Clothing budget for family

[Anonymous]

I generally buy twice a year for me (sort of seasonally, since we have two clothes seasons) and fill in what I need. I do not work in an office- so I do not need a working wardrobe. I am not a fashion plate. I spend $200-$300 each time. Plus another $300 on walking shoes each year.

We probably spend about $500-$1000 per year in total on the two teenage boys- depending on their growth spurts and their clothing choices. DH spends about $1000 per year all inclusive. His work is business casual- so he gets away with one suit for the occasional meeting- which lasts for years. He buys 3-4 pairs of chino/dockers and 3-4 oxfords each year- plus 3 pairs of running shoes.

We don't really have a budget for clothes, we just buy what we need. I usually buy from the sale rack at Talbots or online at LLBean and Lands End. The boys are LLBean, Land End (at Sears) and the NFL store (that is usually part of a birthday or holiday present). DH is also mainly LL Bean or Lands End online. We buy our sneakers/running/walking shoes at Potomac River Running. DH and I and now eldest DC buy a pair of shores from Clark's every year or so. If we have a themed thing we are seeking - like Hawaiian or wear color of the HS day, we go to Goodwill or a thrift store first.

We seem to get free t shirts all the time and wear those for work outs with inexpensive shorts from Target.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am trying to come up with a budget as I currently spend too much.

I have a spouse and two teen bits aged 15 and 13.
What would be appropriate for a total clothing budget including shoes and jackets for the four of us?
What do you spend?
Currently I average 300-400 a month and I don't even feel we dress that well.

We spend at least that much and it would be hard to spend less because of sports. My 13 & 15 year old DCs play 4 sports between them and the shoes plus the gear are expensive. They also need dress up clothes for church and bar mitzvahs (they attend a largely Jewish school and my 13 year old had over 20 bar mitzvahs last year with more to come). My teens are similar in size and both growing quickly so things can't be passed between them anymore. These years are much more expensive then when they were younger and I hope that the cost goes down as soon as their growth spurts end. It may just be one of those things where costs spike for a few years and then go down.

[Anonymous]

My dd just wanted new shorts. It is expensive even at target

[Anonymous]

I'm guessing we easily spend $5-7,000 a year on clothes for our family of 5 (two teens and one college young adult, who buys some of his own clothes at this point). Thankfully, I work in a business casual office and DH works from home, or our clothing budget would be much higher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm guessing we spend no more than $1000 for a family of 4. My kids are young and get most of their clothes as presents, and we don't shop that often. The expensive stuff are their shoes, coats, and my occasional mk bag.

Per month or year?

Per year.

I just checked our expenses. For this year so far we've spent $623 and that includes a $200+ bag, two pairs of dance shoes, 3 pairs of striderites, and some random clothes. Both of our jobs are fairly casual and we only wear suits on rare occasions. Honestly I don't replace my clothes unless there's a reason to, so I'm not sure why ppl need several new pants and shirts every year. My used ones look good as new.

[Anonymous]

We are a family of 4 and spend probably $1200-$1500 a year on clothes. My boys (8 and 5) wear Old Navy, Children's Place, and Target mainly. My younger one wears mainly hand-me-downs from his brother. They are too hard on clothes and grow to fast to invest much in their wardrobes.

DH works in IT and wears mostly khakis, jeans, and polos. He has one suit for the rare occasions it's required.

I wear a business casual wardrobe for work and buy mainly consignment (liketwice.com is my fav.) and hit the big sales.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am trying to come up with a budget as I currently spend too much.

I have a spouse and two teen bits aged 15 and 13.
What would be appropriate for a total clothing budget including shoes and jackets for the four of us?
What do you spend?
Currently I average 300-400 a month and I don't even feel we dress that well.

We have two teens also and spend more than you do. I spend $500 just on athletic shoes for the kids. I admit that I spent about $3,000 just on me for clothes, shoes and bags.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm guessing we spend no more than $1000 for a family of 4. My kids are young and get most of their clothes as presents, and we don't shop that often. The expensive stuff are their shoes, coats, and my occasional mk bag.

Per month or year?

Per year.

I just checked our expenses. For this year so far we've spent $623 and that includes a $200+ bag, two pairs of dance shoes, 3 pairs of striderites, and some random clothes. Both of our jobs are fairly casual and we only wear suits on rare occasions. Honestly I don't replace my clothes unless there's a reason to, so I'm not sure why ppl need several new pants and shirts every year. My used ones look good as new.

I work in a law firm.

[Anonymous]

The average American household spends about 3.8% of their income on clothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The average American household spends about 3.8% of their income on clothing.

Gross or net?

[Anonymous]

I spend very little. The kids' clothing is nearly all free (hand me downs from older cousins or neighbors). I probably buy each child an item from a thrift store every 1-2 months. I would only buy it if we needed it (i.e. might be a raincoat, or bathing suit) for $2-$5 each item. I probably spend $20/month on myself also at second hand stores. My DH spends a great deal more on himself but he has plenty of thrift store items if I find out ahead of time what he needs and I'm out and happen to see it. Brands are all high end (both the free and second hand - and new): Brooks Brothers, Tommy Bahama, Nike, Speedo, Gymboree, etc.

Approximation: myself: $20

Kids: $3

DH: $150

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I spend very little. The kids' clothing is nearly all free (hand me downs from older cousins or neighbors). I probably buy each child an item from a thrift store every 1-2 months. I would only buy it if we needed it (i.e. might be a raincoat, or bathing suit) for $2-$5 each item. I probably spend $20/month on myself also at second hand stores. My DH spends a great deal more on himself but he has plenty of thrift store items if I find out ahead of time what he needs and I'm out and happen to see it. Brands are all high end (both the free and second hand - and new): Brooks Brothers, Tommy Bahama, Nike, Speedo, Gymboree, etc.

Approximation: myself: $20

Kids: $3

DH: $150

I'd rather buy new.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The average American household spends about 3.8% of their income on clothing.

Gross or net?

Gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I spend very little. The kids' clothing is nearly all free (hand me downs from older cousins or neighbors). I probably buy each child an item from a thrift store every 1-2 months. I would only buy it if we needed it (i.e. might be a raincoat, or bathing suit) for $2-$5 each item. I probably spend $20/month on myself also at second hand stores. My DH spends a great deal more on himself but he has plenty of thrift store items if I find out ahead of time what he needs and I'm out and happen to see it. Brands are all high end (both the free and second hand - and new): Brooks Brothers, Tommy Bahama, Nike, Speedo, Gymboree, etc.

Approximation: myself: $20

Kids: $3

DH: $150

I can see the pecking order in your house.

[Anonymous]

I spend probably between 750-1000 a year for myself. I haven't had to buy a coat or shoes or a swimsuit in a few years or it would be higher. I typically spend 300 on jeans/ capris maybe 400 on tops and the rest pjs and under garments.