By Julia Silverman

This past year, with money still tight all over town, Andrea Davey and her husband were able to pay down a significant amount of principal on their mortgage, beyond their regular monthly payments.

How did they do it? Davey says it was all thanks to her baby daughter’s insatiable need for stuff: new toys, new clothes, new books, an exersaucer and more. Instead of buying thousands of dollars worth of baby gear, Davey got creative. She founded the St. Johns Swap and Play, a place where, for a small monthly fee, members can play together and swap the toys, books, clothes and gear their kids no longer use.

Going the used route – whether via a swap-and-play, a consignment store or resale event, the bins at Goodwill or Craigslist – makes perfect sense for families with growing kids whose sizes and interests are constantly changing.

Brooke Unwin, who runs Just Between Friends – one of the city’s biggest resale events, next scheduled for April 30 and May 1 – says even when buying used it’s important to hunt for quality. Make sure necks on shirts aren’t stretched out and inspect garments for stains, puzzles for missing pieces and books for ripped pages. You might be spending less money, but it’s still money. Know your child’s measurements if you’re hunting for clothes, because sizes can vary by brand.

Remember to clean out your closets regularly, too. You often can make enough money selling outgrown clothes and neglected toys on Craigslist, at consignment shops or at resale events to buy new ones – or at least new to you.

December 31st, 2010 | Category: Money and Finance, Past Articles