What is a fair back to school clothes budget for teens?

[SLM]

It's a good idea to let them start school and see what their friends are wearing. When it's so warm the beginning of the school year you can get away with summer clothes for a while. I hate to see kids caught up the name brand thing but it's more important to some than others-and if a new shirt gives them a confidence boost that's ok. It's also ok to let them know this is how much we can spend-how do you want to make it work?

 

[Alexander]

DS is starting 7th grade and will need uniforms. So far we've gotten:

6 Polo Shirts $60
4 Dress Shirts $60
Football Cleats $40

He will still need:

4 Pairs of Pants (approx. $120)
5 Ties (approx. $75)
Dress Shoes (approx $40)
Sneakers (approx $50)

I am waiting to get the shoes, sneakers, and pants because he has grown so much over the past 10 months, I'm afraid he'll grow more before school starts in September. He has grown 5 inches, gained 26 pounds, and grown now 4 shoe sizes since last October!

Sooooo as far as wearing anything from last year--yeah, that's not happening!

 

[Samar]

Growing up, there was no budget. We got to pick 1 or 2 outfits from the mall and the rest my mom or step-mom would find on sale through J.C Penneys or other stores. Shoes were a cheap/sale brand until our foot stopped growing, then we got a name brand.

With my older 2 (my 5 year old is a lil fashionista), I still shop Childrens Place or Target. But for my 5 year old, if I get a Justice coupon, I get her something fashionable

I am dreading them begging for name brand stuff when they're older

 

[kydisneyfans]

My 11 year old couldn't care less either, and his BTS clothes budget is 0.
He laid out his day 1 outfit for tomorrow, and it included a UK t shirt, athletic shorts, and UK sandals. I think we'll go more for the polo shirt and khaki shorts with some flip flops-all from Kohls.

 

[kinntj]

I just took my 2 girls on Saturday to get their first day of school clothes. Every year I buy them at least one brand new outfit for the first day.

These two outfits were from Justice and Gap and the total was $160.00 including one pair of shoes. That was a little expensive for two outfits, but I made sure they loved them and that they could be worn with other items in their wardrobe.

I'll go back to use the J bucks at Justice on sale clothes later.

 

[StacyMarie]

I give my 2 teenage daughters $500.00 each. They have to buy their clothes, back pack, school supplies, shoes, accessories, etc. We usually do not go shopping until end of September first part of October because they wear their summer clothes until then.

This is how I broke it down:

50.00 -Backpack
125.00-Jeans/skirts/leggings
125.00-Shirts
100.00-Shoes
100.00-School supplies first and whatever is left for accessories.

My youngest daughter, 14, usually comes home with TONS of stuff because she is not so concerned about brands, but my oldest usually has to really pay attention to what she is buying because she is all about the brand. I am hoping this year my oldest will remeber when she said to me last year "how come Syd has so much more clothes than I do?", LOL!

 

[parlay]

I'm so glad to hear that many other parents in my area send their kids back to school with what they've been wearing for the summer! One year I made the mistake of "rushing" out to buy school clothes, just to have DS grow out of them by October! We may buy 1 or 2 outfits to start the year, but then buy during the seasons as needed. But for some reason my kids have "favorite" outfits that I see again and again and again! And others that get the tag torn off, worn once and disappear in the black hole of their drawers!

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

I found a sale at Children's place that had graphic tees for $5, so both my girls got 2 new shirts. They each got a new pair of sneakers for $20 for the older(13), $10 for the younger from Wal Mart. Then the younger one (8) got a dress from Target for $12. So I spent around $30 on both of them. They each have plenty of newish jeans that they got for their birthdays last spring. Around here we have huge consignment sales twice a year, so in late September I will but them each $50-75 worth of clothes there and that usually gets them through until their birthdays hit again.

 

[Jaklackus]

I would steer them to LL Bean for their backpacks....durable and they have a very liberal return policy for wear and tear...they might have to spend slightly more up front but the backpacks will last several years..saving them that expense going forward....

after 3 years I am buying new for a bigger size for my 8 year old...and bought a new pack for the 6 year old to put away for 3rd grade since he wanted to pick out a new backpack too. Stepson used his for 2 years in high school and has been using it to travel with his dad for work every week...DH uses his for travel too...both packs are flung around, stuffed full, kept in a trailer full of sharp metal edges, tools and lawn equipment and still look brand new.

