Back to School clothing budget?

[Metsfan520]

I would do as others have suggested--go thru her clothes, see what fits, make a list of what she needs. Then go thru the ads for the stores you shop at--see what's on sale. Make a list, add prices. Show it to your husband. He probably doesn't realize what kids clothes cost.

 

[Nancyg56]

I appreciate everyone's replies. I just want to say that the way we handle the finances works for us. DH is a saver and I am a spender, if we didn't split our costs the way we do we would have never bought a house when we were in our early 20's or been able to have me take two years off to attend school. While I am sure other people do it differently it works for us.

I wouldn't say money is super tight, but I would like to let DD have what she needs without spending too much. I was thinking along the lines of 250?
Just curious as to what others spend. Thanks again!

In my family my DH is our money manager. I am not a saver, he is. I make a little money but my job is really a homemaker. I have no children home right now, they are all grown. DH's paycheck pays all of our household bills with the exception on groceries. I use my money to pay for them. This works for us so I get that your system works for you. What I do not understand is why you are not telling your DH that the amount of money he allocated for school clothes is not enough.

WHen I bought a stove DH was shocked at the amount I paid for a stove that had very few features and had thought that I could find one for $250. I told him that would buy a gas grill. Even though this was over 15 years ago I still remember how surprised he was when he learned the price of appliances.

I think that it is clear that your DH has no idea how much children's clothes and school supplies can cost so if you want to have a larger budget you need to educate him. If he then still thinks 50 is enough I would send him out to shop and he can explain to your child how come she gets one pair of sneakers and a pencil.

 

[tinker&belle]

He probably just doesn't realize what things cost. I am really good at shopping sales ahead of time and since the items aren't needed at the moment DH seems to get annoyed about the spending; however he doesn't seem to mind the clothes the next size up are 'magically' there and we don't have to buy things at full price when they are needed.

I think it is like how I keep the pantry stocked. If the next jar of pickles weren't in there he would notice the pickles missing but since I always keep one ahead he doesn't think about it and wonders why I buy groceries we already have.

As long as you guys are both comfortable in your money situation then it works for you. Maybe you could give him a list to do the shopping (or just offer to ) and then he might appreciate what things cost and you doing the shopping.

 

[rockiesfan]

If he then still thinks 50 is enough I would send him out to shop and he can explain to your child how come she gets one pair of sneakers and a pencil.

Costs vary so much depending on your kids' ages and preferences! DD13 isn't into fashion; she wants comfortable jeans and funny tees. DS9 grabs whatever is on top in his drawer; I can get most of what he needs at garage sales. But DS17, while not into aeropostle, AE, etc. like so many high-schoolers, likes the fit of Gap jeans only, and they're $50 each on sale! Yikes!

I will also wholeheartedly recommend LLBean backpacks. DD got hers for 2nd grade. At the beginning of 7th, she wanted to try a bookbag-style, so after 5 years of daily use we thought the LLBean one was retired. But no, her jr. high books were too heavy for a shoulder bag, so she pulled out the old purple one and used it all 7th grade also. I just asked her if she wanted a different one this year and she said no, she likes hers and it's still perfect!

 

[Tinkerbell3014]

I spent around $200 on back to school for my DS7 and DS5 at Kohls:

Each kid got:
- 2 pairs of jeans
- 2 pairs of dockers (store brand)
- 4 polo shirts
- 4 Character T-shirts (Mario/thomas)
- 12 pairs of socks
- pair tennis shoes
- backpack.

Not bad I say. Had 30% off coupon & some items were on clearance.

Great shopping! I was planning on spending about $50-100/ child. This list is perfect, thanks!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

4 pairs of Khaki's - $150.00
4 button down shirts - $120.00
2 school approved polos - $100.00
2 pairs of sneakers - $150.00
3 ties - $50.00
1 pair dress shoes - $50.00
Socks, undies - $25.00

All other sports required clothing - $400.00

Not doing the math, feel free to add if you want, it just turns my stomach!

It's best to note, these are clothes just for school, I still need to get him jeans, hoodies, etc for afterschool. As usual, he grew over the summer and nothing fits from last year.


My advice for the OP is to give DH his $50.00 and add an additional $50.00. Send him off to the store with the list of needed school clothing, sit home, rent a good comedy. The laughs will be theraputic!

 

[naomi78155]

For DS 6, starting 1st grade and going to private school, I got this:

2 Old Navy polos: 12
2 GAP polos: 24
4 GAP uniform shorts: 48
socks/undies: 15
shoes (estimate) 40

Total for the fall: $139
( I had 30% off at GAP and ON and his church uniform from last year still fits, also all of his school required PE uniforms still fit) His backpack and lunch box are like new so he will be using those again.

For the fall he will need a school approved coat, 4 pants, 4 l/s polos. GAP will be having another 30% off soon, so I will get those things then.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Our clothing budget for back to school is 0. He already has clothes to wear, why does he need "new" stuff to head back to school? He'll wear the same flip flops/shorts/tshirts and underwear that he has on right now.

