Question to those with 9th and 10th graders

[lisaross]

My son is going into high school next year - he is starting to get into fashion, or should I say liking expensive sneakers ... Anyway how do u handle cloths - do u buy as needed - give them a certain amount of money monthly to learn how to budget? My son gets money here and there - from me for certain grades, for babysitting my neighbors cats. I am realizing he has no concept of everyday expenses as said maybe I should give u a clothing allowance each month and he said how much $400 a month - really?

 

[MinnieForMe]

My son likes to dress nice but hates to shop. I tend to buy him clothes when he needs them or when I find a killer sale. His favorite store is American Eagle so I take him to the outlet once a year. He does not demand much in the way of clothes and shoes so I don't make him pay for them.

He hasn't grown in a year so this has increased the size of his wardrobe and his cousin tends to pass down a few nice items each year. Luckily, they have the exact same taste.

10 nice sweaters (3 from Christmas this year)
7 pairs of jeans (likes Old Navy jeans - got three pairs for Christmas)
3 pairs of Khaki dress pants
5 plaid button down (American Eagle or Abercrombie)
A couple dress shirts for church
5+ polo shirts (again for church or school - he'll wear AE ones to school)
5 Abercrombie or American Eagle henleys/long sleeve tees.
3-4 nice sweatshirts
lots of tshirts to wear under things.

I would expect this clothes to get him through this year and last into his Junior year if he doesn't grow much more.

Nice sneakers can be very expensive. Thankfully, my son isn't interested in them. He wears a pair of Adidas until he needs a new pair. Of course, he also has Sperrys, a pair of black dress shoes, hiking boots and winter boots.

It seems to get so much easier when they stop growing and you can just add a few quality pieces.

My son does work a few hours a week but we expect him to pay for his car insurance (he'll need it within the next 6 months). Now, that's sticker shock for any kid! He did pay for his drivers education too!

 

[kleubanks]

$400.... Really?
I have a sophomore daughter. I put $50 a month on an Am. Express prepaid card for clothing. We put $100 on in Aug/Sept for the beginning of school year, I buy necessary shoes..ie tennis shoes...dress shoes...not flip flops or "fun" shoes, underwear, socks and coats. She covers everything else. To be honest, at first I wasn't sure 50 was enough. Turns out, she budgets VERY well. She watches the sales and really thinks through her purchases..great money management. She enjoys the freedom of buying her own clothes and we don't get into arguments over what she wants, needs etc. BTW, Mom still gets final veto power if anything seems inappropriate

 

[MinnieForMe]

$400.... Really?
I have a sophomore daughter. I put $50 a month on an Am. Express prepaid card for clothing. We put $100 on in Aug/Sept for the beginning of school year, I buy necessary shoes..ie tennis shoes...dress shoes...not flip flops or "fun" shoes, underwear, socks and coats. She covers everything else. To be honest, at first I wasn't sure 50 was enough. Turns out, she budgets VERY well. She watches the sales and really thinks through her purchases..great money management. She enjoys the freedom of buying her own clothes and we don't get into arguments over what she wants, needs etc. BTW, Mom still gets final veto power if anything seems inappropriate

 

[msp2mco]

We have 2 children, and with our DD, we gave her a $100 allowance each month to cover clothes, entertainment and most of her spending money. She used her money wisely, dressed nicely, saved money, but didn't spend much on entertainment. Our DS-15 is a different story. He doesn't want the allowance and he has no desire to shop or tell me when he needs new things. He grew about 6 inches in the last 8 months, so I could tell he needed new pants, so we bought a few pairs, but he tells me, "Until I am done growing, I don't want expensive clothes." My husband responded that when he is done growing, he probably can't afford expensive clothes. I almost have to force him to get something new. I expect this will change at some point.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We have 2 children, and with our DD, we gave her a $100 allowance each month to cover clothes, entertainment and most of her spending money. She used her money wisely, dressed nicely, saved money, but didn't spend much on entertainment. Our DS-15 is a different story. He doesn't want the allowance and he has no desire to shop or tell me when he needs new things. He grew about 6 inches in the last 8 months, so I could tell he needed new pants, so we bought a few pairs, but he tells me, "Until I am done growing, I don't want expensive clothes." My husband responded that when he is done growing, he probably can't afford expensive clothes. I almost have to force him to get something new. I expect this will change at some point.

