How much did you spend on your tweens back to school clothes?

[katie111]

I have 3 kids. DD just turned 13, DS is about to turn 12, and youngest DS is 8. Usually I take them back to school shopping and let them pick out new sneakers and whatever clothes they want (within reason). I don't like to buy too much as we live in MA and by early Nov its usually too cold for some of what they have picked out. This year I'm thinking of giving the older two a set dollar amount to spend for their shoes & clothes but am struggling on what a good amount would be. DS11 likes Nike & Under Armour but is also starting to like the "Vineyard Vines" preppy look. DD13 likes Kohls, Target, American Eagle and occasionally Abercrombie or Hollister if things are on sale. Thinking $150 each but not sure if that is enough.

How much did you spend for back to school on your tweens?

 

[powellrj]

My kids are older now, but what I use to do was let them buy enough to get them through till the weather turns and then add some hoodies and warmer clothes. We tend to over shop the sales, so while I got their clothes for bargain prices, I tended to over buy.

American Eagle use to always have great jeans sales in July, not sure if that is still the case, but we would always stock up then.

If you are buying shoes and jeans, the money will go quickly, so I would also be willing to add more items when it gets colder.

 

[NinaBella]

I have 3 kids. DD just turned 13, DS is about to turn 12, and youngest DS is 8. Usually I take them back to school shopping and let them pick out new sneakers and whatever clothes they want (within reason). I don't like to buy too much as we live in MA and by early Nov its usually too cold for some of what they have picked out. This year I'm thinking of giving the older two a set dollar amount to spend for their shoes & clothes but am struggling on what a good amount would be. DS11 likes Nike & Under Armour but is also starting to like the "Vineyard Vines" preppy look. DD13 likes Kohls, Target, American Eagle and occasionally Abercrombie or Hollister if things are on sale. Thinking $150 each but not sure if that is enough.

How much did you spend for back to school on your tweens?

I spent way more than I needed to for DD. DS doesn't like to shop so just the minimum for him. The good part abut living in Florida is we do not need winter clothes. DD only wears jeans and maxi skirts to school. DS wears cargo shorts or khakis. So whatever we buy they can wear all year... or until their next growth spurt.

 

[KristinU]

I'm "lucky" in that my 11 year old DS loves his slobby athletic shorts/t-shirt/hoodie look, and since they're so floppy he doesn't outgrow them too quickly at all. He's happy going back to school in the same clothes from last spring and summer. He wears his shorts year round (I pick my battles), so I just have to buy a couple pairs of warm-up pants every fall for him to throw on over the top to get to school and to be legal for recess when the temps turn cold.

Believe me, I'd love to be back in the days when I bought him all sorts of cute coordinating Gymboree outfits, but anything remotely like that is just not his style. And that sure makes it easy on the pocketbook!

New sneakers, though, that's our big expense. He's talking about "J's", which I think are Air Jordans, and I think I need to give him a dollar figure we need to work within on that. I'm hoping that $75 will cover them, but anything beyond that he can pitch into on his own if he wants them badly enough.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I'm "lucky" in that my 11 year old DS loves his slobby athletic shorts/t-shirt/hoodie look, and since they're so floppy he doesn't outgrow them too quickly at all. He's happy going back to school in the same clothes from last spring and summer. He wears his shorts year round (I pick my battles), so I just have to buy a couple pairs of warm-up pants every fall for him to throw on over the top to get to school and to be legal for recess when the temps turn cold.

Believe me, I'd love to be back in the days when I bought him all sorts of cute coordinating Gymboree outfits, but anything remotely like that is just not his style. And that sure makes it easy on the pocketbook!

New sneakers, though, that's our big expense. He's talking about "J's", which I think are Air Jordans, and I think I need to give him a dollar figure we need to work within on that. I'm hoping that $75 will cover them, but anything beyond that he can pitch into on his own if he wants them badly enough.

Jordan's run at $170 and you usually have to wait in a ridiculously long line at 5 am on release day. Or do a raffle a week ahead which results in another ridiculously long line and then hope you get picked for the raffle. That's how they do it here anyway.

A new pair release Saturday and XH is taking him to get them. His first pair of "J's" and he's over the moon. I hope they get their early enough to get a pair.

DS was in his basketball shorts and hoodie phase but now he's "found himself." He likes joggers, cargo pants but no jeans. But he's a creature of habit and wears the same few things over and over even if I buy him a bunch of stuff so I take him and let him pick what he wants. If I buy more he won't wear the extras.

We live in NJ and it's still hot here when the kids start after Labor Day. I get them two outfits each to start. They are still wearing their summer clothes. Then as September and October come around I buy them things they'll need for the weather getting cooler.

