What is your kids' clothing budget...

[Anonymous]

This is a bit of a sore point with DH...we don't have a budget per se, but I always get things on sale. Mix of some Boden and Hanna, Janie and Jack, Gymboree, Gap, Old Navy, Children's Place, etc. I think after a brief period purchasing nicer things at the first three places I mentioned (in the hopes of being able to resell things later) I am going to retrench in favor of Old Navy and Target.

On a separate note, where are these thrift shops???? I live in N Arlington and have never ever seen one...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HHI $150K, 4yo DD. Disclaimer: I grew up wearing hand me downs and hated it. My parents could have afforded to shop, but were very thrifty and practical and didn't put a lot of thought or time into wardrobe since clothes were supposed to be practical & functional, not a personal expression. (I can see either side, I just felt the way I felt as did they.) As soon as I had independent money as a kid, I spent it on clothes because I hated not feeling like I looked nice.

For dressing DD, I don't go crazy with shopping, but buy things that suit her. We don't buy more than she will reasonably wear in regular circulation, but I do make sure that she has choices, and now that she's slowing down in growth a bit some things can be re-used another year. It doesn't bother me if she plays in "nice" clothes - I haven't yet met a stain that I can't get out, and she's not particularly rough & tumble so any rips or catches are rare and happen in the least expensive part of her outfit, her leggings.

I tend to wait for online sales since they seem to happen weekly on many of the places we shop - gap, mini boden, garnet hill kids, and some HA. We've gotten some really cute things from Zulily too where "designer" items sell for less than half of what they cost on their brand sites. I spend probably $2000/year on clothing & shoes for her.

That sounds like a lot for a 4 year old. I don't know whether I spend 2000 on myself and I make more money than you do. And I shop a lot!
But I know what you are saying about feeling deprived of not having good clothes. So I can understand that this is a priority for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you shop at tea, boden, etc. HHI 275k, different genders so no hand me downs. Thanks!

We have a HHI of $400k+, but buy nearly 100% of all items used from thrift stores. The max I'd pay for an item would be maybe $4-$5 for a coat. Everything else would be $1 and nothing more. My son looks as cute as can be in his $.80 Gymboree skeleton pjs that were brand new at the thrift store with their 75% off Halloween items as he would if he were wearing Xmas pjs. I figure one day they will HAVE to have this or that shoe/brand, but for now (age 6.5 for boy and 9 for girl) it works for us. So no budget per se but rather we don't buy any piece of non outerwear clothing that is more than $1 an item. I don't buy what I don't need - so cute or not I won't be getting shirts if we have shirts.

Oh - and we also try to resell our clothing for dirt cheap when we outgrow it (so maybe $.50/item) or $20 for an entire wardrobe and put it towards the next things we need. I just spend $5 on a brand new (tag on) ski suit for my 9 year old and I didn't even want to spend that on it for something used just on occasion. I figured if I didn't buy it now, however, if I waited until I needed it, I'd be spending $50+.

I remember this poster, she buys used undies. Trash.

I haven't posted before so you couldn't "remember" me. I don't buy used underwear, actually. Underwear and shoes are always new. I often buy socks new too, only because I can't find them used on most occasions. Think what you want, but I figure my kids will be much happier one day when I present them with college - and grad school, if they like - fully paid for. I'm not dissing you for your choices, so why dis me for mine? I will have no issue paying hundreds for a prom dress, but that will be a rare thing because we do want to prioritize things like retirement and college, over other things like clothing for our kids. Mine look no different from yours. Son is in Gymboree cords today with a Janie and Jack long sleeved shirt. He has a Gymboree coat on as well. My daughter has on her North Face coat over her Nordstrom dress. Trash? I think not.

I don't care wear you buy your children's clothing or how much you spend, but it's incredibly disingenuous (and obtuse) to pretend that with a HHI of $400K+ it's the children's clothing that makes a difference when it comes to college savings.