I give my 2 teenage daughters $500.00 each. They have to buy their clothes, back pack, school supplies, shoes, accessories, etc. We usually do not go shopping until end of September first part of October because they wear their summer clothes until then.

This is how I broke it down:

50.00 -Backpack
125.00-Jeans/skirts/leggings
125.00-Shirts
100.00-Shoes
100.00-School supplies first and whatever is left for accessories.

My youngest daughter, 14, usually comes home with TONS of stuff because she is not so concerned about brands, but my oldest usually has to really pay attention to what she is buying because she is all about the brand. I am hoping this year my oldest will remeber when she said to me last year "how come Syd has so much more clothes than I do?", LOL!

 

[mjkacmom]

I don't do school shopping either. He will wear his shorts, etc until probably October anyway. The end of September will have great sales, getting ready for Christmas.

Same here - I might get them a new shirt, might not. My ds12 will be wearing shorts until December (and we're in the NE)!

 

[Nik's Mom]

I have an 8 year old and 11 year old ds. We don't really do back to school clothes shopping. I buy things through out the year as needed. I do tend to buy things on clearance so they can wear it for the next year. I just make sure to buy a size up so it will fit.

We do buy new outfits for the first day of school. I just took advantage of all of the summer clearance stuff. Aeropostale had a pretty good sale not too long ago. I think they still have things on clearance.

 

[Minnie_me]

I don't do a big "back to school" clothes shop, either. I live in NYS, and it's still hot here through September, so the kids start school in their summer clothes. I will buy them one new outfit for the first day (but since it's a summer outfit, it's usually on clearance!) and new gym shoes because they've most likely outgrown their old pair.

And that's it. I wait until Columbus Day, when the sales are good, and buy a little more - mostly staples: jeans, underwear, socks, etc.

 

[Eeyore's Wife]

When my son was going through a major growth spurt, I would just buy him one pair of jeans and one of khaki pants, do laundry each day, and he outgrew them before he wore out either pair.

For my oldest who has been the same size for several years, she needs less money. First, because she hasn't outgrown all her stuff, and second because she is much more gentle on clothes so they last longer.


If your kids have had a "foot growth spurt" over the summer, they may need a bit more money. Our local schools do not allow flip flops or shoes without a heel covering.

We don't measure equality based on total price because my son has large wide feet and needs expensive shoes to ensure he is comfortable and safe. I try to keep equality in the sense that each kid has about the same number of things.

In other words, 10 school outfits, two pairs of comfortable school shoes, gym shoes, and two "looking good with friends on the weekend" outfits.

I know the OP said budgets were a new thing, and I want to encourage you to talk about the financial changes with your kids and explain that everyone is making different decisions about money in the family. My teens are much more willing to "buckle down" when they understand the why of it and see it as something everyone is doing, including mom and dad.

When we patttern the behavior, without whining, it helps them get in the right attitude. I am a former high school teacher and I encourage you to sit down your kids and let them see the family budget and understand how much living really costs. Most teens really don't know how much things like health insurance, car insurance, federal tax, state tax, and water bills actually are, and they can, via lack of knowledge, feel like parents are being stingy when in fact they are being prudent.

Another idea that my mother used on us was to determine what the purchases for the year tallied at our local inexpensive "no name" shops. If we wanted a designer label, we were welcome to come up with the difference with money we had earned or with christmas/birthday money. Suddenly, when I was paying a 50% mark up it wasn't as important as when mom was footing the bill.

Lastly, my kids regularly get stuff at secondhand stores and garage sales. They understand that because we live frugally we can afford to do Disney and give money to charity. They know that there is only so much family money and that if we spend a lot on clothes, purses, cologne there isn't as much money left for the other stuff.

We have priorities as a family that the kids help design so they really try to keep costs low. We give to several charities that the kids helped choose for our family. It means something to them and so they are willing to sacrifice in other areas.

