For the OCD Mom, you can take thrift hunting one step further.

Keep in mind that it doesn’t hurt to buy ahead for things that will cost you a lot to buy new and you are sure to need in the next few years.
Examples of this for me are soccer shoes, ice skates, blue jeans, dress shoes(urghhh), life-preservers, rain boots and jackets.
Also, talk to your mom-friends about things that you are in need of. A lot of times moms are out and about see an item that the wish they “knew someone who could use it” because it is such a good find. Your needed item might be right at the tip of a friends fingers, saving you even more time and money.
Lisa