Not that PP, but I get what they're saying. If you have two kids, and by shopping like this you're spending $700/year per kid rather than $2000 like some people were describing, that's an extra $2,600 per year you're saving. You do this in a few other areas of life, like taking less expensive vacations and not dropping a fortune on birthdays and Christmas, and you can get a substantial portion of the way toward fully funding your kids' college funds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you shop at tea, boden, etc. HHI 275k, different genders so no hand me downs. Thanks!

We have a HHI of $400k+, but buy nearly 100% of all items used from thrift stores. The max I'd pay for an item would be maybe $4-$5 for a coat. Everything else would be $1 and nothing more. My son looks as cute as can be in his $.80 Gymboree skeleton pjs that were brand new at the thrift store with their 75% off Halloween items as he would if he were wearing Xmas pjs. I figure one day they will HAVE to have this or that shoe/brand, but for now (age 6.5 for boy and 9 for girl) it works for us. So no budget per se but rather we don't buy any piece of non outerwear clothing that is more than $1 an item. I don't buy what I don't need - so cute or not I won't be getting shirts if we have shirts.

Oh - and we also try to resell our clothing for dirt cheap when we outgrow it (so maybe $.50/item) or $20 for an entire wardrobe and put it towards the next things we need. I just spend $5 on a brand new (tag on) ski suit for my 9 year old and I didn't even want to spend that on it for something used just on occasion. I figured if I didn't buy it now, however, if I waited until I needed it, I'd be spending $50+.

I remember this poster, she buys used undies. Trash.

I haven't posted before so you couldn't "remember" me. I don't buy used underwear, actually. Underwear and shoes are always new. I often buy socks new too, only because I can't find them used on most occasions. Think what you want, but I figure my kids will be much happier one day when I present them with college - and grad school, if they like - fully paid for. I'm not dissing you for your choices, so why dis me for mine? I will have no issue paying hundreds for a prom dress, but that will be a rare thing because we do want to prioritize things like retirement and college, over other things like clothing for our kids. Mine look no different from yours. Son is in Gymboree cords today with a Janie and Jack long sleeved shirt. He has a Gymboree coat on as well. My daughter has on her North Face coat over her Nordstrom dress. Trash? I think not.

I don't care wear you buy your children's clothing or how much you spend, but it's incredibly disingenuous (and obtuse) to pretend that with a HHI of $400K+ it's the children's clothing that makes a difference when it comes to college savings.

Not that PP, but I get what they're saying. If you have two kids, and by shopping like this you're spending $700/year per kid rather than $2000 like some people were describing, that's an extra $2,600 per year you're saving. You do this in a few other areas of life, like taking less expensive vacations and not dropping a fortune on birthdays and Christmas, and you can get a substantial portion of the way toward fully funding your kids' college funds.

But it's not even $700: it's $1 per item, and the horror of paying more than $5/coat. I'm not debating the value of being thrifty in some areas to focus on others. I buy none of my children's clothing at full price; the majority is either consignment stores/sales or deeply discounted Tea (which I love, but will only buy cheaply). We don't take lavish vacations or shower our kids with gifts.

But that wasn't my point. My point was that someone with a very high HHI can save fully for college because of that high HHI, not because of a few thousand dollars here or there. I mean, there are actually people who *need* to buy clothing that cheaply because they can't actually afford otherwise. That point seems utterly lost.

[Anonymous]

I spend probably more than I should because kids clothes are a real luxury that I really enjoy. I buy boden, crewcuts, gap, ralph lauren, children's place 90% on sale, but sometimes I pay full price for something special. The kids also both get dress and regular shoes new, and I will pay up to $50 for those.

I don't buy many clothes for myself, not into bags or going out to dinner etc. Our vacations are points-based. But kids clothes I love. I figure my indulgence isn't too bad, relatively.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you shop at tea, boden, etc. HHI 275k, different genders so no hand me downs. Thanks!