As we get closer to winter, we'll head to the jean outlet or Kohls as he has grown a size. We may spend $100 or so, but that's normal "my kid is growing" stuff.

 

[riley2008]

Probably spending about $20 total to start school for BOTH boys going into first grade. They don't need a PE uniform though.

We bought athletic shoes first of May and they still fit (and they haven't been worn all summer). They have plenty of shorts and tees - good here until least mid-October if not later. Socks also purchased in May with the athletic shoes.

The backpack is from Target from last school year. We've been able to use the Target $9 backpacks for two consecutive years and we'll do it again, maybe three. (and still in great shape, just in the closet). They wanted their names on new backpacks last year for Kindergarten, so that's the only reason they got new ones then. I washed them at the end of the year and they look good as new.

We're also reusing the thermos and lunchbox from last year too.

I can't think of anything they'll need to start school, other than their school supplies, which I've spent about $8 and gotten everything on their list, but will let them go pick out their own pencil box and something else that is "special" for them. We also are reusing scissors and rulers from last year.

Usually about mid-September I'll start getting them to try on pants and jeans from their closet and then pick up a couple of new pair to have just in case an unexpected cold front blows through.

We buy as we need clothes - not just because school is starting.

If you are buying new school uniforms, pants, sweaters, coat, shoes, and other stuff like that all at once, that is going to cost more.

Make a list of what you really need - not what you want and go from there. Have fun shopping!

 

[pantherlj]

7 yr old DD will get no new back to school clothes. All her clothes fit her now so why buy more that she will only wear for a month or 2 until the weather changes? Oh, I take that back, she will get new sneakers. She has a hard to fit narrow foot. The best pair we found after much searching last year is at Target for $12.99! Go figure.

11 yr old DD will be starting at a middle school that uses uniforms so whole new wardrobe for her. The pieces are averaging just under $10 a piece so far. $50 would get her 5 new pieces of clothes.

 

[r&kmommy]

*didn't read all posts* ...

I don't buy much in the way of clothing in the fall. The school building is hot, even in October/November, and comfortable in December/January/February. My ds wears short sleeve shirts year round. He wears shorts til October! I buy him a few hoodies to wear out on the chilly mornings, a few collared shirts (and looks like this year I'll be buying some non-word/brand tshirts, as we have diary of a whimpy kid t's and others that aren't allowed in school) and a few pairs of jeans/pants to wear through the fall; come winter he prefers fleecy pants.

I could easily do his "back to school" shopping for $50. Kohls and Old Navy have great summer clearance

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

Our clothing budget for back to school is 0. He already has clothes to wear, why does he need "new" stuff to head back to school? He'll wear the same flip flops/shorts/tshirts and underwear that he has on right now.

As we get closer to winter, we'll head to the jean outlet or Kohls as he has grown a size. We may spend $100 or so, but that's normal "my kid is growing" stuff.

We are more like this as well. We are in TN, and it is still very hot when school starts, so he'll wear his shorts and tees from this summer. Only thing he needed was a new pair of sneakers...which I bought on sale at Payless for $16. Unless your kid wears uniforms, I couldn't imagine spending $200 on new clothes for school.

 

[Melissa]

I didn't read every post but I can see a lot of people having trouble with this concept of separate money. As someone recently divorced I can say I will never have joint money with anyone again. While we were married all of our money was OUR money and we both made good money. But you can end up stuck with someone else 's poor decisions and it is just cleaner to keep it separate. That said, we spend too much for BTS I am sure, but DD is in JR high and an only child so we can. EX and I will probably kick in about 300 each and that will cover everything shoes, sneakers, clothes, jacket,hair cut. That is about what we spent before when we had "our money" I think this is on the high side but it depends on where you live and how old your kids are. I am a clothes lover even when she was little I spent a lot.

 

[gatormom2tots]

I appreciate everyone's replies. I just want to say that the way we handle the finances works for us. DH is a saver and I am a spender, if we didn't split our costs the way we do we would have never bought a house when we were in our early 20's or been able to have me take two years off to attend school. While I am sure other people do it differently it works for us.

COMPLETELY agree with this!

My DH and i have seperate accounts and we are each "responsible" for different bills. If one of us needs a little more one month, we get it from the other.

This works for us and allows both of us to feel in control of the finances.

 

[Swimalie]

Our clothing budget for back to school is 0. He already has clothes to wear, why does he need "new" stuff to head back to school? He'll wear the same flip flops/shorts/tshirts and underwear that he has on right now.

As we get closer to winter, we'll head to the jean outlet or Kohls as he has grown a size. We may spend $100 or so, but that's normal "my kid is growing" stuff.

Same here as far as new things. My son will wear the same things he has been wearing all summer. His clothes look nice now and so he can keep wearing them to school. He wears nice shorts and polos now (he's 5) and they are fine for school. I did go shopping for him the other day and got him 2 pairs of shorts, pair of jeans, new shoes, and a shirt for $30 at Old Navy's clearance. They are big and will fit him for more than a year (he's small and doesn't grow fast). He already has all of his winter clothes as I bought them at the end of the season last year. I think I spent around $150 for everything. The only thing we need now might be new shoes but his old one, if they still fit, are still in good shape so we might be good there. I don't get starting school "needing" new clothes.

