situations if you encourage them to exhibit approachable and pleasant body language, such as keeping eye contact and smiling. The Bottom Line It may be a gratifying experience to help a child prepare for a youth conference since it can significantly influence their social and personal growth. A youngster with the right resources and encouragement may use the youth conference's possibilities for learning, adventure, and self-discovery. Additionals: Practical Ways To Help Your Elderly Parents 3 Ways Parents Can Safeguard their Household’s Online Safety Is it Possible for Single Individuals to Become Foster Parents?

Making The Most Of Hand-Me-Downs And Second-Hand Finds For Your Kids