We have a HHI of $400k+, but buy nearly 100% of all items used from thrift stores. The max I'd pay for an item would be maybe $4-$5 for a coat. Everything else would be $1 and nothing more. My son looks as cute as can be in his $.80 Gymboree skeleton pjs that were brand new at the thrift store with their 75% off Halloween items as he would if he were wearing Xmas pjs. I figure one day they will HAVE to have this or that shoe/brand, but for now (age 6.5 for boy and 9 for girl) it works for us. So no budget per se but rather we don't buy any piece of non outerwear clothing that is more than $1 an item. I don't buy what I don't need - so cute or not I won't be getting shirts if we have shirts.

Oh - and we also try to resell our clothing for dirt cheap when we outgrow it (so maybe $.50/item) or $20 for an entire wardrobe and put it towards the next things we need. I just spend $5 on a brand new (tag on) ski suit for my 9 year old and I didn't even want to spend that on it for something used just on occasion. I figured if I didn't buy it now, however, if I waited until I needed it, I'd be spending $50+.

I remember this poster, she buys used undies. Trash.

I haven't posted before so you couldn't "remember" me. I don't buy used underwear, actually. Underwear and shoes are always new. I often buy socks new too, only because I can't find them used on most occasions. Think what you want, but I figure my kids will be much happier one day when I present them with college - and grad school, if they like - fully paid for. I'm not dissing you for your choices, so why dis me for mine? I will have no issue paying hundreds for a prom dress, but that will be a rare thing because we do want to prioritize things like retirement and college, over other things like clothing for our kids. Mine look no different from yours. Son is in Gymboree cords today with a Janie and Jack long sleeved shirt. He has a Gymboree coat on as well. My daughter has on her North Face coat over her Nordstrom dress. Trash? I think not.

I don't care wear you buy your children's clothing or how much you spend, but it's incredibly disingenuous (and obtuse) to pretend that with a HHI of $400K+ it's the children's clothing that makes a difference when it comes to college savings.

Not that PP, but I get what they're saying. If you have two kids, and by shopping like this you're spending $700/year per kid rather than $2000 like some people were describing, that's an extra $2,600 per year you're saving. You do this in a few other areas of life, like taking less expensive vacations and not dropping a fortune on birthdays and Christmas, and you can get a substantial portion of the way toward fully funding your kids' college funds.

But it's not even $700: it's $1 per item, and the horror of paying more than $5/coat. I'm not debating the value of being thrifty in some areas to focus on others. I buy none of my children's clothing at full price; the majority is either consignment stores/sales or deeply discounted Tea (which I love, but will only buy cheaply). We don't take lavish vacations or shower our kids with gifts.

But that wasn't my point. My point was that someone with a very high HHI can save fully for college because of that high HHI, not because of a few thousand dollars here or there. I mean, there are actually people who *need* to buy clothing that cheaply because they can't actually afford otherwise. That point seems utterly lost.

I think you are missing the point, actually: savings in many different areas is a way to put that savings towards things like college and retirement without any pinch whatsoever. If we save $2,000/year on clothing x 2 kids x 18 years and then add to that the mid class cars we drive with no debt, the zero credit card liability, easily affordable mortgage for a modest size home, etc. things like college, retirement, etc. are easily affordable. So, no, cheap clothes alone won't pay for college but a mindset that allows one to be okay with used clothing that is cheap (only) is what will. And as for the poster who mentioned a mother who put her kid in used clothes that she hated, I would feel completely different if my kids hated the clothes. I wouldn't put them in rags or torn and tattered clothes to save a buck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hhi 170k. I don't track what we spend on the kids, but I primarily buy on sale for the next year for DD (5) from HA and just got my first order from Tea. I'd guess I spend 15-20 per item for her. For DS (3) I buy Osh Kosh on sale so probably spend 7-10 per item.

Same here, slightly higher HHI. But I have two girls -- when the second was born I started buying nicer stuff. Before age 3 it was a lot of old navy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you shop at tea, boden, etc. HHI 275k, different genders so no hand me downs. Thanks!

