what is the normal amount of back to school clothes?

[laurabelle]

Carol- lol! Same here! Plus, I learned years ago not to buy too many clothes at once for my kids as they seem to have a growth spurt immediately after so we buy throughout the year as necessary.

 

[Mom to 2]

I budget $600.00 for my daughter (she is 11) in August, for school clothes (everything) and about $350.00 for my son (he is 7--jeans and t-shirts pretty much), then in the spring I buy again spending about $250.00 on our daughter and $100. 00 on son. I also usually buy more shoes for spring (usually daughter only--she loves shoes). It gets expensive but I love to shop!

Lory

 

[trayletha]

DD goes to a Catholic School so it's uniforms for her. About $500.00 split between now and next year - I buy half now because she always grows. Then about $300.00 for nonschool clothes.

 

[Disney_1derland]

My tiny Fashionista(TF) LOVES clothes. When she wants birthday or christmas gifts it's always clothes NOT toys. So, she has a lot of clothes. Last year I bought 10 shirts for $3 each at Children's Place Clearance and bought several pairs of jeans on clearance too. This year we are dressing up the jeans with embroidery as is the new hot trend (according to the TF anyhow). She has a pair of tennis shoes, a pair of black dressier shoes and a pair of pink shoes. That should do it although she is currently on the hunt for some boots and if she finds a suitable pair then we'll probably get them.

This year I've spent $50 on clothes for her and then my mother took her and i school clothes shopping and JC Penneys was having an amazing sale and the TF managed to eek out $400 worth of clothes from nana (Nana is all happy she got a deal because she only paid about $165 for all of it).

Needless to say she is set except for a new winter coat at some point.

All in all I've spent about $150 total and Nana spent $165, so a little over $300.

 

[mamalle]

dd just started kindergarten today and we hit the mall this past saturday. I bought her- 3 pairs of jeans, 2 shirts and a skort. mil gave me some money also for her and I bought 4 different outfits-2 short sets, skort set and a capri set. she also got a new pair of keds and skechers sneakers. mil also ordered some items from lands end for her- mary jane shoes and some long pants for the fall. It doesnt usually get cool here until Dec so she is pretty much set since her drawers and closet are already filled with clothes I buy throughout the year..

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

DD goes to a Catholic School so it's uniforms for her. About $500.00 split between now and next year - I buy half now because she always grows. Then about $300.00 for nonschool clothes.

My DD also goes to Catholic School. She is entering 6th grade so her uniforms will change to skirts instead of jumpers. I get the the skirts a little bigger and my DH will alter them. (yes DH loves to sew ). He does all the alterations for my DD class, and for our GS troop. Here is a breakdown.
3 skirts @ 32.00 each 96.00
5 short sleeve shirts @ 12.00 each 48.00(it was buy 4/get 1 free)
1 sweater @ 24.00 24.00
gym uniforms
1 sweat shirt 12.00 12.00
1 sweat pants 12.00 12.00
1 pair of shorts 10.00 10.00
1 pair of sneakers 30.00 30.00
1 pair of dress shoes 40.00 40.00

total $272.00

The skirts will last through this year and hopefully next yr as well.

I love when other parents say "your so lucky you don't have to buy real school clothes"..I not only have to buy the above, but, she needs street clothes as well. Gets expensive...

 

[MELSMICE]

I'd be embarassed to post the monetary amount

That's why I didn't post the actual amount I budget for each girl - especially after I saw the amounts other people spent.

I know it's alot, but they really look forward to it & we have fun doing it (well, usually!!!)

 

[babytrees]

Thanks to everybody for the reminders to go through closets!!! Even though my girls shared clothes when younger they now have very, very different tastes and time to go through and figure out what is too small what ones neither one wears/wants anymore!!! And time to count undies!!

Thanks again all!!!

