Our Thrift Store - New to Me - Mommy Shopping Rules for Children

Can I just say I love 2nd hand shopping! Saving money is a thrill... Especially when you get things on the "I need" list. But when you really want something and can save cash too, well move over cause I want some I that savings.

Our Thrift Store - New to Me - Mommy Shopping Rules for Children

I have a few thrift stores I really love. There clean, reasonable, and carry some pretty cool stuff. A few have low turnover, so those are once a year visits. But others flip there merchandise nearly daily! So over time we've come to have a few we like to visit.

When I go with my 3 kids, which is most of the time, we have some kids toys rules to follow.

LIFE IS STILL EXCITING AT OUR HOUSE! 

With more insects. . . 

Quick 2021 update - we have taken our bugs online and on youtube. Visit AMI Studios Chicago if you want to see our insect videos - you can watch them here. 

AMI Studios Chicago

It's mostly baby girls videos and here slime making, she spends time with friends, goes on road trips, lots of coloring activities and make good choices while having fun. During the covid stay at home orders - she had many many many facetime pandemic playdates - we made time work for us and not be bored.

 Our Thrift Store - New to Me - Mommy Shopping Rules for Children

Whatever the kids want to buy:

1. It / toy has to work/can't be broken (NO I'm NOT fixing it!)

1. no stuffed animals (bugs, bacteria, etc. also love soft, furry stuffed toys). Yes, we can launder these, thanks but no thanks.

1. We can't have the toy already (or be replacing one that broke, probably bad manufacturing in the latter instance). But I also want the kids learning to care for their toys and not get into an excess mindset of always replacing what's broken.

Having these rules helps prevent tantrums and meltdowns. Rules help us set our boundaries, set up what's expected. My kids have come to - very quickly - pass over toys that don't make the rules list. Because they already know what moms gonna say! 

Now when my mom takes them shopping, I have come to accept "grandmas rules." I can't make her not buy them certain toys, or stop her from buying stuffed animals. But if the toy doesn't cut MY rules list, then it stays at Grandmas house!! And the kids know, "do we buy stuffed animals?" I ask. "No, then this nice stuffed - "but grandma washed it" - toy can stay right here at grandmas house!" 

My kids don't act up in stores because they know our rules. 

They know begging doesn't work either. 

However, through the years my older son gets birthday present cash. I used to hold the money for him, but now he wants his own wallet, with him, at the store. So I can buy whatever I want.... Great! A new "kid thing" to work through. More rules coming our way. 

"Okay, mommy has to think about good ways to spend our wallet money. We will talk about it."

Make mistakes. Breath, reflect. And Laugh.Out.Loud.