We have a HHI of $400k+, but buy nearly 100% of all items used from thrift stores. The max I'd pay for an item would be maybe $4-$5 for a coat. Everything else would be $1 and nothing more. My son looks as cute as can be in his $.80 Gymboree skeleton pjs that were brand new at the thrift store with their 75% off Halloween items as he would if he were wearing Xmas pjs. I figure one day they will HAVE to have this or that shoe/brand, but for now (age 6.5 for boy and 9 for girl) it works for us. So no budget per se but rather we don't buy any piece of non outerwear clothing that is more than $1 an item. I don't buy what I don't need - so cute or not I won't be getting shirts if we have shirts.

Oh - and we also try to resell our clothing for dirt cheap when we outgrow it (so maybe $.50/item) or $20 for an entire wardrobe and put it towards the next things we need. I just spend $5 on a brand new (tag on) ski suit for my 9 year old and I didn't even want to spend that on it for something used just on occasion. I figured if I didn't buy it now, however, if I waited until I needed it, I'd be spending $50+.

I remember this poster, she buys used undies. Trash.

I'm pretty sure with a HHI of 400k+, they can fully pay for education and buy new clothes... And buy/do lots of other things. There's a difference between cheap and frugal/saving wisely. I can safely say that with that income to spend $1/piece of used clothing is downright cheap.

I haven't posted before so you couldn't "remember" me. I don't buy used underwear, actually. Underwear and shoes are always new. I often buy socks new too, only because I can't find them used on most occasions. Think what you want, but I figure my kids will be much happier one day when I present them with college - and grad school, if they like - fully paid for. I'm not dissing you for your choices, so why dis me for mine? I will have no issue paying hundreds for a prom dress, but that will be a rare thing because we do want to prioritize things like retirement and college, over other things like clothing for our kids. Mine look no different from yours. Son is in Gymboree cords today with a Janie and Jack long sleeved shirt. He has a Gymboree coat on as well. My daughter has on her North Face coat over her Nordstrom dress. Trash? I think not.

I don't care wear you buy your children's clothing or how much you spend, but it's incredibly disingenuous (and obtuse) to pretend that with a HHI of $400K+ it's the children's clothing that makes a difference when it comes to college savings.

Not that PP, but I get what they're saying. If you have two kids, and by shopping like this you're spending $700/year per kid rather than $2000 like some people were describing, that's an extra $2,600 per year you're saving. You do this in a few other areas of life, like taking less expensive vacations and not dropping a fortune on birthdays and Christmas, and you can get a substantial portion of the way toward fully funding your kids' college funds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you shop at tea, boden, etc. HHI 275k, different genders so no hand me downs. Thanks!

We have a HHI of $400k+, but buy nearly 100% of all items used from thrift stores. The max I'd pay for an item would be maybe $4-$5 for a coat. Everything else would be $1 and nothing more. My son looks as cute as can be in his $.80 Gymboree skeleton pjs that were brand new at the thrift store with their 75% off Halloween items as he would if he were wearing Xmas pjs. I figure one day they will HAVE to have this or that shoe/brand, but for now (age 6.5 for boy and 9 for girl) it works for us. So no budget per se but rather we don't buy any piece of non outerwear clothing that is more than $1 an item. I don't buy what I don't need - so cute or not I won't be getting shirts if we have shirts.

Oh - and we also try to resell our clothing for dirt cheap when we outgrow it (so maybe $.50/item) or $20 for an entire wardrobe and put it towards the next things we need. I just spend $5 on a brand new (tag on) ski suit for my 9 year old and I didn't even want to spend that on it for something used just on occasion. I figured if I didn't buy it now, however, if I waited until I needed it, I'd be spending $50+.

I remember this poster, she buys used undies. Trash.

