Did I go overboard?

[Anonymous]

$100 tops. Buy Nothing and hand-me-down clothes.

[Anonymous]

I can't say without knowing your finances. If $800 on Christmas presents is causes you to stretch financially, then yes you did go overboard. It would also be problematic because it would lead your kids to expect the same every year, causing you to stretch financially every year.

If spending an extra $800 plus other holiday expenses in December is no big deal, then no you didn't go overboard.

[Anonymous]

OP here. It doesn't stretch us financially, but many of them were not a necessity or wish list.

They have Eddie Bauer jackets that still fit them but they really liked the LE coats when we went BF shopping so I bought them as a surprise. The GAP jackets were because I couldn't resist the price ($20 per jacket for something that can be worn in Spring too - one was a denim sherpa and the others were the packable kind).

The only things they actually needed were the long sleeved swim suits and the jeans

I like shopping sales and so I buy them something 3 or 4 times a year. I think I usually spend around $200 per kid in the winter but this year it doubled. They have grown and are also getting into brands. Here is what I got:

2 sweater dresses from gymboree - $50
1 dress and 1 cardigan from gymboree - $50
2 Gap jeans wide legged, 2 thin cargo pants, 2 slim jeans, 2 regular jeans - $200.
2 gap packable jackets and a denim jacket $60
4 LE jackets final sale - $110
2 LE and 2 GAP rash guard sets - $40
2 LE swimsuits - $10
1 LE athletic jacket - $10
2 adidas tracks, 4 adidas skorts, 1 adidas athletic jacket - $135
1 LE cardigan - $20
1 LE fleece jacket - $15
3 LE gloves - $15
2 LE fleece tunics - $10
2 gap shorts - $15
Some cheap pant sets and tops from Shein - $60

Out of all these, just the jeans and 2 rash guards are needed. An adidas track pants, adidas athletic jacket, 4 gymboree clothes, 1 LE jacket and 1 LE cardigan were wish list.

About $450 were either needed or wishlist.

Everything else was just because I couldn't resist buying for them and this is what my husband is angry about. He thinks I am spoiling them.

Hmm..writing this down makes me think I went overboard..

[Anonymous]

Ok your problem isn’t actually the clothes it’s that you have the kind of husband who gets angry about stuff like this. He was going to be mad no matter what you bought.

[Anonymous]

If it makes you feel better that’s roughly what I spent on our teen (closer to $500) and I didn’t get him anything practical except (yet another) hoodie.

We just have to federal salaries, so we aren’t rich, either. It’s Christmas! I like spoiling my kid this time of year.

[Anonymous]

Perfectly fine.

[Anonymous]

I think $400 is a lot to spend on clothes per kid personally. But every family is different.
My tween wants a $200 Nike tech suit, she’s not getting it.

[Anonymous]

Give him a list and let him go shopping next time.

[Anonymous]

Way too may things and I doubt this was your first time. Also, seems like you greatly enjoyed shopping. No wonder he is upset.
It's hard not to want nice things for kids. By the time mine turned 8, I got most of the stuff second hand or on super sale. He leaves the stuff all over the school playground. My kids don't care for clothes and I could not present them as presents.
I'm and immigrant who grew up in a cold climate during times when clothes were hard to come by. Most who did, joke about it now. Only a few were affected enough to shop in order to make up for it.

[Anonymous]

Each of your kids doesn’t need 3-4 jackets.
SHEIN is absolutely awful, stop shopping there.

If you don’t need something don’t buy it just because it’s on sale. Sales come every year.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

Yes, this is not the first time, but given it's Christmas thought it would be fine.

I do enjoy shopping for my kids.

PP you're right. They don't need this many jackets even if it's on sale. I think I will return some of the Adidas stuff and 4 of the jackets and 2 rash guards.

Shein stuff I bought is past return date. I know it's crap but one of my kids loves choosing the styles from Shein. Tbh, some of it does look cute and trendy even if the material is crap. I am not putting everything under the tree and have been giving them some to wear as early Christmas presents. She has been wearing those Shein clothes so many times.

[Anonymous]

Also to the Pp who said give him a list and let him go shopping, I think I really should do that so he becomes aware of how much kids clothes cost these days, especially the branded stuff. To the one kid who is getting into brands, I told her I would give her $150 each for winter and summer next year and she can spend it on what she wants but that's all the clothes she gets for the year. Hope I can stick to that.

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand these budgets. Even at a place like Marshall’s you’re only going to get about four items for $100. How is a clothing budget of $150 reasonable?

[Anonymous]

I’m calling Troll

[Anonymous]

Op here. Unfortunately not a troll. I love sales and clearance shopping but I overspend on unwanted stuff because I get good deals.