what is the normal amount of back to school clothes?

[sln88]

once again I will publicly display my cheapness.
I don't buy any school clothes. During the summer I rummage a bit and find them things that way, but I don't go out and buy anything new special for school starting. It will be warm here for awhile and they will probably be in shorts.
I also don't do the whole new school supplies thing. If they have it from last year and it is still usable, it gets reused- backpacks, crayons, pencils, etc. I hate waste!

 

[grlpwrd]

I have 3 school-aged dd's (I also have a 2yo ds and baby girl) so we keep the basics as hand-me-downs like jeans and jackets.

We buy things they need like new shoes, underwear, and school supplies. We shop throughout the year, though, at thrift stores and from ebay for deals and that keeps the cost down.

I buy investment pieces and try to buy something that can be used by more than one child in our family and be passed down or things that will last or both, like Land's End backpacks and winter coats.

 

[Nite0wl71]

My Dd 12 goes to a public school that wears uniforms. She can wear black/blue pants or skirts and white blouses/polo shirts. I usually buy her 4 pants and 4 shirts.

Since it is not a typical uniform it's not expensive. When she was little we went to Target, K-Mart etc and bought the French Toast line. Now we just buy them anywhere. Old Navy also sells a line of uniforms.

Shoes we buy when she needs them. When she was 7 or 8 we bought 3 pairs of shoes at the start of school and she went through a growing spurt and out grew them without hardly wearing them.

 

[stahshee]

I have four kids to buy back to school stuff for and it can get sooo expensive!!!

I always buy at least two new pairs of shoes each, one pair of tennis shoes and something else, and at least five new outfits for the first week of school. Most of the time they wind up with more stuff. They also all get new backpacks and lunchboxes.

This year I did the shopping before I really went through what they actually have. My 13-year old daughter has 22 pairs of jeans that all actually fit! That doesn't even include the capris, shorts and skirts that she has. She also has 25+ shirts that she likes (Aeropostale, Abercrombie and Hollister).

Man - I wish I would have looked through her stuff before we went to shop! I doubt she would have gotten as much as she did. She can wear a different outfit to school every day for at least 25 days!!

I wish I had her wardrobe! It seems like I only wear the same three pairs of jeans and same three t-shirts all the time!!

now your 13 dd sounds like mine. she has tons of clothes but for some reason she needs more clothes for her 2 gym days( she usues a uniform on M,W,F)

 

[dismom9761]

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?

My 3 have the Landsend bookbags.My Ds9 is on his 4th year with with his and my other two are starting their 3rd. My DS7's zipper tore up last year and they sent him a new one right away.LLbean has the same policy.

 

[marcyinPA]

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?

I don't buy my kids new backpacks every year. My oldest had a character backpack in kindergarten and first grade that my dad had purchased for him. In second grade, I got him a Jansport backpack. It is in fine shape still, but since he's starting fifth grade and will have more books to bring home, I bought him a better and larger Jansport backpack this year. It should last him a while!

My youngest is starting first grade. He wanted a Batman backpack last year, and I told him he could have it on one condition. He had to use it until 2nd grade. At that point, he'll use my oldest's old Jansport (which is still fine!) and I'll get him a bigger backpack when he needs one in 5th or 6th grade.

As for lunchboxes, we had two of them...both character lunchboxes. My 10 year old has used the same lunchbox since first grade!! This year, he has requested a non-character lunchbox (afterall, he's going into fifth grade! LOL) so I bought him one at Target. My first grader will have his choice of what we already have here at home...GI Joe or the Hulk! Either one should get him through the next few years!

Personally, I think it's a waste of money to buy new backpacks and lunchbags every year if they are still in good, usable condition!

 

[leight]

I have been buying the backpacks on wheels- which have never lasted more than a year- our school doesn't allow the kids to wear the backpacks on their backs and my girls are rather small-so this is a necessity for them.

 

[trayletha]

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?

We buy a new backpack every year (so far- DD is only in 1st grade) and I had to replace her luch bag by the middle of last year (spilled milk -fabric lunch box left at school on a Friday - YUCK!). DD's wears a uniform so the backpack/lunch box is her way of expressing herself.