 

[Alice28]

I bought both of my boys clothes recently...kind of over a period of a month or two but I would say my 7 year old (going to be in 2nd grade) has about 5 new pairs of nicer pants (like jeans or khakis/cargos), 2 pairs of nice sweats from Gymboree (ok for school), one sweatshirt, one jacket (the one from last year still fits), 6-8 pairs of new socks, 2 pairs of GOOD shoes that will last til he outgrows them (I swear by Stride Rite), 3-4 new short sleeved tops, and 5-6 long sleeved tops. I will buy him anything more as he needs it. Plus his bday is in November, when weather really starts getting cool/cold here and he usually gets a few pieces of clothing then too.

For my younger one I first paw through the older ones hand me downs and take inventory. I ended up getting him almost the same amount as his older brother....after about 4, kids play HARD in their clothes and they're not as good hand me downable quality.

ETA- my FAVORITE buys were from Sears last May or so....$6 Lands End jeans on clearance and $3 turtlenecks! WOW! I also got some great buys from GAP on mega-clearance, his backpack with a 25% off coupon I had for GAP, and the rest I bought with GymBucks at Gymboree. I would guess I spent about $550 for the two of them, maybe less than that, incl the shoes. Spread out over several months it doesn't seem that bad.

 

[kkaisu]

I give my DD13 $100 around the beginning of the school year. She must spend it on school clothes for late summer/fall. Last year she was very excited because we got a Hollister and a couple of other "nicer " stores in our city. We went, she took one look at the prices and said "Take me to Kohls". When she has to decide how to spend the $ she gets very sales and clearance minded. The rest of the year we buy things here and there when we have some extra $. My mom always buys her one high dollar outfit and her tennis shoes, so that is nice.

I am sure if I had the money to spend I would also be embarressed to say how much.

 

[marcyinPA]

Since we start school on August 30, and it's still pretty warm here, my boys will be starting school in their summer clothes. I am not buying new shorts or short sleeve shirts to start the school year. My ds 10 can still wear his jeans from the Spring, and I bought him two more pair at the outlets around here. He can also still wear his shirts as I usually buy them a little big anyway. His problem is shoes! His feet grow so quickly and they are SO BIG and WIDE! He can only wear New Balance so I had to order them online (wides are tough to find in stores, and he's just shy of wearing men's). I might have to get him new church shoes if last season's don't fit.

My youngest, 6, is still wearing the same clothes for the past year and a half. He just does not grow fast. I did buy him some new jeans, but that is it. He got new sneakers too, and he has hand-me-down dress shoes for church.

I will buy them more as the year progresses and if they need it.

 

[we3disneygo]

My dd11 is starting the 6th grade in a private school. there is a dress code, modest attire, they list in the handbook traditional blue jeans? I called the office they said no rips, no dirty wash jeans. I bought 5 pairs from jcpenney on sale 60.00, 2 tops from limited too 47.00, 2 pairs of tennis shoes, 1 pr. to leave at school. 50.00 ,undies 16.00, gold toe socks 8.00 on sale,p.e. outfit 15.00. So far that's it.She has a new winter coat bought on sale at Kohl's last spring-Columbia-35.00. She is allowed to wear capree's so she will start school with them, then she will see what the other girl's are wearing-- and we will go shopping again!

 

[mainelyj]

I tried something different this year with my teen boys - 13 and 14. I gave them each a budget of $200, this was to include sneakers, backpacks and whatever else they wanted. I paid for new undies and socks. It is amazing at how respectful they are, as well as, what great shoppers they turned into and they got all the new shirts, shorts and pants they wanted (about 3 pairs of jeans, 3 pairs of shorts and 5 t's - plus lots more). JC Penney had great sales during the past 2 weeks - especially on t's and shorts. I paid 11.99 for arizona jeans. On son even came out with $50 to spare and I put this money in his bank account.

