Other People’s Clothes (Life on the shoestring budget)
It wasn’t until after the interview that I noticed exactly WHERE on my ass the slit in the skirt stopped. Or found the one inch hole in the seam of the matching jacket. Sigh.
The guy having what appeared to be having a fit makes much more sense now. He was hanging out of his truck, howling, and yelling, ‘Now that’s what i mean!’ I still don’t know what he means, but at least he’s clear.
At least my underwear and shoes were mine. The rest of my outfit was Other People’s Clothes: the purse was my aunt’s, the overcoat from my mother, the shirt from one stranger, the suit from another. Some stuff is from Freecycle. Some is from neighborhood mothers.
A neighborhood group online has been invaluable in my quest for winter clothes on a zero budget. When you get on the airplane with nothing but some suitcases and a week’s worth of cash, you just can’t be proud. My son has been beautifully outfitted in handmedowns for the whole winter, and I am slowly building up a wardrobe of clothes I can wear to an office.
What I’m trying to say is, you can do it. You can make it, no matter how difficult your circumstances. It takes some serious effort on your part, and some research. So if you know of an organization in your neighborhood, or an online group, or anything else that really helps out, let me know and I’ll spread the word.
For now I’ll leave you with one site: www.freecycle.org
6 opinions for Other People’s Clothes (Life on the shoestring budget)
416880 Blog Verification
Oct 17, 2006 at 8:46 pm
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domestic_slackstress
Oct 18, 2006 at 4:11 am
In my family of five, including my three kids, ages 5, 3, and 2, we call hand-me-downs pass alongs. A friend of mine said she feels better calling the clothes she “donates” to our poor butts when she calls them pass alongs. She says its more dignified. C’mon. Hand-me-downs are hand-me-downs. Call ‘em what they are. We wouldn’t make it without them. We also keep the good clothes Karma going by passing along or handing down our kids’ clothes to those who need them. One time I passed along a bunch of really decent stuff to my SIL and she had the audacity to SELL a bunch of it on eBay w/o asking me first or telling me at all. I ran into her nice sales and my heart was saddened. The thought didn’t count to her.
Hsien Lei
Oct 18, 2006 at 8:04 am
What an awesome post. I love your honesty. They have great thrift shops here in London with the proceeds going to organizations like Cancer Research or Oxfam. Benefits everyone!
Kate
Oct 18, 2006 at 12:09 pm
Easy on the pocketbook and better for the environment.
christina
Oct 18, 2006 at 12:11 pm
:) apparently, Other Peoples’ Clothes can be very easy on the eyes, as well.
thank goodness for pantyhose. If my mama butt had actually been hanging where it usually does, I’d have been quite the sight to see!
*headdesk*
christina
Oct 19, 2006 at 11:50 am
And Ms. Slackstress, you said it loud and clear. These clothes are gifts at a time when I desperately need them. When the King of Everything outgrows them, I’ll find someone else who needs them as much as I do. Keeping the Karma Wheel flowing steadily in the right direction.
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