 

[mickeymousemom]

I have 3 DD's...one is only 2 and therefore not in school. Anyway, we just went shopping for new clothes and ended up only going to Fashion Bug and Kohl's. We got great deals. I won't buy anything if it isn't on sale and most of the time we find good clearance items. My 2 oldest are 11 and almost 16..both girls. I think they ended up with 3 new pairs of jeans, several shirts, new backpacks(Mudd and LEI bags that we found in the kids section at Kohl's for 12.98) and we went to Shoe Carnival the next day and they got Nikes and K-Swiss for $80 for both pair. My mom gave me $100 to put towards their stuff...I spent that and about $300 besides...so they got away with about $200 each. I wish I could not have to worry about backpacks every year, but by the time the school year ends, theirs are goners...if not before. I do think next year I'll wait til later in the fall to buy new stuff other than maybe a couple pairs of jeans. Yes, we have fun shopping and I love to get them new clothes...but alot of it is just unnecessary.

 

[bettyann29]

Im not completly finished yet but on actual clothes for a 13 yr old girl, 11 yr old boy and a 7 yr old girl it cost me about $500 .. that included socks, underwear, bras.. My sons tennis shoes were $45 and I have to take my 2 girls this weekend.. Im figuring my oldest tennis shoes will be about $45 and $20 for my youngest.. I got 5 prs of flip flops for my daughter at Old Navy for less than $8-- really cute ones.. 3 of them were on clearance.. My oldest needs a few pairs of earrings and to replenish her makeup.. All together for everything I would say between $650-$700...

I usually buy them a few pairs of pants in the winter time and then shorts/tshirts in summer time.. other than that most of the clothes shopping is done at back to school time.. I spend more at back to school time than at Christmas!

Im just glad its almost over.. this is our last weekend to get the rest done..

 

[kilee]

I have only 1 child who is 12. Unfortunately that does mean no hand me downs and he's growing so much, there's not 1 single pair of pants left from last year that fit.

Anyhow, I pretty much have been picking up things here and there on clearance to get started. I found great cargo style pants at Sear's marked down to $5.99. So, we got 1 in all 3 colors. Then we found athletic style pants at Old Navy outlet a few weeks ago marked down to $4.99. So we picked up those. I'm hoping to keep it under $250 w/ supplies. Oh, I really got a break on his sneakers. We shopped the clearance rack at DSW warehouse. He got a pair of Nike's that were originally $99 They were marked down to $38, they then had the color tag that gave me another 40% off. So, I got these shoes for just under $20 w/ tax.

We pretty much figure he just has to get through on the clothing until the holidays. As my mom really goes overboard in buying the grandkids clothes for Christmas.

 

[slgober]

I'm surprised at how many kids use the same bookbag for more than one year. I just thought all kids got new book bags and supplies!!

Usually my kids are not in any shape to be used again. However my DD10 got a bookbag from Children's Place last year, it was not expensive at all ($12 to $15 I think) and it was still in great shape at the end of the year too. I was very pleasantly surprised. In fact we went back there this year and bought her the new version. She does use the old one as a gymnastics bag now though (she is a competitive gymnast and works out 4 days a week/16 hours a week!).

DD13 got a Jansport this year - we will see how that lasts.

I just realized another mistake!! I got the girls' bookbags monogrammed so there will be no passing down!! Darn!!

 

[chrisn]

This is humerous. My DS who turns 8 in three days and is entering 3rd grade definitely gets a new backpack every year simply for the fact that the pack from the prior year has been through the ringer. He drags it on the ground so the bottom gets frayed with small holes, it's usually stained and is just generally trashed.

DD whom is 17 and a HS Senior this year wouldn't be caught dead with the same backpack as last year even if it looked brand new. Conversation: "Shye, your backpack from last year is still like new so you really don't need another one right?" *roll eyes* "Are ya freakin kidding me mom? PULLEEASE!" (this is coming from the girl whose obsession is purses, she owns 45. Not even kidding!) Well excuse me for livin! And yes I am completely aware that she is a BRAT!

 

[Skatermom23]

I'm surprised at how many kids use the same bookbag for more than one year. I just thought all kids got new book bags and supplies!!

Usually my kids are not in any shape to be used again. However my DD10 got a bookbag from Children's Place last year, it was not expensive at all ($12 to $15 I think) and it was still in great shape at the end of the year too. I was very pleasantly surprised. In fact we went back there this year and bought her the new version. She does use the old one as a gymnastics bag now though (she is a competitive gymnast and works out 4 days a week/16 hours a week!).

DD13 got a Jansport this year - we will see how that lasts.

I just realized another mistake!! I got the girls' bookbags monogrammed so there will be no passing down!! Darn!!

Love the Jansport backpacks! This will be DS's 3rd year using his and DD's second. They still look like new and believe me my kids are hard on them.
They don't mind re-using them if it means more money on other stuff.

 

[MrsPete]

Personally, I think it's a waste of money to buy new backpacks and lunchbags every year if they are still in good, usable condition!

