Quick tips for a simpler life

Hand-me-downs can save serious cash

Good quality hand-me-downs can ease at least a portion of the expense of parenting.

But not all hand-me-downs are created equal. 

Michele Casper, spokeswoman for Lands’ End, offers tips for choosing new clothes that have potential to be worn by many wearers for many years:
> Look for durable construction, especially on the knees,
elbows and shoulders.
> Adjustable waistbands allow for more flexibility in sizing.
n Outerwear is a popular hand-me-down, Casper reports. Waterproof fabrics and especially those with dry-off finishes tend to have a longer life because water, which can break down fabric over time, doesn’t sit on the garment.
> Garment-washed knits are washed during the manufacturing process, which should cut down on shrinkage.
> Blue is one of the safest color choices because both boys and girls like it, and stripes are a gender-neutral detail, Casper says.
> Don’t hand down shoes because each shoe conforms to the foot shape of the original wearer.

—The Associated Press