Back to School clothing budget?

[pinkxray]

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!

 

[Minnie_me]

You and your DH have separate money? Why is it your responsibility to clothe your child and not his??

 

[reagan75]

I agree. I shop the huge kid's resale and spend probably $300 or so. I usually make more than that with what I have sold at the sale. I do buy new too. Socks and underwear are a must. That plus shoes alone will be at least $50.

 

[pinkxray]

I guess you could say that. I have been out of work for 2 years to finish up school and just returned to work in May. DH has been great about covering cost for everything pretty much while I didn't work. Now that I have been working this summer he still covers most of the bills- mortgage, phone, etc ..while my check goes towards my car payment, and usually extras that we wouldn't have done if I wasn't working. I guess he just assumed I would be picking up the tab for the clothes for some reason. He just doesn't seem to have a realistic idea of what it will cost. If I had a guaranteed part time or full time job I wouldn't even care, but being per diem I am trying to save for those months when I don't have many hours.

 

[carj]

I am not sure why he is "giving" you $50 to clothe your child either. I would sit down and talk about a clothing budget if things are tight. I can't relate to the whole separate money for spouses thing, but I know some people who do that. I guess to know if that was fair, we would have to know your arrangement for expenses.

I think that back to school shopping CAN be done on a budget and if things are tight for your family, you will need to adjust your plans of what is an immediate need. Try not to get caught up in buying stuff unless it is a need for your son right now.

 

[tinkercat]

I honestly think that many people spend more than necessary when it comes to school clothes and accessories.

We have 4 children, 3 of whom will attend some sort of school in the fall, so I'll share the few cost cutting ideas I have.

Backpacks and lunch bags - We buy these at LLBean when they are on sale or clearance and use them for as long as possible. They might not have Spongebob or whoever on them, but they come in cute prints and are super durable. My oldest DD used her LLBean Junior bookpack for 4 years (2 preschool, Kinder, and 1st grade). We bought a new one this year for 2nd grade that should also last at least that long, because she needed a bigger bag. I paid like $15 for the original bag, so over 4 years that works out to less than $4 a year for her backpack. You should also be able to use a thermos for more than one year, so that shouldn't be a yearly purchase.

Clothes - Do you have any outlet malls nearby? If so, I'd hit them first for clothes. If not, most stores are clearancing out summer stuff right now. You can find cute t shirts (which can be worn all year) for very cheap. Shop sales!! Children's Place has jeans for $10 a pair right now, and graphic tees for $5 (some are even long sleeved!). If you shop online, you can google a coupon code and get an additional 15% off. I shopped yesterday and got 5 pairs of jeans and 5 shirts for $68 shipped. I think thats pretty good.

I don't typically buy new underwear or socks for back to school unless they need to size up. I save these for Christmas UNLESS I can find them on sale. Last year, Target had some with peelie coupons that went on sale so they were like $3 a pack...again, gotta shop the sales!

Your DD is going into 1st grade, does the school actually require gym clothes? I know that at my DD's school (she is going into 2nd grade) they just wear their street clothes to gym class. At any rate, shorts and tees are on clearance all over the place here right now. Target had shorts for $2.45 a pair yesterday in the girls dept. and shirts for a similar price. So for $5, you could have a "gym" outfit.

If your DH contributes $50 and you contribute $50, that gives you $100 for shopping. I know I could definitely get the essentials taken care of for $100 for each kid. This year, since I'm unemployed, we are doing it as cheaply as possible, so I'll spend less than $100 per kid for sure. It helps to spread out the spending too. So, I spent $68 this week at Children's Place. Maybe next week I'll just buy something small and spend $30, you get the idea. It doesn't seem like such a big deal when you buy bits and pieces at a time.

Be creative and shop sales...you can do it!! Sure, its easier when you don't HAVE to do those things, but it can be done.

 

[Madison'smommy]

I guess I would just see what you need. Make sure you have basics. If you are on a tight budget, go to a resale shop for jeans, shirts etc.... I shop lots of sales. I buy from everywhere, but always check out clearance. I dont spend a ton, but I dont have a set amount that I spend. I buy what I feel my DD needs. Luckily, I usually run into awesome sales, so she gets lots! I totally understand dividing up your money. My DH and I did before I stopped working, and once I eventually go back to work, I would probably go back to that. I like my "own" money...lol. My DH would continue to pay most bills, but I would pay for my car and the lots of extras that I like!