I agree. The plastic character type backpacks will barely last a school year, but a good quality pack will last 2-4 years. Most of the name brands (LL Bean, Lands End, Jansport, etc.) offer a lifetime warranty on zippers and seams. If they break, you can return the pack to the store and they send it back to the company (I used to do this when I worked for a camping store); it's the company's choice whether to repair or replace the pack.

I bought my girls good LL Bean packs when they started K, and they used them through about 2nd or 3rd grade. Each one could've made it a few more years if they hadn't needed the larger packs at that point.

 

[candmforever]

OH my, after reading all of your replies, I"m embarrassed that, I not only have a set budget....but the estimate in my head is pretty ridiculously high compared to some of your answers. So, I plead the fifth....and my kids don't even go to schoool yet...embarrassing...but I learned some things from some of you, thanks!

That all being said, I pay cash for it all by saving up for the sales (never retail, ever!) so I am limited to purchase only waht I can afford at the time, so I really don't feel too bad about it. I REALLY enjoy buying them clothes, it's a hobby, and I ebay them when I'm done and get a very hefty amt for them....so when it's all said and done...I don't do too bad at all I guess/

 

[cruisnfamily]

I buy quality lands end back packs too. I'd rather spend $30 and have it last 3 years than pay $10 and have it not even make it thru the year.

DS9 had a green lands end backpack that he used for K,1 & 2. In third grade we got him a larger blue one that he used for 3 & now is using for 4th. It'll probably get him thru 5th and then we'll buy a new one for middle school. He's also on his 3rd year with a lands end lunchbox.

DD12 went thru 3(yes 3!) backpacks in kindergarten and that's when we learned our lesson to only buy solid color quality bags. Nothing that will go out of style and bags that will last. She's currently on year 2 of using her solid red lands end backpack in middle school.

As far as clothes, DD is in uniforms and she usually outgrows the tops so we purchase 5 or 6 new uniform polos and then 1 or 2 bottoms because usually some from last year will still fit. Then of course a pair of sneakers.

DS9 need absolutely nothing. All his clothes still fit and his shoes were new in the spring and didn't need replacing yet. I feel like everybody needs a couple of new outfits for starting school though so I let him pick 2 pair of shorts and 2 t shirts and that was it for him this year. Wahoo!

 

[MrsMcNally]

I remember my parents used to take us to the Outlet Malls at Birch Run, Saginaw MI, and give us 300.00 to spend, they would turn us loose and we had to make good descions. We were in High School at the time. That was it for the year for the most part, and it taught us to spend our money wisely. For instance one year I decided I needed a Led Zeppelin Box set and since it was 100.00, I didn't get very many clothes, but my parents stuck to their decision and I didn't get any more money!!

Now with my son I order things online from Old Navy, Abercrombie, and Gap, and find that if I shop right I can get things pretty reasonably. I go to Walmart for underwear, and T-shirts, socks, and accessories. I spend about 250.00 and at Christmas about another 100.00. My theroy differs from most on name brand things. I was teased alot in Elem. School when $ were tight in my fam, and it really effected my confidence and grades, my thoughts are I don't want my kids to have to go through that so if I have to spend a little more on clothes so be it. But my kids know how to treat others, and that teasing under ANY circum is WRONG WRONG WRONG.

 

[sk!mom]

DD whom is 17 and a HS Senior this year wouldn't be caught dead with the same backpack as last year even if it looked brand new. Conversation: "Shye, your backpack from last year is still like new so you really don't need another one right?" *roll eyes* "Are ya freakin kidding me mom? PULLEEASE!" (this is coming from the girl whose obsession is purses, she owns 45. Not even kidding!) Well excuse me for livin! And yes I am completely aware that she is a BRAT!

You just gave me a glimpse into my future. My DD9 has about 20 purses. She just this week bought one of the new sequined bags. She spent her own money because earlier in the summer she talked me into one of the kool-aid/capri-sun bags so I wouldn't buy another.

She does use the same backpack and lunch bag for as long as they are in good shape. We had to buy new ones this year for the first time in a while.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I spent $30 yesterday for underwear for 3 boys and socks for DD. I got DD and one DS each a pair of Skechers for $24 (and I bought all of this on base so no tax ). They won't get new backpacks or lunchboxes because their ones from last year are fine. I told them if they wanted new lunchboxes they had to pay for them themselves so only DD decided she needed one, but I got suckered. She didn't want to still carry her Care Bears lunchbox in fourth grade, she said everyone would call her a baby, so we compromised. I'll buy her a new one, but without a character on it.