--Eeyore's Wife

 

[dreamin_disney]

i'm glad you asked this. I just told dh we need to start a fund for next years school clolthes since dd will be in 7th grade. I know it gets more expensive as they get older.

we bought dd a bunch of jean capris and jean shorts that are right above the kneww not sure what they are called on clearance at khols.Plus some tank tops on clearance at JcPenny.

The school supplies , back pack, 2 pairs of shoes, socks and underwear made me think, we need to save and budget for nextyear.

back pack, 2 pair of shoes, 3 pks of hanes underwear, 2 packs of socks
total $116.00

i'll have to add up the clothes another time

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

I don't fall for the "back to school" shopping.

Four times a year we go thru the closets and see what the kids "NEED" and then we buy it. If something is needed in the meantime -- a special clothes item for band or choir -- we buy that.

We have several seasons thru our school year and no way could I buy all the clothes at once because they aren't all available.

 

[Mary•Poppins]

We really don't go out and buy new clothes for the beginning of the school year. I will buy new shoes and cleats for their sports ... and perhaps a couple of new shirts for each of them.

They have summer clothes that still fit, so when fall comes, I will then buy them the jeans that they need. (If I find a really good deal on jeans ... like the $7 pair last week at Target ... I will buy them now.)

So, I am thinking we pay about 125 to 150 for each kid. Hope this helps.

 

[Purseval]

We pick up stuff for my niece and nephew all year round. Never more than $2 and then it has to be exceptional. AE, Hollister, Aero, Ed Hardy, Hurley, Lucky, ***********, you get the idea. My find of the summer was a pair of True Religion Joey jeans for $1. We've looked at the Joeys they sell in the TR outlet stores and they aren't as nice as the ones we found either. They have so many clothes they give stuff away to their friends so thier budget is spent on things we won't buy used like underwear and shoes.

Hmm, why would they censor a clothing name?

 

[mousebymarriage]

We just went shopping today for back to school clothes.

DS9 is going into 4th grade and likes Old Navy clothes the most so that's where we went. He got 4 pair of jeans, 3 pair of athletic/track pants, 2 short sleeved shirts, and 4 long sleeved shirts. I spent $130 (that includes a pair of sandals that DD wanted). So he just needs sneakers and socks(he destroys his socks down at the baseball field).

DD13 is going into High School, and her favorite store is a store called DEB, so that's where we went. She bought 6 pair of skinny jeans, 9 or 10 shirts and a scarf (not a winter one) and I spent approx $300. She only needs sneakers and a few new bras. She will also get a pair of Uggs in September.

 

[parlay]

I would steer them to LL Bean for their backpacks....durable and they have a very liberal return policy for wear and tear...they might have to spend slightly more up front but the backpacks will last several years..saving them that expense going forward....

after 3 years I am buying new for a bigger size for my 8 year old...and bought a new pack for the 6 year old to put away for 3rd grade since he wanted to pick out a new backpack too. Stepson used his for 2 years in high school and has been using it to travel with his dad for work every week...DH uses his for travel too...both packs are flung around, stuffed full, kept in a trailer full of sharp metal edges, tools and lawn equipment and still look brand new.

Another testimony for LL Bean bookbags. The cost up front is much higher than the $19.99 book bags at Walmart/Target etc - which we usually had to replace by April. My DS - is a junior in HS this year, and has had his bookbag since 6th grade - it has made several Disney trips, and 2 cruises. We joke that he will be taking it to college! The only problem that we have run in to (not with DS, but with DD's) is that they tire of the pattern on the bag waaayy before the bag wears out!

 

[wdwobsessed]

I find it interesting that an 11 year old BOY really cares about his school clothes.

I have a 10 1/2 yr old getting ready to start 5th grade and he couldnt care less.

He might say that he doesn't like a certain shirt or such item but he's never once said..."I want to go to XYZ store and look for clothes". He's generally more than willing to wear we (his parents) pick out for him...mostly from Kohls, JC Penneys or Target.

He's never sat foot in an American Eagle or Aeorpostale.

Well considering I shopped at Thrift Stores and Target for both my boys (age 14 and 11) so certainly not from me!!! I didn't know about Aeorpostale or what an Aeorpostale was until he asked me about it.

We live in a very affluent area and ALL the kids wear it ... that is why. Good old Howard County Maryland ... rated #2 for best places to live by money magazine.