If there is one thing all moms know, it’s how incredibly fast kids go through clothing. Whether they grow out of them in a matter of weeks due to an unfortunately timed growth spurt or ruin them at the playground on their first day of wear, we can all agree that spending a lot on kids clothes feels like throwing cash out the window.

That’s why, over time, I finally smartened up and started dedicating more time to finding quality secondhand clothing online and in retail shops. My kids are also both under the age of 5 and still don’t have opinions on what they wear, so I’ll capitalize on that benefit as long as I can. The beauty of shopping consignment in the digital age is you can toggle between various websites and apps and sometimes offer lower prices for items you want. There are plenty of convenient ways to acquire inexpensive secondhand clothing — and we at Boston Moms Blog have rounded up some of the best ways to get your hands on new and consigned threads.

ThredUp

ThredUp is a secondhand-clothing website — with an app. You can buy high-quality used clothing from brand names, and the search functionality makes it easy to find different types of clothing and specific sizes. For example, I needed a new fleece for my daughter and had found that North Face holds up well for multiple seasons in the New England climate. I was able to search for the North Face brand in my child’s size, and I scored one for under $20 (and it arrived in excellent condition). You can also sell your used clothing on the site by ordering a “clean out bag.” Fill it up with like-new women’s and kids’ clothes, and you can earn cash or credit to use for purchases on the site.

Swap.com

Swap.com is another online consignment destination I have heard great things about. It also has an app and boasts a wide variety of apparel options. I was impressed by the huge amount of inventory, especially for kids and maternity. You can search by filters such as season, brand, condition, and price. They also offer hassle-free returns if you are not 100% satisfied, which is a definite plus when you are unsure of “gently used” clothing conditions.

Kidizen

Kidizen.com seems to get the best reviews for its setup for sellers, so if you have a lot of clothing to unload this may be a good start — as long as you don’t mind shipping the items on your own. I recently signed up for this app and I am looking forward to learning more about the clothing quality, but from my initial research it seems to get an A+ for its network’s “community feel” in the world of parenting and consignment.

Facebook Marketplace

By now many of us have either bought or sold at least one item through Facebook, whether it be on a town swap page or on the Facebook “Marketplace” section. The pro of Marketplace is that you have the ability to offer lower amounts for apparel and hope for approval from the seller, and no service takes a percentage off the top for the transaction (similar to Craigslist). A con is that you have to arrange to meet the person for pick-up and hope that it’s in the condition you are expecting upon arrival.

Local retail consignment around Boston

With all the online hype for consignment these days, it’s easy to forget the many local retailers and boutiques that specialize in secondhand clothing. Bonus is you get to actually inspect the item in person or try it on before buying. Below is a listing of some of our picks for fabulous family consignment stores around Boston — save money while also supporting your local economy!

• Apple of My Eye :: Melrose
• Fancy Pants :: Brookline
• Keeping Pace With Multiple Miracles :: West Bridgewater
• Buttons and Bows :: Acton
• Kid 2 Kid :: Natick
  
• Children’s Orchard :: Westborough
• There They Grow Again :: Children’s resale events around MA
  
• Two Little Monkeys :: Somerville
• Little Fox Shop :: Arlington
• Growing Up :: Belmont

So take our advice, mamas, and save your money for your own wardrobe! (I’m looking at you, closet full of black yoga pants and old college t-shirts.) Happy shopping!