Clothing, allowance & girls

[janette]

Help!!

My 11yo is becoming obsessed with clothes, Limited 2 is the place to shop and she has been looking at all web sites available. Her taste isn't what I prefer but I'm resigned to the fact that I'll have little input into what she wears from here on out. She will outgrow childrens' clothes this year and probably need small juniors (size 1 or 2) so may have to be shopping at some speciality stores.

I'm wondering if I should just give her some money and let her go? I'm a bargain shopper, paying more than $15 for a pair of shorts / jeans just bothers me. Of course it worked great when they were happy with clothes from a couple of seasons past

Does anyone give their DD's an clothing allowance? How much is reasonable? If I do that then she has to decide whether she blows it on a few things or shops the bargains and gets more clothes. What works??

 

[caitycaity]

at the beginning of the fall and the beginning of the summer, my mom gave me and my sister each a set amount of money (i don't remember how much though ) to spend on clothes. we could spend it however we wanted, but once it was gone, that was it unless we *needed* something. i thought that was good b/c it taught me to shop sales.

my mom did this with us starting in 7th grade. before that we went shopping with her and she bought us clothes.

 

[Marla Hellwig]

Not yet - but we are starting to want the expensive stuff - I just say no - I just can't justify 36 for a pair of shorts she will outgrow in a couple of months

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

DD would buy all of her clothes at LToo if she could, it's not in our budget. I work for a local dept. store and try to shop there. During the President's Day Snowstorm I took her with me for 1/2 the day. While I worked, she shopped. She picked what she liked and I say yay or nay from there. she doesn't have a predetermined limit, all I know is that last year I don't think we got her all that much and this year she needs new things.

For Christmas her uncle gave her $20 GC for LToo. She hasn't spent it. Her Gramma was going to get her a Walmart GC for Easter but I suggested the same amount be gotten for LToo instead- at least she'll be able to afford ONE outfit.

 

[Serena]

With my 17 yo, I pay for what she needs. She pays for the fluff.

My 11yo isn't all into clothes yet. Thank goodness.

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says................................ We have a monthly clothing allowance for the family. Typical month DD gets 60%, DW gets 30%, I get 10% !!!
Lucky for us DD is very cost conscience, always looking for a sale, and willing to wait for the right price! At 13 yo. I wonder where she got that,(me,me,me,me!) And very picky, checks out the seams, looks for loose threads etc.

 

[disneefamily]

liz says................................. my dad says cost consience. that makes me sound like a thrift-store shopper =/ ... when in reality what i do is just wait for the ads that come on sunday... i barely ever buy anything thats not on sale. like i dont buy wierd shirts! youd be surprised what you can get for ten bucks. especially if the shirt is worth 20 and is on sale for 10. if your daughter starts to get out of hand and finds something she really wants ask her if she is willing to pay for it. if she is willing to pay for it she wants it that bad go ahead and buy it for her

 

[LuvTigger]

First of all, I have to disclaim that I am not a parent (unless you count doggies!). However, I do pay attention to friends "parental challenges!"

One woman gave her daughter a choice:
1. Mom pays for EVERYTHING, clothes, miscellaneous school expenses, school lunch, prom clothes (fortunately your daughter is not at that age yet!), etc., but it's on Mom's terms. In other words, Mom buys clothes, but it must be on sale.
2. Mom gives daughter a fixed monthly allowance, but daughter must use it to budget for EVERYTHING, including lunch, fees for school activities, save part of the allowance for prom time, etc.

So, daughter chose #1, which in the long run ended up being a better deal.

I also know someone who gave a clothing allowance, but they were excessive by giving a what I would consider large, monthly allowance. I think giving an allowance would teach her that money doesn't grow on trees and there is a reason you look for things on sale. Do you shop for clothes monthly? Personally, when I was that age, I only did major shopping right before school started, and the holidays. I would think a reasonable quarterly clothing allowance would be sufficient at that age.

 

[Buckalew]

Ugh! I'm not there quite yet. I have a had time spending my hard earned $ at the Limited2. I think their clothes look like KMart's did when I was growing up but cost about 5 or 6 times as much. I dread those days to come...