Footy jumper, $2

Like many little girls, my daughters aren’t all that into fine art and they aren’t all that into football. But they are into impressing their dad. So when he took them to see the Ron Mueck sculptures at the National Gallery, they looked at everything very carefully and even made informed comments, such as “I know it’s a boy because it has a penis.”

When they accompanied him to a football game  – to a match that just about brought him to tears - my seven-year-old obliged him by memorising and then excitedly reciting to me the phrase, “Jack Riewoldt kicked ten goals.” In fact, she memorised it so well that some weeks later, when a friend saw her wearing this jumper and commented that she must be a Richmond supporter, she responded by saying, “Jack Riewoldt kicked ten goals.” “Is Jack Riewoldt your favourite player?” my friend asked. “I don’t know,” she shrugged. 

Blouse, $1

I never fail to be delighted by the lack of self-consciousness shown by my children when it comes to learning the language. Every week there’s another blithely mispronounced word (and therefore... a new word learnt?)

This is one of my seven-year-old’s favourite items of clothing. After choosing it at an op shop, she held it up and asked, “Is it a brouse?” “Well, your Chinese grandma calls it a brouse," I replied, "but it’s actually a blouse.”

Jumper and beanie set, $3

I find it churlish when people describe child-free women as selfish. The correct term is self-centred. It’s women who have children who are in fact selfish. Unless I’m mistaken, most of us have children because we know that becoming a parent is just about the best thing that could ever happen to a person. Of course, there’s a lot of day-to-day selflessness involved in raising children, but that doesn't make bringing into the world in the first place the opposite of selfish. After all, the planet's resources are finite.

School dress, $2

My five-year-old will be starting school next year and I’ve been slowly assembling her school uniform. I’ve been able to find most of the necessary items, such as the gold skivvy, the navy pants, the navy shorts and this navy and white check dress, in various op shops. White socks and black brogues aren’t actually required at the school she will attend, but she was horrified when I suggested that everyday sneakers or sandals might do, so I guess I’ll have to find her some “regulation” footwear as well.

Jumper and beanie set, $3

A few years ago a charity invited knitters to create winter woollens for overseas recipients, but the operation encountered logistical difficulties and some of the baby knitwear ended up at an op shop. But what an op shop! Fashionistas come from far and wide to donate to it, as it is a supporter of the ALSO Foundation, a gay and lesbian community organisation. Yep, even in the op shop world, it pays to be popular and well-connected.

Yellow fairy dress, $10.25

After spending an afternoon at a suburban ballet academy my three year-old announced that she wanted a yellow tutu, and I told her she could have one when I found one in an op shop. In an attempt to stem the tide of pink that was flooding my world, I’d told my second-born from a very early age that her favourite colour was in fact yellow, not pink like her sister. Well, it’s now almost eleven months since that first dance lesson and all I can say is, Thank God for Salvos Stores.