This secondhand playhouse is almost as good as new,
and cost us a fraction of the price of a new one.
Parenting is expensive, but it doesn't have to bankrupt you. Your kids look just as presentable in used clothing. They have just as much fun playing with secondhand toys. If you are a smart shopper, you don't even have to budget for this stuff.
Noah's favorite toys were once somebody else's. Puzzles, board books, Legos, Matchbox cars.... We once bought an indoor/outdoor Little Tykes playhouse for $25. A new one costs a few hundred dollars, and Noah has never noticed that his is missing a door!
Group yard sales, fundraising sales and consignment sales are popping up all over the DC metro area this spring. Our-Kids.com maintains a lengthy list of 2009 Spring Consignment Sales on its website. My favorite is the St. Marys Kids Stuff Sale, scheduled for May 30.
Secondhand Sale Tips:
1) Bring cash. Few sales accept credit cards, and some do not accept checks.
2) Bring your own bags or boxes. This keeps your hands free while you shop, and also guarantees you a take-away bag (which many sales run out of).
3) Be there when the sale opens if you want the best selection.
4) Be there when the sale closes if you want the best bargains. Some sales offer everything for 50 percent off after 12:00pm.
Our-Kids.com's list of 2009 Spring Consignment Sales
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