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

[gracie1]

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.

My brother was more fashion savvy than I was growing up, and we laugh about it now. I could've cared less if my clothes came from the dollar store (and some of them did!) and he had to have nike and designer clothes. Now it's opposite, I have to have Michael Kors handbags, etc, and he shops at second hand stores

 

[nsmith]

First, I go through all of their clothes with them to see what they really need. We live in the Northeast and they can start school in what they've been wearing all summer. I will usually get them one or two outfits for the start of school and that's it.

Also, like a PP we shop year round when the stores are having sales, so we don't to "back to school" shopping. I find the sales in my area are better in late September/early November anyway.

As long as they don't need winter coats and shoes, I would say around $200 per child.

I agree, I make the kids go through everything they have, make a give away, and throw away pile then look over what is left. Often they don't really NEED anything so we just shop sales or buy any needed items.

 

[Priorityonecb]

We went through everything to sort out what didn't fit and wasn't going to be worn anymore for Goodwill. I spent $250 on Dd 13. I don't recall the numbers exactly, but I'd say she got around 4 pairs of jeans, 7 shirts, a pair of shoes, socks and a hoodie.

 

[luvmy3]

I just got back from shopping with dd, she only wanted to go to Aero. They were having a B1G1 sale on jeans but they didn't fit her so we ended up getting them at PS by Aero.
I spent about $250 and got a ton of stuff
2 short sleeve shirts
3 graphic T's
2 button up plaid shirts
1 long sleeve graphic T
6 camis
2 pair of jeans
3 pair of jeggings
and a little bottle of roll on perfume
I still have to get her some shoes.

I did not buy her any hoodies because she has a ton that still fit her and are in good shape but to the pp that asked, if she needed them I would have bought them now because I was using a 30% F&F coupon.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

We get new shoes and a first day outfit, other then that we get clothes as needed so if they don't need much we wait till they do. DD15 needs some things so she will be getting them, but DD11 not so mcuh and DD8 not at all. We buy as needed and when there are sales to not over-due.

 

[herdtoDisney]

Why anyone is buying sweaters & hoodies, even jeans in August?
!

I live in CT, where the saying is 'if you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes-it will change'. If you don't have jeans and warm clothes, you will be in for a shock one morning I don't buy ALL their winter clothing now, but I make sure the kids have at least a couple pairs of pants and a jacket/hoodie. Also, it's much easier to find a variety of sizes right now.

My budget varies-for my elemtary school girls, I spent about $100-they didn't need much. My three boys, middle school, high school and leaving for college-I'll be spending around $200. My second boy had a growth spurt this summer!!! Everything is too short All the boys need shoes. Oldest needs a really good winter coat, as college is in upstate NY. I also replace all the kids socks/undies now too-it's easier for me to do it all at once rather than go to the store more often.

I go through all the kids' clothes in summer-weed out stuff that doesn't fit, is too worn, or can be passed down.

I start putting away a little $ for back-to-school right after Christmas, so I have the $ for now. It is but saving for it slowly eases it a bit.

 

[bjscheel]

The time may come when my girls want to go shopping at the mall, and I actually think it would be fun to go out and buy a pile of clothes (except for the bill), but for now I buy at garage sales and thrift stores year round. When I get in a pinch for specific items, I buy retail or eBay. Hopefully as they grow they will still realize that they can have so much more buying second hand. I won't mind the occasional splurge on retail if they want it. And I will make sure they are in style. As often as I shop second hand, it isn't hard to build a fashionable wardrobe from it.

I need to drag out the fall clothes and see what fits. First I want to get their old clothes sold and out of the way. I hope DD8 will have some jeans she can wear. 8's are too tight but I'm afraid the 10's I have stockpiled will be too long at first. But I have tons (at a couple dollars apiece), so there should be some that run shorter to start with. She is the fashionable one and does notice some of the tags in her clothes are Limited Too or Gymboree, etc. but cares more about how they look (fancy or cute) than the brand. She will be the one more likely to care about brand as she gets to be a teen!

DD11 wears 14 slim, at least I hope she still does when we get into jeans weather. I pick up all kinds of clothes for her too, but she wears the same thing all the time. There is not even any point in getting long sleeve shirts for her. Her "uniform" is jeans, t-shirt, and hoodie, and it is amazing how soon she starts in with the hoodies and how long into spring she goes. She is always cold late September-May. So, we have a rainbow of hoodies (again second-hand) so I don't get tired of looking at the same ones. She doesn't care brand, she cares about comfort, and if it is green, has polka-dots or stars, or has Goofy on it, all the better. She is actually happiest wearing bib overalls and one of her cat shirts (she has two, it is hard getting them off long enough to wash).

I remember shopping second hand for my niece in jr. high (because she didn't want to do that herself, but was happy for me to do it for her). I got her something A&F and she hugged it. In contrast, my other niece got a bagful of A&F from a fellow dance student and passed it on to me- she didn't want it. My DD didn't want any of it either, so I sold them on eBay.

I remember as a teen I wanted everything from Maurices! My mom let me blow my first paycheck from the nursing home at Maurices, then I had to be more practical with the following paychecks. But it sure was fun. I still remember some of the clothes I bought.