Our boys are that way too. Ds17 has always hated shopping. Once when I suggested he needed new sneakers he asked me to pick him up the same ones in a bigger size. When I was a kid, I would have jumped if my parents offered to take me shopping.

They're not into status clothing and are fine with going to Kohls with my 30% off coupon. My ds13.5 was into sneakers for a while, as in buying a few pairs per year, but not super expensive ones. I think $70 was the most I ever spent but usually $50.

Some things I do spend more on and that's winter coats & snow boots. When you have high quality products for these things you really feel the difference. I can't say that about a $50 shirt from Macy's or $80 jeans. It's much easier since ds17 has slowed down growing. I think if they wanted expensive things, I'd have to give them a set amount, like a visa gift card, and let them shop. When it's spent, it's done.

We used that approach for souvenir shopping in WDW when they were little. They started looking at prices and really seeing what's a good value and whether it's worth buying. Suddenly that $5 lollipop isn't such a great deal.... It also cut the time way down to get through gift shops when getting off Buzz Lightyear & POC.

 

[NYCDiane]

For the start of 9th grade/high school, I would just let him get a couple of things and then see how the other kids are dressing. I know that in my daughter's HS (she's in 10th grade), no one wears Old Navy, Gap, Skechers, etc.

I think the 9th graders like American Eagle, Abercrombie, H&M, and Hollister for casual clothes.

If your son is more fashionable, he may want to shop at an outlet center with higher-end stores than just regular "mall stores". He can also try Macys for some nice and fashionable clothing.

As for cost? I would help him buy his initial clothing choices. After that, I would think $400/mo is way too much (depending on where he's shopping). I would give him, at most, $100-$150/mo as an allowance. He can break it up however he chooses to.

 

[Southernmiss]

My son is going into high school next year - he is starting to get into fashion, or should I say liking expensive sneakers ... Anyway how do u handle cloths - do u buy as needed - give them a certain amount of money monthly to learn how to budget? My son gets money here and there - from me for certain grades, for babysitting my neighbors cats. I am realizing he has no concept of everyday expenses as said maybe I should give u a clothing allowance each month and he said how much $400 a month - really?

None of my kids is that "into" clothes. They get what they need when they need it. I buy most of their clothes. Christmas was mostly clothes. Shoes I will spend $40 to $60 on tennis shoes.

My kids start soccer refereeing at age 12 and when I take them shopping, I take them to the stores that we can afford with a specific list in mind so they see prices and know prices--American Eagle, Under Armour Outlet store, Belk, Kohls, Academy Sports, etc. They will offer sometimes to pay for a third pair of jeans if I am only willing to get 2 pair at that time, for instance.

Kids are DS 19, DS 16, DS 15, DD 12.

 

[eduk8r26]

We have a 10th grade band geek. He is mostly jeans and t-shirts. A lot of the t-shirts have screen prints of what he plays in band(trumpet, cymbals, etc.) He is not into clothes luckily. He got a bunch of hand-me-downs from a cousin, including shoes. The only thing he asked fro were Converse. I got him a pair of PF Flyers for Christmas and he also wears Vans. He is the type of kid who will wear his drumline costume to school. It was bright yellow and turquoise polyester. Didn't bother him a bit.

 

[jenniy122]

My brother started getting into expensive clothing/shoes in HS. He would get a couple new shirts and jeans at the start of the year, if he wanted more he had to pay for them/get them as gifts for holidays. Shoes over $100 he had to pay half of.