 

[pinkxray]

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!

 

[delmar411]

I'm spending about $500 to outfit 3 kids in uniforms for the year, so about $165 each child. That's 5 pairs of pants, 5 pairs of shorts, 5 s/s polos and 5 l/s polos each child. Plus I'll still need to see whether they need new sneakers or whatnot and I pick up socks and underwear whenever I see they are needing some so that's not in the B2S budget. YDS will just wear ODS's hand me downs from last year since he's not in school just yet. He'll get some new things here and there too but not for B2S.

I'm not sure of your financial arrangements but I'm a SAHM and a student and DH isn't 'covering things', he's supporting his family. When I finish school and go to work, our money will still be our money. I don't ask DH for any money, we have a joint bank account and I spend whatever I need for things. I also pay all the bills. I don't really understand the 'giving' you money thing so I don't think I can offer advice on how to get him to give you more, sorry.

 

[Darcy03231]

Here's what I do:

First, I have my kids try everything on. Anything that doesn't fit immediately goes into a pile to be either donated if its still on good condition or one for rags if it isn't. Once I know what still fits we make a list of what each child needs. I don't even think about shopping until we've done this.

I live in New England and its still warm out when the kids start school. Most of their summer stuff still fits at this point so I don't rush right out and buy now. I find I do better by waiting until September/October. The other thing I've found is if I buy clothes in July/August they may have a growth spurt before they've even had time to wear the new fall/winter stuff.

I buy at least one new outfit for the first day of school. If their old lunchbox and thermos are still in good condition we don't get new ones. Same with the backpack. We buy the LL Bean backpacks so if anything breaks they either fix it or replace it with a new one.

We have four children. I spend different amounts on each of them depending on what they need. As they get older and the sizes don't change so much, I've spent less. One year I spent almost $400 on DD#2 as nothing fit. She needed new everything. That same year DD #1 still had plenty of stuff that fit her. I think I spent about $50-$75 in her.

 

[tinkarooni]

I read your post and was uncertain, is this your DH daughter or is she from a previous relationship? Not to get into your business at all but that could answer some peoples question about the contribution of $50 towards her clothes?? Otherwise I guess everybody does things differently but in our house it's "our" money whether I am working or not. I do work but there was a period of time when the kids were younger that I didn't and there wasn't any yours or mine going on, but that's what works for us and maybe doesn't work for everybody. I would agree though that if there isn't the money there simply isn't the money.

So now to answer your question, I know when my DD was first going into school it was exciting to go back to school shopping but I learned from my mistakes. A backpack and lunchbox if she's packing her lunch and a pair of sneakers she can wear all day. Does she need a "gym uniform" we don't do that at our school. Everything else you probably can make do for a little while. My kids go back to school in shorts its do darn hot here. We don't need pants until beginning of October even. I would agree with PP, buy items as you need them. She's undoubtedly wearing underwear now, send her back to school in it and pick up when you see sales and only as she outgrows things. Good luck.

 

[tinkarooni]

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!

Oops, I was typing my previous post when you posted this.

 

[pinkxray]

Thanks for the replies!

I will go through DD clothes and have her try everything on this weekend. Since it will be warm for at least the first month of school she can most likely use most of her t's and shorts. I will also look it an LL bean backpack so she can have that for a few years.

She will need some new sneakers and socks but that sounds much better than a whole new wardrobe. I will buy a little a time as she needs it. Thanks!

 

[java]

I am going through the "budget" for this right now. My kids will need winter coats. Everyone needs new sneakers. That alone puts me way over the $50 you are talking about.
I have 4 kids. Thankfully the 2 youngest are boys that are close in age so there are some hand me downs.
And a friend just handed me down some great stuff for my 12 year old dd. (she had twin fashionista 15 year olds)
I don't have hand me down issues- I always hand down dd's stuff to a neighbor, and I love getting a big bag of freebies! The stuff DD got was all designer (stuff I normally wouldn't buy) so she loves it.

Let him go shopping with the $50 and buy her back to school clothing.
Really I think he just might have no clue. Send him links for backpacks alone and let him see how much those are. I agree buy one from LLbean or landsend- they last forever- and buying one of those cheapo ones from Target won't even make it through the year.

