When Your Kid(s) Need New Everything

This issue is arriving next-day-late because it’s been a hell of a week and a half. We went on vacation, life life'd, and some of you were so sweet to write and check in on us. (Hi, Mom.) We’ll save the trip notes, beach chaos, and vacation recap for another issue because today we’re sticking to one very pressing seasonal problem: 

Why does this time of year make us spend money like absolute maniacs?

Like, you’re somehow still buying winter things while also gearing up for spring, signing kids up for activities, replacing outgrown shoes, realizing everyone needs random new gear, and, if you celebrate Easter, adding even more stuff to the list.

It adds up. So. Fast.

And yes, buying used is hardly a revolutionary concept when you have kids who grow out of things at Olympic speed, but we also know that finding the right item at the exact right moment can be annoyingly hard. 

So this week, we’re keeping it simple. These are the three secondhand sources we turn to the most when we want to save money without fully entering the lawless chaos of internet stranger commerce.

In this issue:

✅ The thrift-store trick that makes cheap stuff even cheaper

✅ Where we look for weirdly specific kid items and brands

✅ The underrated Amazon section worth checking before buying new

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But first! Please take .5 seconds to answer the poll below.

👉 Yes, yes. We know. Thrift stores. Groundbreaking.

But here’s the part that actually feels useful: some thrift stores have loyalty programs, and that makes a real difference.

The thrift store chain Savers is a good example. They offer rewards, send regular coupons, and give you a coupon every time you donate. Which means you can do the extremely satisfying move of bringing a bag of outgrown kid stuff, getting your coupon, and immediately using it on the next size up. Circle of life, but cheaper.

(We hear America's Thrift Stores, certain Goodwill regions, the Salvation Army also have rewards programs, so check in with the thrift stores in your area).

Perfect for:

Kids’ clothes, family clothing, seasonal layers, shoes, and toys

We’ve found:

Halloween costumes, winter coats, rain boots, puzzles, and ride-on toys/bikes (so many.)

Why it works:

You’re already getting thrift-store pricing, then stacking on coupons and rewards. Great for the categories where kids burn through stuff fast and you do not need it to be brand new.

👉 Again, no shit, online resale exists. But two we think are underused: Mercari and Good Buy Gear.

This is where we go for the more niche items that are harder to reliably find in a thrift store right when you need them. Specific brands. Specific toys. Specific gear. The random thing your kid suddenly needs by next weekend, or the oddly particular thing you just know is not sitting on a rack at your local thrift store today (ie size KEEN hiking sandals in toddler size 5.)

Good Buy Gear has amazing deals on baby gear- think strollers, car seats, carriers, nursery items, and those $140 Lovevery play kits we hate to love. Mercari has a bit of everything, but we use it most often for smaller items and specific clothing brands.

Perfect for:

Specific brands, specialty kid gear, harder-to-find toys, and items where condition matters a little more 

We’ve found:

A gently used high-quality hiking baby carrier, KEEN hiking shoes, an Upseat, and a Sit & Spin I absolutely needed for my nephew and could not find new anywhere 

Why it works:

It’s less “show up and hope” than thrifting. Better when you need a particular thing, not just vaguely “some spring clothes.”

 Ahem, we interrupt this newsletter to bring you some free stuff. 😉

👉 If you haven’t poked around Amazon Resale yet, consider this your sign.

It’s basically a way to search Amazon’s open-box, pre-owned, and lightly used items all in one place. You’ve probably seen those little “Used - Like New” options on regular product pages before, but the resale page lets you search specifically for those items instead of stumbling into them by accident.

The condition is usually clearly listed, which helps a lot. And for bigger or bulkier things, it can feel way less sketchy than arranging a handoff with a stranger named like “10footdemon” or something. 

Best for:

Higher-ticket items where you want to me more assured about quality, bulky items, and things that are annoying or expensive to ship from an individual seller 

We’ve bought:

A vacuum, a convertible toddler bed, and most recently…a cell phone!

Why it works:

You can sometimes get a very solid discount on items that are basically new, without the unpredictability of local resale chaos.

A quick reality check on savings

Savings vary a lot, obviously. Not every used item is a magical deal, and sometimes a discount isn’t deep enough to be worth it depending on the condition. 

But we’ve had genuinely good luck with all three of these, especially when the alternative is paying full price for something your kid may use for nine minutes or six weeks.

Which, respectfully, is not the lifestyle we are funding in this economy.

Honorable mentions

Of course Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Nextdoor, and local parent/community groups still deserve a shout.

But the ones listed here are the platforms we come back to most because they feel a little less unhinged, a little less unpredictable, and a little less likely to end with us messaging “Hi, is this still available?” into the void six times.

K that’s all. You’re the best and we love you.

-CK “Still Recovering from Vacation” Fuller (Editor) & the JB Crew 🫡

P.S. Next week may be beach and pool toy recs, because apparently we now have opinions on which giant plastic items earn their spot in the trunk.

*Quick note: Some links in here may be affiliate links. You know the drill- if you buy something, we might earn a small commission that helps offset the time we spend making JuiceBox. Thank you for supporting this project of ours.