 

[dpswift]

My son is going into high school next year - he is starting to get into fashion, or should I say liking expensive sneakers ... Anyway how do u handle cloths - do u buy as needed - give them a certain amount of money monthly to learn how to budget? My son gets money here and there - from me for certain grades, for babysitting my neighbors cats. I am realizing he has no concept of everyday expenses as said maybe I should give u a clothing allowance each month and he said how much $400 a month - really?

IMO $400 a month is extremely high. DD 20 has worked since she was 16 and has a love of expensive clothes. She buys them herself. Many have never been worn. She spends way too much but not $400.

One way she has saved is by going to AE trying on clothes and then buying when they go on sale online. AE takes online returns in store.

We used to go to Platos Closet but our last 2 purchases turned out to be someone elses junk. They will not take items that they feel are outdated however do not take the time to check the wear.

One thing DS 22 got into in HS were the Nike socks. Those are extremely hard to find a deal on.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

My son is a high school freshman. He wears Nike and Under Armor everyday. Shorts and shirts( even in winter) though when it was really cold last week , he broke out the wind pants.

He has a couple pair of khakis and dress shirts I bought at American Eagle . He has to get dressed up on days he has basketball games.

As far as tennis shoes, I buy him what he wants. He wears them everyday , so I want them to last. Usually he picks out some kind of Nikes from Dicks.

He gets a few clothes and the tennis shoes when school starts. If I see something on sale or something he may like, during the school year. I'll pick it up for him.

 

[Marionnette]

My son is going into high school next year - he is starting to get into fashion, or should I say liking expensive sneakers ... Anyway how do u handle cloths - do u buy as needed - give them a certain amount of money monthly to learn how to budget? My son gets money here and there - from me for certain grades, for babysitting my neighbors cats. I am realizing he has no concept of everyday expenses as said maybe I should give u a clothing allowance each month and he said how much $400 a month - really?

My boys are in college now, but when they hit 9th and 10th grades, those were the "growing years". We were buying shoes every month because they outgrew them at an alarming rate. And then once the feet stopped, the legs and arms started! By the time they reached 11th and 12th grades, the growth spurt slowed down and we were able to catch our breath a bit. They began to "fill out" but we were not going a size up every month or two.

$400/month is a little steep but you will need to consider what he will need to buy every month. Sneakers? Dress shoes? Boots? You don't want cheap shoes but even moderately priced ones are going to add up. Then there's everything from underwear, jeans and sweatshirts as they grow. I think that I spent at least $100/month on clothing and shoes for each of them during that phase of their lives. That was 6 or 7 years ago. I would take them to the mall, give them the cash, and tell them to do what they could with the money. It only took a couple of shopping trips for them to realize that they got more clothing if they shopped the sales racks and skipped the designer labels.

 

[lisaross]

Yep no way would he get $400 he just thought that lol. I do buy him everything noe - love shopping sales etc. if I gave him an allowance, he would have to go shopping and that he hates so for now I will continue buying as I do- he loves the nike elite socks - I bought hom a pair and he bought himself a pair. The sneakers nike I usually buy on sale and at Marshall's but the newly releases are above $150 and I refuse unless he just gets 1 pair for the year..

Interesting how everyone goes about this

 

[abcboys]

My oldest is a freshman and not really into clothes. We get 90% of our clothes from thrift shops/yard sales, although his size is getting harder to come by decent things, I can usually find a few things. He mostly likes windbreaker/basketball type pants and t-shirts. He runs 3-4 5KS every year and he will wear the shirts from those. He also got a couple of tshirts from relatives for Christmas. Usually he just throws on a hoodie.

Now, his shoes are another story. He ran cross country in the fall and his feet were hurting with his regular shoes so I ended up getting decent running shoes for his feet and those were around $90, but since I don't spend much on clothes I guess its okay.

