tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post3279682375528252599..comments2024-02-02T07:13:37.313-06:00Comments on Like Merchant Ships: How To Inventory Hand-Me-DownsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-58597916164473393112009-12-26T10:13:24.767-06:002009-12-26T10:13:24.767-06:00Thank you for sharing your spreadsheet. I am start...Thank you for sharing your spreadsheet. I am starting to do the very same thing for my whole family. And was starting to create one when I thought I would search for one. I perused your blog, and like it! I will be adding it to my follow list! :)AngieDSimplyMehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02934677506348712808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-73314920824472211072009-08-08T09:00:55.191-05:002009-08-08T09:00:55.191-05:00My mom (a mom of 8) used paper grocery bags--she s...My mom (a mom of 8) used paper grocery bags--she simply wrote the size, season and sex of the clothing on the outside of the bag. Then she lined up the bags on the top shelf of closets in every bedroom. Worked great.<br /><br />I mostly use Rubbermaids, labeled and stored on high shelves in my garage.<br /><br />Mary, mom to 10Owlhavenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08914960326214046859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-59758079426590541412009-08-05T13:24:47.409-05:002009-08-05T13:24:47.409-05:00You are welcome to print and use, although it may ...You are welcome to print and use, although it may be easier to size one suited to your own family, using the spreadsheet I linked to as a guide.<br /><br />I don't have a set # of clothes per category, to tell you the truth. You already know I try to have 3 pairs of shoes per person, per season. I do keep a separate page of inventory for shoes, especially those hard-to-find athletic shoes in wide sizes.<br /><br />Only you can determine how many outfits is right for your family. It seems like we go through two a day for Elise and John, so we need more than we will when they are older.<br /><br />Having a spreadsheet--even if you don't limit the number--at least lets you spread your buying out across pants, dresses, shorts instead of clumping all your money in shoes and shorts, etc.Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08455517419708043340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-32565318999079735262009-08-04T21:35:31.520-05:002009-08-04T21:35:31.520-05:00I read the idea of an index card master list in “A...I read the idea of an index card master list in “America’s Cheapest Family” but never did it (only one child at the time, so it wasn’t a big deal). Now I have two kids, and already I’m beginning to see how one might lose track! Maybe your post and the back-to-school sales right now will inspire me to get some index cards and get cracking! :) KatieKitchen Stewardshiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02237057208618360053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-64437626152381598882009-08-04T19:18:42.334-05:002009-08-04T19:18:42.334-05:00Do you mind us printing out and using your form? T...Do you mind us printing out and using your form? Thank you. I have 5 little ones and I always thrift and garage sale. So it gets a little out of control around here. I have things in the basement in rubbermaid containers labeled, but I do need to go back to a list. Sometimes I just jot down "no more pj's" or "no red dress shirts", to stop me when I find something we already have. I no longer buy shoes ahead even though it is tempting because of how inexpensive they can be. But I get to that season and they don't fit anyone or it hurts their feet, or I buy 6 pairs on black patent maryjanes. I found I was losing $ on shoes we couldn't use. I do resale them, but I don't think it's worth it to me to buy, store, sort, then resale shoes without getting any use of them. Any tips about shoes?Honeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02059314827233671601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-65924933721714714312009-08-04T15:04:57.054-05:002009-08-04T15:04:57.054-05:00The spreadsheet is a wonderful idea Meredith. It ...The spreadsheet is a wonderful idea Meredith. It would be especially useful for keeping up with baby clothes (up to 2T) which we have in abundance for both a boy and a girl! I have a question that takes it a little further, though - how many outfits (or pieces) to you aim to have on hand for each size? I always seem to have an overabundance of clothing and often end up with clothes that were only worn once or not at all.Jana @sidetrackdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15510338021937712891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-22549995864524791472009-08-03T13:04:34.112-05:002009-08-03T13:04:34.112-05:00You have perfect timing in posting this. :-) I hav...You have perfect timing in posting this. :-) I have a 3 month old boy who is growing like a weed and already in 6mo clothing. I have a heap of clothes he's grown out of needing to go into storage and growing heaps from garage sales of future clothes, but no system for organizing or storing. Thank you for your wonderful idea! I'm going to be doing inventory this week.Alisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07091021503612464756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-2336808006885689922009-08-02T19:30:28.352-05:002009-08-02T19:30:28.352-05:00I need to sort through our hand-me-downs for Princ...I need to sort through our hand-me-downs for Princess Magpie and the new baby. I really do need to come up with a better system. I will definitely be reviewing your system when I get