Making less of an environmental impact while saving money getting ready for back to school sounds like an amazing idea. But how do the two go together?

Getting ready for back to school can add up. There are new jeans, new shirts, new T-shirts, new sweaters, new socks, new shoes, the list seems endless at this time of year. Not to mention book bags, knapsacks, notebooks, pens, pencils, yes it is that time of year once again.

But in terms of cost and environmental impact the biggest item is clothes, so that is the place to start to make your kids back to class a leaner and greener experience. Here are some thrifty and greener ways to buy clothes for the new school year.

Want to save – Buy Used.

Don’t cringe. Yes, used. With new clothes no matter how organic the fabric or local the production (and most school clothing is neither), nothing beats the eco-efficiency of secondhand. Every time you buy a piece (or repurpose) a piece of clothing you are saving hundreds of gallons of water, all the pesticides that would have been used to produce the natural fibers or the petroleum from which the synthetics are made. Not to mention the energy and resources to bring the finished garment to the stores, malls and outlets.

Used clothing is a huge industry in most of the developed world with almost all of it going overseas. In many people’s mind their is a stigma to buying used clothing because at one time most used clothing stores were run by charitable organizations. And the resistance goes a bit deeper, to the ultimate consumer – if we aren’t buying our kids clothes new, we are failing as parents.

Now, there are plenty of ways to find great-looking, good quality second-hand clothing at a fraction of the new.

10 Sources for Used Kid’s Clothing

Family and Friends. This is what many of us already do, start with your family and extend out to friends looking for kids who are older or younger than yours. Hold a clothing party, start with a certain age and size, invite as many parents that you can think of and have each friend/family member bring a bag of clothes to trade and swap. This could be a yearly thing. Make a simple one-pot meal or offer simple snacks to nibble on as you shop and trade. Don’t be afraid to make calls, you can find parents who play the same sports as your child, are in the same grade, or neighbors and relatives.

Consignment Stores. Commissioned resellers always seem to have the freshest and most immaculate goods. You’ll pay a bit more for the convenience, but consignment stores and their marked and sorted goods can be real time savers.

Church and Multi-family rummage sales. The advantage of these is the convenience once again. Most churches put on large scale, semi-annual events. It pays to connect with the groups hosting these. Massena, Malone, Potsdam and Canton often run large church rummage sales. If you volunteer, many offer first pick or a discount, so what you put into an event is proportional to what you get out of it.

Craigslist. The online 24/7 rummage sale. You can check out two major areas: the Potsdam/Canton/Massena area and the Plattsburgh /Adirondack area. Start with random searches for “clothing” and you will easily find something. Make sure you read the online guide to buyer safety and use common sense when making any in-person transactions.

eBay. Another 24/7 shopping place to find more specific items you might need to fill a child’s wardrobe. If you really like something in a store and the store doesn’t have the size you need, eBay has never failed me when shopping for that one item I cannot live without (and at a much cheaper price). You can shop and bid, and many items have “make an offer” or buy outright. Most of the clothing is new or generally of high quality and you have a sense of protection with their reputation and dispute resolution systems. Make sure to read each item’s description carefully, covering the cost, the shipping fee (if any) and if you can return the item.

Flea markets. The North Country is not noted for its flea markets, but many of us travel during the summer months going to large cities and southern states. Many cities offer flea markets and swap meets where you can find a variety of things, just make sure that who you are buying for will wear the piece of clothing.

Freecycle. Freecycle is a genuine on-line community that offers FREE items. The downside is that most people on the list are making space at home and you may have to take more than you need, but fair enough. And you need to pickup the merchandise fairly quickly. And be sure to give back when you are ready to clean house, literally.

Saturday morning rummage sales. For a lot of people, weekend rummaging is a hobby and a way of life. It’s possible you’ll find the very best deals in someone’s driveway and on a Saturday morning. Many places hold town/community wide sales. Remember to start early.

Secondhand and thrift stores. You already know the names; “Goodwill,” Salvation Army, and Value Village. We have both locally run in Massena and Cornwall. When we buy from them we are supporting their work. You can find good deals, but be prepared to take your time to look for quality clothing. And wash everything when you get home. Many places wash their clothing before racking them but check with each place you shop. It is always a good practice to wash, even new clothing, to wash off any residual excess dyes and chemicals that accumulate during the production process. Again, while we all travel during the summer months, check out Ottawa’s Value Village. They have a number of locations (1824 Bank Street, 1221 Cyrville Road, or 1375 Clyde Avenue) and Ragtime Vintage Clothing (45 Flora) is another great place to check out. You will find a wider variety of quality clothing with a bit of patience. And it’s loaded with those quirky, off beat separates many teenagers are attracted to. Akwesasne’s own second hand store, “First Class Seconds” is at the east end of Akwesasne (1600 Route 37).

Here are a few other tips to cut back on your back to school bill.

Shop early or shop late, which means shop out of season. Shop for summer clothes in the fall and winter clothes in the early spring. Shopping like this for small children takes a bit of guesswork with their growth and changing tastes in clothes. Don’t discount stores, TJ Maxx and Marshall’s often have what your looking for at a lower price. And don’t forget coupons, Sunday weekly sales advertised in the paper. Good luck and happy shopping.