Perhaps sit down and compose a realistic list of necessities- (sneakers, underwear, coat, backpack.) and ask him to go with you shopping. Perhaps if he sees how much things cost he'll change his tune.
DH was shocked when he saw how much kids coats are. He remembers living in the south bronx where his mom could buy them coats for $10. Now I do great at sales. I am watching coats right now. But thankfully he doesn't put a "limit" on me. It's not his and my money- it's our money.

 

[southern_redhead]

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!

Agreed. Everyone has their own spending style and each couple will have their own method of managing their money. DH and I pay different things too. I use my check towards kids clothes, bday presents, some Christmas.......all the "fun" but expensive stuff. With 3 kids and a stepson it's always something LOL DH pays bills, he works lots of overtime and whatever he saves over that is split. Half goes to a fund for stuff that he wants (I cannot imagine paying money for a car stereo when the thing came with one.....just sayin!) and half goes to "our" stuff we want to buy....ie MY stuff LOL It usually gets spent on the kids or stuff for the house. I buy my things out of my own check. This year I decided to finance our vacation (usually DH does) and my check is mostly going to that. I have already put back a BUNCH of winter clothing from clearance sales at Justice, Old Navy, etc... plus my boys do hand me downs so that is nice as well

I *get* your DH not getting how much things cost. My husband thinks $50 a week should feed us all and $100 a year per kid should clothe them. I just pray he never has to raise them on his own because he would be in for a SHOCK! He doesn't argue with me about it but I can tell he thinks I am nuts LOL I just don't think most men grasp the true cost of things like clothing and cooking meals. There are a few I'm sure. Check out clearance racks, google coupons for stores you want, school supplies themselves should be fairly inexpensive for first grade - we got lots at Target for 25 and 50 cents for my K, 3rd, and 6th graders. I agree on bookbags. My boys have LL Bean ones that are super sturdy. DS going to K used his in PreSchool and is on his fourth year of using his. It looks new! I would invest in a quality bookbag/lunchbox/thermos and have them for YEARS rather than spending out each year. My DD got a bookbag/lunchbox from Justice. It seems pretty sturdy and I hope it holds up (I got her a light pink from Land's End last year and we hated it! Stayed filthy looking!) I never do new socks and undies unless they just happened to grow out of them at back to school. We almost always wear "playclothes" in the summer so the spring/summer clothes I bought at the end of last school year will be worn back to school this fall - I buy clothes twice a year. Period Good luck - I think $200 depending on what she has that she can use now is probably fair, if she has nothing then more like $200 to $275 but if you buy right some of that is an investment!

 

[kinntj]

Like a previous poster, I tend to buy clothes spread out. Most of them are discounted after school starts in September, so that's when I buy. Buying before school starts means you pay more.

If $50 is all you really do have to buy clothes, I would see what in your kids closet that still fits. Work around that. I don't think your DH knows how much kids clothes cost. Maybe he should go shopping too so he knows just how hard it is to work within that budget.

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

My mother in law buys each of my kids about a $100 in the spring for their Birthdays and again for for Christmas, so what she buys is our foundation. I shop several really big 2 twice a year consignment sales and go on half price days and can get quite a bit for all three kids for under $150. I also used to buy lots of used clothes on Ebay. You can get some of the bigger lots for a decent price. I don't always like everything in them, but it's enough to get them started for school. I try to spread it out a little. One nice new outfit for the first day, some used clothes, and then I try to hit sales throughout the year and spend a little here and a little there, usually 1 size up for the next year.

 

[KristiMc]

For the beginning of the school year, I get the boys a few new pairs of shorts/shirts to go with what they have worn during the summer. It is usually still warm enough that they don't need jeans until October. I will then get them new jeans and some long sleeve shirts.

I don't do new underwear/socks unless they need a new size.

 

[SaraJayne]

I'm not sure of your financial arrangements but I'm a SAHM and a student and DH isn't 'covering things', he's supporting his family. When I finish school and go to work, our money will still be our money. I don't ask DH for any money, we have a joint bank account and I spend whatever I need for things. I also pay all the bills. I don't really understand the 'giving' you money thing so I don't think I can offer advice on how to get him to give you more, sorry.

I don't have a budget per se when it comes to back to school...I probably spend around $400 on both kids and that includes supplies, clothes, shoes, etc

This year will be less though, because I bought a lot of clothes this spring for both of them that will last through the late falll.

As far as the red bolded above, I spend what I need to keep our family happy and running well and DH has never blinked an eye about it. My DH isn't the bank manager that doles out money when requested (okay, maybe he is for the kids ).

 

[JamesMom]

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.