I’m a Vinted superfan – my son’s lived in second-hand clothes since he was 8 weeks old, I refuse to buy brand new ones
A SAVVY mum has revealed she's never out of pocket buying her little boy clothes - because she trades in his old ones to cover the cost.
Rhianna Nicol, from Fife, is a Vinted superfan and has kitted out son Ruaridh in second-hand clothes since he was eight weeks old.
Four months on, the 29-year-old is a pro on the app and has sold around 400 items, buying almost as many.
And with baby Ruaridh sometimes going up a clothes size every couple of weeks during a growth spurt, she said it's saved her a fortune.
is one of the most popular online marketplaces where shoppers can bag bargain clothes and accessories.
But that's not all, there's everything from homeware to toys and baby gear up for grabs.
On the app or website you can browse through items that other people want to sell - and they may be new or used, similar to eBay and Depop.
Rhianna said: "I sell my son's baby clothes and then use the balance to buy the next size up.
"It means I don't need to keep paying for a brand new wardrobe every couple of months.
"It saves so much money when babies grow so fast and you can basically trade clothes.
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"Just keep buying and then selling on each kids size as they grow and you'll never need to buy a full brand new wardrobe again.
";I just leave the money in my Vinted balance and use it when I need to buy him more."
The five-star Vinted seller () first downloaded the app around five months ago after hearing a friend talk about it.
She always sells one size at a time, sometimes uploading 90 items in a single sitting, while buying clothes in the next age group up.
Items on her page currently include a £4.50 North Face T-shirt, and adorable baby Converse and Adidas trainers.
"It can feel like a part-time job at times but it's not every day", Rhianna said.
"When I am uploading stuff, I'll take the pictures at night once Ruaridh's in bed. Then I'll list them during the day.
"I'd say it takes about three hours in total to upload everything."
She added: "Clothes are obviously a bargain on the app but you can also get good bargains in other baby items.
";I sold a perfect prep machine [which prepares baby milk] for £20. They can cost around £100 brand new.
"You can get everything for babies. I've even seen people selling cots, but obviously you have to collect them."
Rhianna quit her job when she fell pregnant and has no immediate plans to return to work, so the savings go a long way.
She added: "When people think of second hand clothes they automatically think charity shops or hand-me-downs with rips or holes in them or something.
"But you can get things brand new with tags, and used items I've got have been in such good condition.
"I've bought a few things for myself too, but I don't need to change clothes as much as Ruaridh obviously.
"My best purchase for myself was a Micheal Kors Access watch. I had one years ago and loved it and have wanted another since and found one on Vinted for £40."
Offering up her top tips to anybody considering using the app, the mum revealed: "If I see a really good bargain I always think 'buy it now before someone else gets it'.
"But I never favourite an item. If you do, it boosts it on the page so more people see it.
"In the beginning, I could favourite something that's been on for months, then after I've favourited it it sells within 10 minutes."
She added: "And upload in bulk. Every time I upload, it's like 90 items at a time.
"If you upload five items a day for a few days, it puts you to the top of searches so it makes it easier to sell the items. That's why I like saving everything up.
"You've got nothing to lose by trying it."
New research from Vinted found buyers have saved an average of £87 monthly when buying second-hand.
And almost 8 in 10 (77%) of Vinted members said that shopping second-hand on the platform enables them to purchase items that would otherwise be too expensive.
Natacha Blanchard, Consumer Lead at Vinted says: “In our member research, financial drivers have always been important for Vinted buyers.
"But with the rise in the cost of living now continuing into its second full year this winter, spending less on clothing and affording more on the same budget have become the two biggest driving forces for members who have turned to second-hand.
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“The bonus is that buyers can also be sellers and use Vinted to make some extra money from items they don’t need, which is the biggest driver for those selling on the platform.
"These funds can then go towards daily household expenses, meaning that second-hand platforms like Vinted can be a smart, and for some an essential, source of adding a little bit extra to their wallets during a time of need.”