 

[leight]

Well- We started school last week here in sunny florida- and I didn't plan on buying my two DDs(5 & 7) too much- but then 10 days before school started we got the notice that the school decided on uniforms! The uniforms aren't so bad- while they encourage you to order the shirts from them- I didn't. I hit target for a few uniform staples- two skirts, one skort each. And then hit walmart for the necessities- several white/blue tank tops, blue/white short sleeve t-shirts and 2 jean skorts, one khaki skirt each.Also saw two sundresses each on clearance that I couldn't pass by! One cardigan each-just to get them before they sold out-their too cute! These with their reg jean/khaki shorts that they still fit in will be enough for most of the year- (in late OCT they will probably get extra long sleeve shirts,tights, cardigans and a pair or two of pants for the cold part of the year.) I also got them a pair of ballerina flats(target clearance 3.24) 1 pair of sneakers each. I am waiting on payless' bOGO for casual maryjanes. With these and reg school supplies, lunch boxes, wheeling backpacks, haircuts-I spent $300- but I was lucky; the day care's before school program they were supposed to attend for 1 hour each morning and transport them to school decided not to do it this year- but my boss has allowed me to schedule the extra time so I can get them to the bus stop by doing half hour lunches. This made the daycare send me a refund of 199.00 which helped out tremendously and we won't be paying for daycare for the first time-until dh goes full time again at work.

 

[sk!mom]

I buy DD9 things as she needs them or as we see a good sale on something she likes that she will need. She loves pretty clothes and I love sales so she seems to always have plenty. So I don't do a big shop for Back to School. I let her pick out an outfit that she loves for the first day, new tennis shoes, socks and underwear. Her grandmother usually buys her a new outfit too.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

Son begins preschool on Sept 12th God how the time flew!!! My 2 kids (3 & 4) have way too many clothes so all he got was 3 new pairs of sweatpants...I don't want him to worry about going potty while at school. Easy on/easy off. He still needs help with snaps/zippers on jeans so this will make it less stressful for adjusting. Other than that he didn't need anything so will get anything else as needed. His sneaks are still in good condition and fit because he has worn his velcro sandals all summer so he doesn't even need new shoes. Next year will be dd and she will get the same - what is needed. I'm sure I'll have enough issue with back to school shopping as they get older and "have" to wear whats "in" but until then checking the sales rack and buying before needed for 1/4 the cost!!!

 

[scrappinmom]

We actually make a vacation out of back to school shopping. My mom, my 2 dd's and I drive from Illinois to the Mall of America in Minnesota and spend the weekend shopping! My mom buys most of the girls stuff..I pretty much just pay for our food & stuff. This year dd1 is starting middle school and has nearly an entire wardrobe from LimitedToo and the Gap, along with 7 pairs of shoes. and DD2 is starting kindergarten and has at least 25 new dresses from Gymboree, Gap, Disney Store and OshKosh along with 6 pairs of shoes and a bright pink pair of cowboy boots (i know i know). We also go to Office Depot and do the whole school supply list, & they get new backpacks every year too. I did go thru their drawers & closets & this year they both really outgrew nearly everything. They'll both get new winter coats/boots this year too..I know it's a bit extravegant....but my grandma used to do it with me, so my mom feels like it's her "gig" to do it with my girls...and they all really have fun !

 

[ladyelle]

I was wondering - I purchased quality backpacks and lunchboxes from Landsend and plan on using them for a few years. Some had mentioned they get new backpacks every year. What do you all do?

 

[babytrees]

My girls are supposed to get one(backpack) every other year so that I am not burdened with paying for two backpacks a year but wouldn't you know it both backpacks lost their zippers at the end of the school year!!

I am going to now edit a previous post...after going through closets I now have to get at least one pair of pants/slacks for oldest!! Both girls did some growing over the summer that I didn't catch....so there goes my easy out budget on clothes But I guess I really can't complain....it still shouldn't get to expensive clothes shopping...yes I know I am delusional!

 

[HaleyB]

My daughter gets one back to school first day outfit. My son could care less. Otherwise we buy as we need, and I tend to buy off season on clearence.