When these plans were made in March, I quickly realized that I was going to need to put a wardrobe together for Michaela that would be appropriate for the types of weather we might encounter in Alaska. It's very likely that we will experience rain and cooler temperatures - much like the type of weather we can have here in the wintertime.
However, Michaela has outgrown all her winter clothing and I've long since disposed of it. That is the thing with little ones. They outgrow their clothes so quickly! In the last four years I have given away hundreds of pieces of clothing. I actually enjoy passing on gently used clothing to family, friends, and coworkers when I can. But I've recently discovered another option - reselling.
In the last few months, instead of giving everything away, I've been sorting things into three categories - things to resell, things to give to friends or family, and things that can go to the Goodwill or Salvation Army. The determining factors are usually based on the overall wear of the items and the items' makers. Like I mentioned in a recent post, Gymboree is a brand with a very good resell value, and it's one that I like for Michaela.
Selling on "the big auction site" works for a lot of people, but it's not the best place for me. As a full-time teacher, I'm not sure I really have the time to be managing that process.
What works best for me is Moxie Jean which is an online resale shop for children's clothes and maternity clothing (I wish I'd known about them back in the day!). After I've sorted out Michaela's clothes, I order a bag (for free) from Moxie Jean and put the best items in it. Then I drop it off at the post office or UPS Store, and Moxie Jean covers the shipping charges. Easy peasy! Right? In a few days or so, they email me to acknowledge receipt of my bag, and a few days after that I am given an amount for the items they accept. I can cash out, or retain store credit. My most recent bag earned me about $30 which I used as store credit. Hey, thirty bucks can go a long way when you're shopping consignment!
I discovered Moxie Jean when I began looking for long pants, long-sleeved shirts, dresses for dinner, and outerwear for our cruise. I'd already discovered the pleasure of shopping online consignment for myself on another site, and I was excited about the possibility of finding what we needed for Michaela at Moxie Jean.
In order for this wardrobe to mix and match, I decided to choose pieces that were black, grey, and pink. Here are some of the pieces I was able to find - some of these were even new with tags!
And here's Michaela modeling a warm hat by Gap that I found for her:
I was also able to find jeans and long sleeved tees from Gymboree and Gap to complete the trip wardrobe. I think the coat was the most expensive item at around $22, but most items I purchased were between $5 and $12. The convenience of finding out-of-season clothing was a big plus for me in this instance, but throughout the site there was plenty of on-trend and seasonal offerings. When we received our box from Moxie Jean, everything was packaged so nicely I would have thought they had come from a mail order boutique.
After the trip, these items will make up her winter wardrobe - so, Mommy doesn't have to do anymore shopping for quite a while. Whew!
Anyway, I have been pleased with both my selling and buying experiences with Moxie Jean. It's a great way to send off the clothes your kiddo has outgrown, make some spending money or credit, and restock your children's drawers with stylish pieces at super discounted prices. I hope you'll check out Moxie Jean!
{This post contains affiliate links. That doesn't mean that you pay more when you purchase something through my link, but it does mean that I receive a small commission when you do. Thank you for supporting my little blog!}
UPDATE: Well, wouldn't you know it?! Moxie Jean is becoming a part of another online reseller service. From the email I received today, August 17, 2015:
"We have tremendously exciting news to share with all of you: As of today, Moxie Jean is joining forces with resale industry leader Schoola to create one united community that offers the same great deals on secondhand clothing – but extends the impact of your purchases...
Starting today, we will be transitioning our site & inventory to merge with Schoola.com. Our product catalog will be unavailable temporarily while we make the transition, but we expect it to be available at Schoola.com in early September. "
I have not shopped Schoola.com, but will check out the site soon.
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