to it.Twisted Cinderellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14273548648344779210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-24911856490320864262009-08-01T01:54:20.366-05:002009-08-01T01:54:20.366-05:00Thanks for the great idea, with reduced income I a...Thanks for the great idea, with reduced income I am going from preferring second hand prices to having a much tighter budget which has me wondering if the current economy is going to create more demand and less supply for second-hand. I can't help but think that many of my thrifty,"almost new" second-hand purchases are the direct result of someone else's excess, for which I am grateful and do not want to take for granted...Tubo Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13648885392472180009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-37703700191980578282009-07-31T10:56:09.805-05:002009-07-31T10:56:09.805-05:00Hand me downs rule! I just wad everything into ga...Hand me downs rule! I just wad everything into garbage bags, write the age/gender/season on a piece of masking tape with a sharpie and throw it in the attic! Woohoo! Every season, we put more stuff up there and take a few minutes to bring some stuff down.<br /><br />When we lived in an apartment, I stacked cardboard boxes as neatly as possible in closets so as to preserve valuable space.<br /><br />I second buying staples when they're dirt cheap, like turtlenecks for winter and plain t's and things like that. And kids don't care about style, especially when they're really little.Kylie's Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17713103747521473866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-69628111549470878932009-07-30T23:30:24.445-05:002009-07-30T23:30:24.445-05:00You are so clever! I think my husband would apprec...You are so clever! I think my husband would appreciate my adopting the spreadsheet approach just to impose some limits on childrens clothing. It is especially difficult for me to stop buying for my girls. There are just so many pretty options for little ones!<br /><br />Do you keep a similar inventory for your own clothing purchases? I have heard that a lot of people duplicate purchases when shopping for themselves because they are drawn to similar styles over and over. I have been surprised to find myself falling into that trap on occasion too!Melissa Lesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10451670238096966507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-3607287219840550402009-07-30T20:40:33.454-05:002009-07-30T20:40:33.454-05:00I love this method! I keep LOTS of hand-me-downs (...I love this method! I keep LOTS of hand-me-downs (and hand-me-ups) but haven't found a satisfactory way of keeping inventory. This is perfect. Thanks!Lonihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01939667227668381014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-36935603243756622812009-07-30T19:30:55.778-05:002009-07-30T19:30:55.778-05:00This is a great idea, especially since we've b...This is a great idea, especially since we've been blessed with clothing up to size 18/20 (oldest is wearing size 8/10 right now).<br /><br />Thanks again! :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-53474676485817679582009-07-30T18:20:52.522-05:002009-07-30T18:20:52.522-05:00We, too, were inspired by the Tightwad Gazette - i...We, too, were inspired by the Tightwad Gazette - i always shop and store ahead for kids clothes. We use storage tubs, but I keep 4 x6 cards taped to the top and front with a detailed list of what each tub contains at any given time. <br /><br />A friend at church asked if she could borrow some newborn sized diaper covers since she's ordering a diaper service to start cloth diapering. I was glad to have my system, because I could pop down to the basement and find the tub labeled "0-6 mo baby boy clothes. Diaper covers up to 20 lbs" in about 3 minutes. <br /><br />Glad you've found a system that works for your family!Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12294113362182501855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-19745053198862528502009-07-29T19:31:33.277-05:002009-07-29T19:31:33.277-05:00But cute sundresses are all my girls will wear. lo...But cute sundresses are all my girls will wear. lol<br /><br />Thank-you for the spread sheet idea. Wow! When I grow up I want to be that organized. :)Carrien Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00709368343967989328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-77646472532482572722009-07-29T18:23:32.704-05:002009-07-29T18:23:32.704-05:00This is a fantastic idea that I will definitely us...This is a fantastic idea that I will definitely use. I get loads of hand-me-downs from my sister-in-law (from her two girls to my two girls). My other s-i-l hands down her son's old clothes to my son. The girls' clothing is out of control! I dread the seasonal change of clothing because there is just so much stuff. I'm glad that now I'll be able to at least get a grip on what exactly we have...<br /><br />and for the record, most of our handed down clothes are kept in kitchen garbage bags with the size and season written on the outside.Meghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02182435460157467843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-6012762555347162152009-07-29T13:49:05.904-05:002009-07-29T13:49:05.904-05:00I really need to get an inventory. I feel like I ...I really need to get an inventory. I feel like I have a good storage system, but I have no idea what I have. I like your spreadsheet idea, thanks!Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16958981528207127681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-8681023839609644372009-07-29T13:37:15.275-05:002009-07-29T13:37:15.275-05:00I'm going through our clothes too, and trying ...I'm going through our clothes too, and trying to really restrain myself to stuff in great condition, brand name, and usually unisex if I'm buying way out. I've found that girlie stuff is super cheap on clearance racks, but boys are harder to shop for. <br /><br />Wondering exactly how much newborn/infant stuff I should be keeping around. Seems like the smaller sizes I accumulate more of.Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04253120851598570692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-1629286458620530872009-07-29T09:57:28.343-05:002009-07-29T09:57:28.343-05:00With two girls it's much easier than multiple ...With two girls it's much easier than multiple kiddos and multiple genders. I just throw the clothes from Lala into a chest as she out grows them and everytime Bre gets to the next size we go through the chest before we go shopping. We don't get a lot of hand me downs from other places and yard sale clothes are EXPENSIVE here. I find that Kohl's, TJ Maxx, Ross & even Target has much better prices on their clearance racks. It's not a true "method" but it works for us.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10183421175434834004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-39641390891966945332009-07-29T09:44:04.142-05:002009-07-29T09:44:04.142-05:00I love the spreadsheet idea. I used to do that and...I love the spreadsheet idea. I used to do that and I need to start doing it again. We have an abundance of hand-me-downs that need to be sorted.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10635304837180578317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-6011479151808552952009-07-29T08:15:09.612-05:002009-07-29T08:15:09.612-05:00Sorry, I forgot!
Could you let us know how many...Sorry, I forgot! <br /><br />Could you let us know how many of each thing you think is good to shoot for? I'm transioning out of baby things into toddler/little boy things and am not quite sure how many shorts/pants/polos/etc I should have for him as he gets older. We have no closet space and I do not want him to have TONS, but am curious what other mom's think is a good number of each thing to have.<br /><br />Thanks so much!<br />HeatherHeatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02836755006244231995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-62292196924375073022009-07-29T08:13:17.539-05:002009-07-29T08:13:17.539-05:00LOVE THIS! I have started doing a similar thing w...LOVE THIS! I have started doing a similar thing with my little guy. I've got boxes for different sizes and they switch around as he is in a certain size and I get more of ones he is closer too.<br /><br />I keep a handwritten spread sheet of sorts and a list of shoes I have for him with me as I rummage/thrift shop to prevent huge overloads or big gaps. I went through his stuff in the spring so I could maximize my 'shopping' at rummage sales this summer. I've almost got him covered for the entire next year and am working ahead as I see great deals. I've bought up to size 7 (he's turning 1 tomorrow) when I find khakis and nice pants for $.25. I've heard its harder to outfit boys as they get older (from you and others) so I figure those things I can store, especially for that price. And how much will boys khaki pants change in 6 years?<br /><br />You really can dress a child well for very, very little if you are even just a bit organized and are willing to put some time into looking for the bargains. We've gotten no hand me downs, but the expense has been small. A winter coat for $2 has been the biggest purchase so far!<br /><br />I call my lists my rummage sale helpers and I love them! I also wrote a post about them as they save me lots of time and money :)<br /><br />HeatherHeatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02836755006244231995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-63936148394087020732009-07-28T20:30:54.817-05:002009-07-28T20:30:54.817-05:00I can remember doing this with my boys hand-me-dow...I can remember doing this with my boys hand-me-downs. Sure saved searching through boxes.<br /><br />God bless.Jackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16051183778965359500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-73268839087724323132009-07-28T19:53:30.386-05:002009-07-28T19:53:30.386-05:00I have two sons (now grown) who were the happy rec...I have two sons (now grown) who were the happy recipients of lots of male cousins' outgrown clothes. My daughter, on the other hand, had no female cousins that were older and could pass down clothing.<br /><br />I always bought ahead at clearance sales and what few yard sales were held then. I always knew what they had even though I had no special system. I do like the spreadsheet idea and will use it for my granddaughter.<br /><br />My daughter skipped size 12 as well. Some of this size she did wear once or twice, but basically wore a 12 for a very short time! What is it about girls? Anyone else's daughters go from 10 to 14?Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03209391691014087419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-82378947412907858692009-07-28T19:50:32.904-05:002009-07-28T19:50:32.904-05:00Very clever, because what I end up going overboard...Very clever, because what I end up going overboard on is shoes. I have such a phobia of being without Mary Janes that I end up with 3 pair in every size and color!Missyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11264845015930907294noreply@blogger.com