The Used Clothing Filing System

I'm very thankful because we receive a lot of hand-me-down clothing from a very good friend, whose daughter is 2 1/2 years older than Bee. The rest of our kid clothing and shoes comes from garage sales, or from very good clearance sales.

Because we always have clothing for Bee to grow into, I created a storage system so that I can find items as we need them, and to avoid accidentally purchasing duplicates. My system is a variation on the Used Clothing Filing System, from Amy Dacyczyn's Complete Tightwad Gazette.


I store clothes in these boxes, which are kept in a little nook next to our furnace in the basement. Bee wears size 5-6, so I'm currently storing size 6 spring/summer, size 7 fall/winter, and size 7 spring/summer. I also have a box for shoes (bottom left). The top two boxes are used to store gifts for the kids. I buy items that I know my kids will like as I find them on sale throughout the year. These two boxes aren't labeled anymore because Bee is learning to read, and would soon figure out my not-so-creative hiding place. As I purchase items at garage sales, consignment stores, or clearance sales, it's very easy to just "file" them in these boxes.

Whenever I notice that Bee's pants or shirts are getting too short, or her shoes are tight, we go shopping in the basement. Bee loves it when we bring out new things, and I love that I don't have to buy new pants for her every 6 months. As Bee outgrows clothing, I launder it and store it in my long-term filing system for Baby C. to grow into. My long-term system is a series of plastic, lidded Rubbermaid storage tubs which are labeled by size and season, and stored on a set of shelves in our back storage shed (we're blessed with two large, metal storage buildings on our property). Baby C. currently wears 12-month clothing, so I keep the 18-month boxes in her closet. When she's ready for it, I'll put the 18-month clothing in her dresser, and move the 24-month boxes into her closet.

In the spring, when garage sale season is getting underway, I inventory Bee's clothing in her current size, and one size larger. My inventory includes shoes & boots, coats, hats & mittens, and dance leotards. I look for shortages, and then make a garage sale wish list, including desired colors. I don't do this for Baby C. because we have ample hand-me-downs from Bee, and C. often gets new clothing as gifts. We keep the wish list in the glovebox of the van, and cross things off as we find them throughout the summer. With the exception of socks, underwear and occasionally pajamas, we rarely have to buy new kid clothing.

A woman once asked me, in a very disdainful voice, if it bothers Bee that she doesn't ever get "new" things. As if I was somehow abusing my child by "forcing" her to wear used clothing. First of all, let me just say that Bee does get new clothing. We often buy her new (sale-purchased) clothing for Christmas and her birthday, as do her grandparents & other relatives. She has no problem with hand-me-downs, because she loves wearing clothes from her cool, older friend. Finally, Bee is a smart kid who has been taught the value of money. She recognizes that garage sale shopping allows her to get a lot of nice, new-to-her clothes for the same price as one pair of store-bought pants. Because she's never been given the erroneous impression that used equals bad, garage sale shopping is like a treasure hunt for her. This attitude will serve her well throughout her life.