How much do you spend per kid per year on clothing?

[Anonymous]

No idea. No time to keep track. No extra time to spend on shopping at thrift stores or whatever.

We buy pretty inexpensive stuff to start - mostly Carter's and Gap which always has sales. Some primary and other things in the mix.

[Anonymous]

Almost nothing other than $150ish dollars total and a few random shirts for shoes a couple times a year for our 9 year old. We get hand me down clothes from his nephews, but I am particular about him having new shoes as he has a pronation issue.

Several hundred dollars for my 4-year old. Don't get hand me downs for her unless I get lucky with being first in line for someone giving them away on MOTH, etc. Shop at Carters, Taret, Gap sales, to maximize number of items we can get for cheap.

[Anonymous]

I usually do two big purchases a year:

1) Around September for Winter/back to school clothes -- (usually about 150 on clothes, maybe 50 on new sneakers and 50 on a new coat -- so let's say 250? ) -- i usually try to purchase during 4th or july or Labor Day sales
2) Another big purchase in the spring (whenever I see a sale pop up) -- this usually includes summer clothes, sandals, a replacement pair of sneakers and a new bathing suit - I'd guess another 250

So maybe $500 (but there are some things I am forgetting like cleats or other one off items)

that is for my oldest, my younger mostly exist off hand be downs from my oldest (both boys) and then I supplement or replace as needed

[Anonymous]

I just did this calculation because my older daughter asked to manage her own clothing budget. We gave her a starting budget of $200/month. This includes everything except uniforms and technical sporting clothes (like ski wear). I don't know how people here budget so little. We are not extravagant in any capacity. Also, I see what her friends wear and I know they have larger more expensive wardrobes.

People who say they spend under $1000/year for the whole family must not be counting everything or are very ragged. I suppose maybe it can be done if you shop thrift stores. In which case, you are literally buying our ragged clothes.

[Anonymous]

No idea, but I’ll try to make some guesses. Two tween/teen boys.

Not much on regular clothes, they are both happy with whatever we find from Target, Dick’s, or Old Navy. Probably a couple hundred per kid. Our big spenders are:
- Shoes - 1-2 pairs of adult men’s sneakers each year, plus winter boots, dress shoes, and cleats for one kid if that counts toward clothes. So probably $300-400 per kid just in shoes.
- Winter coat, rain jacket - they last a couple years now, so not too bad. Maybe another $100 on average.
- One decent dress outfit, might last a second year but usually gets outgrown. $100-200 per kid.
- Swimsuits, hats, gloves, long underwear, PJs / lounge pants all add up to another $100-200 per kid depending on what needs to be replaced that year.

So I guess it all adds up to something like $1K per kid per year??

[Anonymous]

No idea, but probably not that much, might have to start with a teen though. I always shopped clearance ahead of time and usually spend no more than a few dollars on each item, $10-15 jacket and $10-20 for shoes, all new.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just did this calculation because my older daughter asked to manage her own clothing budget. We gave her a starting budget of $200/month. This includes everything except uniforms and technical sporting clothes (like ski wear). I don't know how people here budget so little. We are not extravagant in any capacity. Also, I see what her friends wear and I know they have larger more expensive wardrobes.

People who say they spend under $1000/year for the whole family must not be counting everything or are very ragged. I suppose maybe it can be done if you shop thrift stores. In which case, you are literally buying our ragged clothes.

For younger kids in elementary school, you can find clothes for $5-10 a piece. If second hand or thrift, even less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just did this calculation because my older daughter asked to manage her own clothing budget. We gave her a starting budget of $200/month. This includes everything except uniforms and technical sporting clothes (like ski wear). I don't know how people here budget so little. We are not extravagant in any capacity. Also, I see what her friends wear and I know they have larger more expensive wardrobes.

People who say they spend under $1000/year for the whole family must not be counting everything or are very ragged. I suppose maybe it can be done if you shop thrift stores. In which case, you are literally buying our ragged clothes.

Thank you for your ragged clothes. Appreciate if you don't use scented detergent. Takes 4-5 washes to get that out so that I can wear clothes without allergic reaction. As they say, beggars can't be choosers - but I figure we can ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just did this calculation because my older daughter asked to manage her own clothing budget. We gave her a starting budget of $200/month. This includes everything except uniforms and technical sporting clothes (like ski wear). I don't know how people here budget so little. We are not extravagant in any capacity. Also, I see what her friends wear and I know they have larger more expensive wardrobes.

People who say they spend under $1000/year for the whole family must not be counting everything or are very ragged. I suppose maybe it can be done if you shop thrift stores. In which case, you are literally buying our ragged clothes.

It's very easy if you watch what you spend and buy on clearance/sale. There is no way I'd give a kid 2400 a year plus uniforms and other clothing. That's extravagant. Some of us don't care about extensive wardrobes. That is the difference.

[Anonymous]

We have three kids and buy a combination of new and used at pop-up kid consignment sales that specialize in nicer/higher quality clothes. This consignment sale happens maybe two or three times a year, and I purchase a ticket to go before it’s open to the public and often I find brand new clothes with tags. I have gotten new Lands’ End, L.L. Bean, Patagonia and North Face jackets at $8-$15 each - and this ranges from young kid to teen sizes. I am fairly particular about what I purchase, but if I can buy a nicer quality item that is new or almost new, I am thrilled. We could afford all new, but I love finding a bargain, and because I have not spent much money, I do not feel guilty if it’s an item that my kid does not love or wear very often (though usually they are happy with what I find). To the PP’s point about bedbugs, I hear you. That is a huge fear of mine, so, as soon as I purchase anything from the sales, I wash it and blast it on high heat for a few minutes. In terms of what we spend annually, it is hard to really calculate, but typically, we buy on an as-needed basis, and I feel good about the amounts we spend.

[Anonymous]

Not sure, I don’t track but we buy new things when they grow out of stuff or the shoes are too worn or damaged. Usually have to supplement the wardrobes every fall and spring with some items for colder and warmer weather. For my DD I get a few Stitchfix shipments a year and that’s where we get the majority of her new clothes from. So easy because she just keeps what she likes and we send the rest back.

[Anonymous]

I just did this calculation because my older daughter asked to manage her own clothing budget. We gave her a starting budget of $200/month. This includes everything except uniforms and technical sporting clothes (like ski wear). I don't know how people here budget so little. We are not extravagant in any capacity. Also, I see what her friends wear and I know they have larger more expensive wardrobes.

People who say they spend under $1000/year for the whole family must not be counting everything or are very ragged. I suppose maybe it can be done if you shop thrift stores. In which case, you are literally buying our ragged clothes.

I have three teen girls, and we spend about the same. Of course this depends on what a family can afford - but shoes alone for adult sizes (running shoes, sneakers, boots, sandals, flip flops, etc) cost a small fortune.

[Anonymous]

Probably $1000/kid. I live in a modest house and work at a job that is mind numbingly boring but pays well. It's my not-so-guilty pleasure to buy clothes for my little girls. Sometimes it's Jack and Janie, sometimes it's Carter's, but we don't buy at thrift stores. Hand-me-downs from sister to sister are fine, though they are usually the wrong season because of their being 4 1/2 years apart.

[Anonymous]

I think it's funny that 90% of these responders' kid only wear hand-me-downs.

There must be a DCUM board 2.0 elsewhere where all their friends and family are buying clothing for their kids. Because clearly the hand-me-down givers are buying clothing.

[Anonymous]

Maybe $300/year. Mostly hand me downs, but shoes are expensive and we top off hand me downs with other stuff. Hand me downs include coats etc, that helps