I haven't posted before so you couldn't "remember" me. I don't buy used underwear, actually. Underwear and shoes are always new. I often buy socks new too, only because I can't find them used on most occasions. Think what you want, but I figure my kids will be much happier one day when I present them with college - and grad school, if they like - fully paid for. I'm not dissing you for your choices, so why dis me for mine? I will have no issue paying hundreds for a prom dress, but that will be a rare thing because we do want to prioritize things like retirement and college, over other things like clothing for our kids. Mine look no different from yours. Son is in Gymboree cords today with a Janie and Jack long sleeved shirt. He has a Gymboree coat on as well. My daughter has on her North Face coat over her Nordstrom dress. Trash? I think not.

I don't care wear you buy your children's clothing or how much you spend, but it's incredibly disingenuous (and obtuse) to pretend that with a HHI of $400K+ it's the children's clothing that makes a difference when it comes to college savings.

Not that PP, but I get what they're saying. If you have two kids, and by shopping like this you're spending $700/year per kid rather than $2000 like some people were describing, that's an extra $2,600 per year you're saving. You do this in a few other areas of life, like taking less expensive vacations and not dropping a fortune on birthdays and Christmas, and you can get a substantial portion of the way toward fully funding your kids' college funds.

I'm pretty sure with a HHI of 400k+, they can fully pay for education and buy new clothes... And buy/do lots of other things. There's a difference between cheap and frugal/saving wisely. I can safely say that with that income to spend $1/piece of used clothing is downright cheap. She sounds like the lady who brings in her own cream cheese and bagel to panera bread to save a few bucks.

[Anonymous]

HHI over one million. Do all those with budgets have girls? We have only boys and most of the clothes come from Target. I'm not saying it's bad to enjoy kids' clothes as a hobby if you can afford it, I'm just wondering who does it.

[Anonymous]

I would also love recommendations for thrift stores in the area that carry the Boden, HA, Tea etc. stuff. I do the sales but would definitely like to check out consignment options if there are consistently good ones.

Also, has anyone checked out the HA outlet in Williamsburg or the Boden outlet in PA? Wondering how good those are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would also love recommendations for thrift stores in the area that carry the Boden, HA, Tea etc. stuff. I do the sales but would definitely like to check out consignment options if there are consistently good ones.

Also, has anyone checked out the HA outlet in Williamsburg or the Boden outlet in PA? Wondering how good those are.

OP here. I've seen things on eBay like this, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tea-Collection/281546825243?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131003132420%26meid%3D009b5de06d95482e83853dbc9bb718c4%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D20131003132420%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D281546823265&rt=nc

But honestly I usually buy brand new tea dresses for between 12-17 bucks, so I don't think buying used is worth it. Same with boden and ha. I got ha pjs for 18 and they should last at least a year.

[Anonymous]

Thrift store shopper here: I like Unique thrift store, They have 25% off on Mondays for everyone and Thursdays for members.
The one in Silver Spring has a value village attached to it as well so you can shop in both.
Prices on kids stuff is generally $2-$5 ( regular price)

You have to take the time to go through all the clothes, I have got a lot of Gap, HA and Gymboree from there. I have not seen Tea or Boden that I can recall.
There is a consignment shop in Fulton ( Howard Co) called Mcadoodle consignment that does sell all the name brands.

To the PP in Arlington, There is a Unique in Falls Church, although I have never been to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm from a mid-sized city in the Midwest. When I go home to visit, I can buy much cheaper kids' clother at the local thrift stores and Once Upon a Child. I just went today to a thrift store where kids' clothes were all $1-2/piece BEFORE the 50% off sale.

Compare that to Unique trying to charget $5 for a used onedie or pajamas.

Funny, I'm also from a mid-sized Midwestern city and do the exact same thing. Frugal Midwesterners, I guess...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HHI over one million. Do all those with budgets have girls? We have only boys and most of the clothes come from Target. I'm not saying it's bad to enjoy kids' clothes as a hobby if you can afford it, I'm just wondering who does it.

?