If I was going to give an allowance for clothes, I probably wouldn't give money each month. Do people buy clothes every month? Maybe they do but I would probably do $100 every 3 months maybe (I guess that would be $400/year). It kills me to pay in the double digits for any clothing items, though so $100 would go a long way at the thrift store. lol.

 

[Marionnette]

My oldest is a freshman and not really into clothes. We get 90% of our clothes from thrift shops/yard sales, although his size is getting harder to come by decent things, I can usually find a few things. He mostly likes windbreaker/basketball type pants and t-shirts. He runs 3-4 5KS every year and he will wear the shirts from those. He also got a couple of tshirts from relatives for Christmas. Usually he just throws on a hoodie.

Now, his shoes are another story. He ran cross country in the fall and his feet were hurting with his regular shoes so I ended up getting decent running shoes for his feet and those were around $90, but since I don't spend much on clothes I guess its okay.

If I was going to give an allowance for clothes, I probably wouldn't give money each month. Do people buy clothes every month? Maybe they do but I would probably do $100 every 3 months maybe (I guess that would be $400/year). It kills me to pay in the double digits for any clothing items, though so $100 would go a long way at the thrift store. lol.

Yes, you do when the kid is growing at an alarming rate. If I wasn't buying new sneakers, I was buying new boots or cleats. If it wasn't jeans, it was sweatpants, dress pants or shorts. When I say that they grew like weeds, I mean it! Remember when they were babies and you would go to put an outfit on them that fit fine just last week and you couldn't snap it? Yeah, it's like that!

 

[v.t.]

The twins (14 yo) are not into name brand but want one wants to look nice, khaki's, sweaters, etc. The other wants to be comfortable, jeans that aren't scratchy . But they hate shopping so they take what I buy them. The youngest (12 yo) wants to dress like his friends, which includes expensive shoes. So, I give him $40 towards a pair and he has to pay the difference. Each kid has 2 pair of shoes for school, one pair for church, hiking/hunting boots, and then shoes for sports.

 

[Eureka]

DS13 is so not into clothes. Buy him jeans and t shirts/long sleeve t shirts and he's fine. He hates wearing even dress pants and a button down for band concerts. Like another poster said, if he outgrows sneakers (he's wearing a 10 at just-turned 13!) he doesn't care what the new ones look like. (I hate paying adult prices for shoes he outgrows in no time! I don't think this is going to change with him.

DS10 on the other hand, loves "fancy" clothes and comfy things like wind pants and hoodies. He likes to look good and I can tell this might be an issue when he's older. Maybe we will have him use his allowance for some of the non-essentials when he's older. At this point, he doesn't ask for much so if we know he wants something, we get it for him for a holiday, birthday, etc.

And and I meant to add, I have been buying DS13 clothes monthly for awhile because he has shot up about 6 inches in the past 7-8 months. It's crazy how fast he's outgrowing his jeans, but he's a toothpick so it makes buying the right size pretty interesting.

 

[ldo]

For my HS DD, in the fall, I buy 2 pairs of jeans and 1 pair of tennis shoes up to $80 or so, and give her $200 for other clothing to last until the spring. I also pay for a pair of other tennis shoes if she has gym or plays sports. And she has a North Face jacket that she got for Christmas. Last year, she wanted real UGGS, so that was her big Christmas gift.
You could set up jobs to earn extra $$ for those fancy shoes--clean out garage, etc.

 

[MaleficentRN]

I am realizing he has no concept of everyday expenses as said maybe I should give u a clothing allowance each month and he said how much $400 a month - really?

I think many kids are like that. Not until they start earning a paycheck do they realize the value of a dollar. Why not taking him shopping with you when there are sales and give him a dollar limit. Go over his selections. Will he wear this more than once? Is it good quality and will last at least six months of wear?
I'm glad my kids wear uniforms to school. They spend their off time in jeans and tee shirts and don't care what kind. I'd hate to tell them I'm not buying them $400 in clothes each month.