Reply #107: Being frugal is a GOOD thing. So many of the posters to this OP are spoiled rotten!

[Honeycombe8]

Have you guys forgotten how to live with cost in mind? Have you guys NEVER shopped in thrift stores?

This is not a weird, off the beaten path way of life. I do it, and I can afford to buy new clothing (and I do....but of course, it's MY money; if someone else were paying for it, they would have the right to tell me how much I could spend & dictate other terms. That's the deal, when other people pay your way.)

This seems like common sense to me. It's just a shame that hte foster parents have to be TOLD to bargain shop. I would've thought they would've wanted to stretch the dollars as far as they could, to begin with.

Having just gone through a recession, I would've thought people would've gone back to recognizing the value of used things as a way of saving $$$$.

There is no shame in buying used. Teach the kids this, and they'll be all the better for it. Buy used clothing, and move on to important things. What's important to a foster child is that he have a stable loving environment, good friends, healthy food, good schooling, physical activity, and decent (hopefully cool) clothing (which can be bought successfully at thrift stores).