Their dad is responsible for their sneakers.

 

[scrapquitler]

I spent a total of $60. One pair of Nikes for my 12yo DS

 

[HeatherC]

We are in MA too. This year I got off sooo cheap. All the kids have finally stopped growing and have a lot of clothes. Will have to get a few jeans or pants for my youngest but she doesn't even want any now.

All I have had to spend was $50 on school supplies, $60 for a pair of Sperry's for my 17 year old son and $24 for a Vera Bradley backpack my DD 15 wanted.

OP...do you ever go to Wrentham Village? We usually find some good deals on all the stuff you mentioned.

 

[kj2mom]

We live in MA as well and I have two 13 year olds. I have stopped buying back to school clothes pretty much. We were near the outlets last week (we have a summer cottage in Maine so we stopped by Kittery) and my daughter found sneakers at Nike for $60. Then last week I got an email from Reebok that their outlet was 40% off so we went on Saturday and got my son sneakers for $35. They are going to wear shorts and tshirts for the first couple of months anyway and their bday is in October so if they don't get clothes for their bday I will get them some warmer items after that. I don't really go by dollar amount though as long as they stay within reason (my daughter actually contributed her $25 Nike gift card in order to purchase her sneakers). I like for them to have enough clothes in order to only do wash once a week.

 

[DisMom829]

Not counting supplies and backpacks, I spent $53 on a few things from Justice on DD. we went to WDW in June and are going back in Nov. I made a deal with both kids, if they will wear what still fits, we will devote a full day to shopping the outlets in Orlando in Nov. both agreed. Only thing I noticed is at high school orientation Monday night, DS's jeans were well above his ankle. We need to try on what's in his closet and see what fits. Our school starts Monday.

 

[Neesy228]

My three kids are almost the same ages as yours. I buy them one or two new outfits for the start of school, plus socks and new tennis shoes. We do the bulk of our shopping in late September as the weather gets colder and they need winter clothes, but until then, they wear their summer clothes. So, our back to school costs are about $100-150 per kid, not including things like backpacks/school supplies. But once the cold starts to roll in, we typically spend about $200 on each for new winter clothes. More for my oldest, because his jeans alone are often $40.

 

[McGreezy]

$50 for clothes for both kids. We are Salvation Army fans. I have a 14 year old son and an 8 year old daughter. You can find some almost new looking stuff for pennies if you are dilligent! I literally found t-shirts that my son passed out with joy over for less than a dollar, and no I'm not kidding. He's a total t-shirt and jeans kid so it's easy. My daughter isn't that into clothes so she almost doesnt even care. It's pretty fab. Shoes were about $50 total as well. I just love a bargain! (which is why we are able to do Disney this year!!) And it's helps having such easygoing kids.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I have been rummaging the clearance racks at Kohls and Target for the last month or so. When Kohls had their $10 off a $30 kid's purchase I made out like a bandit. In California they also had a free tax weekend (extra 10% off) so I combined the $10 off plus 30% off plus 10% off. I did 5 different orders all of which were between $31 and $34 dollars to get the $10 off then 30% off. At Kohls I got about $470 worth of clothes and shoes for about $91!

At Target I got a few jeans(BOGO 1/2 off ) and a few clearance shirts for another $40 or so. All in all each kid (I have 2) I got about 7 shirts each, 4 pair of shorts each, 2 pairs of jeans each and one boy a pair of Vans and the other Converse. They aren't tweens yet but they're out of the baby section (size 5 and 7 clothes and 13 and 2 shoes) but I think I did pretty well!

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

For my 12 yr old dd:
$150 in band shirts/sweatshirt from Hot Topic
$50 vans
$40 sketchers for PE
$80 gap jeans (4 pair?)

(My son got new jeans, $80, and new sneakers, $40. I think that was it. Lol)

I think that is pretty close. This was an expensive year, as she finally wanted to pick out her own clothes (no more Kohls discount racks for me...wah).

She will get converse for her bday in September.

Also, CA has a tax free weekend??? How did I not know this?!!?

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

For my 12 yr old dd:
$150 in band shirts/sweatshirt from Hot Topic
$50 vans
$40 sketchers for PE
$80 gap jeans (4 pair?)

(My son got new jeans, $80, and new sneakers, $40. I think that was it. Lol)

I think that is pretty close. This was an expensive year, as she finally wanted to pick out her own clothes (no more Kohls discount racks for me...wah).

She will get converse for her bday in September.

Also, CA has a tax free weekend??? How did I not know this?!!?

