By: Gabi Loomis | IG: @colormesassy 

Summer is here and there's nothing more our family enjoys than going to the beach or spending the day by the pool. Who else can relate to that?

In today's blog, I want to share how I prepare for my family’s beach and pool days in a budget-friendly manner by shopping at Goodwill. 

SWIM TRUNKS

If you have children, you know how life gets expensive. As children get older, shopping for secondhand clothes and accessories can save you hundreds of dollars. When looking for swimming trunks for my boys, I like to go early to Goodwill to find a variety of products. On this particular Goodwill shopping trip, I found these adorable swimming trunks for my almost four-year-old son. When I got home and showed him that the swimming trunks had sharks, he immediately wanted to put them on and jump in the pool!

BEACH SARONG

Besides swimsuits, my most worn item in the summer is a beach sarong. Growing up in Brazil, that is a must-have beach item. When looking at the dress racks, I was delighted to find this beautiful sarong for only $2.99. The beauty of sarongs is that you can wear them multiple ways over your suit. You can use them to lay on the beach, use them as a nursing cover, or even wrap yourself if you feel a little cold. If you don't own one, please go to Goodwill and try to find one for yourself. Trust me, you will carry it every time you go to the beach or the pool.

DRESSES

Along with the sarong, I recently found a couple of adorable dresses at Goodwill, including this basic H&M dress. I plan to wear it as a beach coverup during the day to walk around town and grab ice cream in!

TOTE BAGS

This beige and white bag I found at Goodwill goes well with nearly all my summer dresses. How cute is this look for a date night on a patio?

SWIMSUITS

Now let's talk about women's swimsuits. I know people can get skeptical about buying secondhand suits. However, you will wash anything you buy anyway, just like all clothes you already own. If you want to own multiple swimsuits, this is the way to go. Plus, it will look like you have a new one to wear throughout the whole summer.

Other summer items you can search for at Goodwill are beach toys, towels, sandals, and hats! What am I going to find next? Stay up-to-date on my Instagram account, so you don't miss out on all of my amazing Goodwill finds!