As for a backpack, his Land's End one that he's been using for preschool is in perfect condition and he'll be using that. I don't do character things so he wouldn't be getting a new one anyway. I will let him get a new lunch box since he said his old one is too big.

 

[lisaross]

i don't actually have a budget. i have two boys still young 8 & 10 - they really don't care much about cloths but i love to shop, but i always buy on sale. i buy throughout the year for example i just was at the GAP and bought my younger son 3 short sleeve shirts each about 3.99 i will put away for the Spring. I usually buy at the end of the season for the following year or following season. i also just bought a pair of LEVI jeans for my younger son at Costoc 12.99 -

I was just wondering how much everyone plans to spend on clothing for their children when it's time for school in Sept? I told DH yesterday I would need some money to put towards clothes and he said he would give me $50

I usually shop at Kohl's, Old Navy or Children's Place when they have sales but even then $50 doesn't seem like much. I work per diem and I know my hours will be cut once Sept. comes and don't mind splitting the cost but between a backpack, lunch box, thermos, new underwear, shoes, pants and shirts, plus gym clothes, etc I just don't DH is being fair when contributing. I am hoping if he sees how much others spend he will be a bit more realistic. Also if I am spending too much maybe someone has some hints to cut cost.
Dd will be 6 and entering first grade. We have no one we know who has hand me downs and her stuff from last year doesn't fit.

Thanks!

 

[Alexander]

UGH--uniforms are so expensive! Polos run about $15/each, but I did get a bunch from Lands End for about $9 each early in the summer (he'll need about 6-8 of those). Dress shirts run about $20 each (he'll need 6-8 of those). Polos are fall and spring uniform, dress shirts are winter uniform, so there is no intermixing them throughout the week. Ties run about $10 each and he'll need 6-8 of those. Pants are $20-25 each and he'll need at least 6-8 pair of those! So all in all, we are looking at close to $500 to clothe one child. Thankfully, the other is in preschool and doesn't need uniforms yet.

 

[java]

UGH--uniforms are so expensive! Polos run about $15/each, but I did get a bunch from Lands End for about $9 each early in the summer (he'll need about 6-8 of those). Dress shirts run about $20 each (he'll need 6-8 of those). Polos are fall and spring uniform, dress shirts are winter uniform, so there is no intermixing them throughout the week. Ties run about $10 each and he'll need 6-8 of those. Pants are $20-25 each and he'll need at least 6-8 pair of those! So all in all, we are looking at close to $500 to clothe one child. Thankfully, the other is in preschool and doesn't need uniforms yet.

Old Navy is having their uniform sale this weekend- polos are $5!!I'm going to buy a few of those- and we don't even wear uniforms.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

I hope just the opposite that my husband doesn't see this post!
The my money his money thing happens here as well. Although I do all the bills out of the weekly deposits. hubby keeps a small portion for his own account. The Lions share comes here. I guess we are very luckey in that he gets bonuses pretty frequently. Yes they are his bonuses but, I get exactly half and that is what I earmark for things like school shopping etc.

I have 3 still at home, And I am done school shopping for the start of school.

I know I spent well over 400 per child. Clothing, supplies, sneakers for 2 so far. backpacks for all 3. And lunchboxes for 2.

I still need winter coats for 2 of the boys. And fall pullovers/hoodies for likely all 3 kids. Come october i will have to rebuy all the shirts for the 2 little ones as All we got were short sleeves. So I am going to say another 300 is in the pipeline?
So for me in the Northeast like you I am looking at a little over $1500 for 3 kids

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I am horrible about over buying. DS14 is starting high school, and this will be his first time out of a uniform since KINDERGARTEN. We are THRILLED!

There are a TON of sales right now. Yesterday Gap Kids had 30% off the entire store. We got 4 pairs of shorts, an oxford, and 2 pairs of jeans for $100. We bought some T-shirts at J. Crew for $6.99 (originally $29.50), a polo at Abercrombie for $25 (regular $60, and even on sale it was a bit of a splurge ), 3 more T-shirts at Aeropostale that were on promo. American Eagle has good sales BUT we are finding that the quality isn't very good. Once the T's have been washed they end up kind of crooked down the seams so the bottom doesn't hang properly.

DS is just now big enough to wear men's "Small" shirts without looking ridiculous so he is REALLY excited to be shopping in stores other than "kid" stores. I think clothes from Gymboree would still fit him, but nobody wants to go to high school wearing clothes from Gymboree!

I found a fleece lined hoodie the other day for half price, so I grabbed that for him. He had one last year that he loved but it is too small. He has a couple of regular hoodies that I found on clearance at Macy's so he should be set for cooler weather.

We still need to buy shoes.

I don't know what a reasonable budget would be. We are so giddy about NO UNIFORMS that I think he can almost go the whole first semester without wearing the same shirt twice. But I am pretty sure that I didn't pay full price for a single item in his closet.