Yes, I believe it was about two weeks ago. You're still able to use other percentage off coupons and $10 off coupons. I think they do it at least once a year and it's only in store.

 

[pxidst119]

Another New Englander here. Each of my teen & tween girls got one new outfit for the first day with good summer clearance deals at the outlets (Hollister/American Eagle). Spent about $25 each for shorts and a shirt for one and summer dresses for the other 2. They have plenty of summer clothes to get them through until the weather changes and then we may buy a few more things. They all got sneakers in the spring but hardly used them this summer. They aren't even interested in looking at the fall clothes yet since the weather is so hot. I think $150 would be a good amount to add a few new things into their wardrobe providing most things from last winter still fit. I find most of those items to be full price now. Usually there are better deals if we wait until we actually will wear the warmer clothes.

 

[KristinU]

Jordan's run at $170 and you usually have to wait in a ridiculously long line at 5 am on release day. Or do a raffle a week ahead which results in another ridiculously long line and then hope you get picked for the raffle. That's how they do it here anyway.

Good to know, thanks! Sounds like my DS has a lot of research, saving, and logistics planning to do if he wants them!

 

[sharona]

Spent about $200 on DD12 at the NH outlets, including a new pair of Converse, couple pairs of jeans, 2 dresses and a bunch of ts and sweaters. Mostly shopped at Aeropostale and Old Navy. Added some yoga pants and tanks from Marshalls. Nothing from last year fits so will have to buy a few more things once we get into the winter but DD wanted to wait to see how hot/cold her classrooms are and what everyone else is wearing.

 

[pklein09]

I don't buy "back to school" clothes for my kids and never did (2 in college this year, 2 in high school). I bought clothes for them when they needed clothes, not because school was starting. Two of them have birthdays in November, so my Mom would buy clothes as gifts. Christmas is only a month later, so "wants" could be addressed by various family members. After all, how many toys do 4 kids need? (I think I had every Fisher Price/Mattel baby toy they made!) I found it much easier on the budget to buy when the needed something rather than take the hit in August/September.

 

[McGreezy]

I don't buy "back to school" clothes for my kids and never did (2 in college this year, 2 in high school). I bought clothes for them when they needed clothes, not because school was starting. Two of them have birthdays in November, so my Mom would buy clothes as gifts. Christmas is only a month later, so "wants" could be addressed by various family members. After all, how many toys do 4 kids need? (I think I had every Fisher Price/Mattel baby toy they made!) I found it much easier on the budget to buy when the needed something rather than take the hit in August/September.

I feel this way too overall. And I think as parents if you don't "train" your children to expect new things all the time, they won't. I basically have to BEG my kids to let me get them a new pair of shoes because "Mom, I don't NEED a new pair of shoes, I have some that fit and are fine." And when they do get new things, or rather, "new to them" things from hand me downs or Salvation Army, they actually do feel grateful. My 14 year old son and I watched in horror some kid have a meltdown on his mom because he couldn't get the expensive sneakers he wanted a few weeks ago at the mall. No way. Noooooooooo way. At most I might buy them a new outfit for the first day as a special gift, but they never ask for it, I just offer if the money is there beyond anything they actually need. I love that they have respect for me and for the value of a dollar, it's a hard road for kids AND their parents when they don't learn that lesson! Money is tight for everyone!

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I feel this way too overall. And I think as parents if you don't "train" your children to expect new things all the time, they won't. I basically have to BEG my kids to let me get them a new pair of shoes because "Mom, I don't NEED a new pair of shoes, I have some that fit and are fine." And when they do get new things, or rather, "new to them" things from hand me downs or Salvation Army, they actually do feel grateful. My 14 year old son and I watched in horror some kid have a meltdown on his mom because he couldn't get the expensive sneakers he wanted a few weeks ago at the mall. No way. Noooooooooo way. At most I might buy them a new outfit for the first day as a special gift, but they never ask for it, I just offer if the money is there beyond anything they actually need. I love that they have respect for me and for the value of a dollar, it's a hard road for kids AND their parents when they don't learn that lesson! Money is tight for everyone!

I like your mentality but I also tend to buy when things are the best price. I'll stock up. My kids are still young (almost 5 and almost 7) and they grow like WEEDS! Not to mention they play so hard they go through jeans monthly. It's hard to keep a 4 and 6 year from playing so hard at school- at home they use play clothes.

But anyway, I find the best deals (as mentioned in my earlier post) during back to school time, so I buy a lot then. No way I get $35 shorts for $5 any other time. Or $45 Vans for $17. They're in the bigger kids section now so clothes cost more but they outgrow/ruin them so quickly I have to constantly replenish. So I buy when I get the best deals which tends to be back to school time.