Yikes! Kids are expensive!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what are you envisioning here. Your daughter can't repeat a bathing suit during spring break? She can't even wear the same rash guard twice? Athleta girl has some very cute two pieces that are actually reversible -- two suits in one.

The fact that you can afford it is irrelevant -- this is just being dumb with money and also teaching your daughter to be dumb with money. She's goign to be a 25 yr old blowing her entire paycheck on clothes because no one ever taught her how to budget properly (while still getting cute things she likes! there's very little sacrifice here).

Kids ARE expensive, but I assumed this post was going to be about the cost of braces, a special needs therapy for which no one takes insurance, or having to buy a new wardrobe for a kid who shot up 3 inches in a year or something. If you are experiencing sticker shock here, just wait until you actually HAVE to spend money on your kid for something a lot less fun than a new swimsuit for vacation.

Please - you've never indulged your kids in some frivolous way? I doubt that very much. These will be what she wears for the next two or three summers. I'm happy for her to have options she's chosen. She's sacrificed plenty in the name of not being financially wasteful, and I am not worried about her being careful with money as an adult.

I've indulged my kids in lots of frivolous ways. What I don't then do is go on the internet to complain about how expensive "kids" are because I spent $80 at a fancy ice cream place or bought my DD a ridiculously cute but expensive Easter dress from Maisonette. I get these are choices I make because I do like to indulge my kids from time to time, and not just how much things cost.

(By the way, after spending over $100 on an incredibly cute Easter dress for DD last year, this year she picked out a dress for $15 from TJ Max because she was obsessed with the matching hat and purse -- she obviously doesn't really need a new dress because last year's still fits, but it is making her SO happy I couldn't resist. So indulging your kids does not always mean buying them the absolute most expensive version of something, and buying a ton of it. I could "afford" to buy her a bunch of dresses at this price point but... why?)

It seems this is a misunderstanding. I was not complaining. As I've said, we can afford this. It was more marveling. I don't regularly spend this much on the girls. Sorry you all took it in a negative way.

Oh please. Your title is "kids are expensive.' but that isn't what this is about. Anyone can choose to spend a lot on something (when there are obvious ways for it to be cheaper) and then say "X is expensive." So yeah people are pointing out the nonsensical disconnect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you thought you were starting a cute little conversation, but, as usual, the DCUM harpies smelled blood and attacked.

You should consider asking that this thread be taken down.

I know, right? Give the OP a break! She’s never bought kids bathing suits before. I sometimes am shocked at the end price when I bring a bunch of stuff to a cashier, it just adds up so quickly.

But Athleta is overpriced and boring. Maaji has really cute swimsuits for girls, Billabong is cute too and these are similarly priced as Athleta. Athleta is too basic to pay those prices.

OP has a long 10 years ahead of her. Better to learn early not to be an idiot. Or at not complain about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what are you envisioning here. Your daughter can't repeat a bathing suit during spring break? She can't even wear the same rash guard twice? Athleta girl has some very cute two pieces that are actually reversible -- two suits in one.

The fact that you can afford it is irrelevant -- this is just being dumb with money and also teaching your daughter to be dumb with money. She's goign to be a 25 yr old blowing her entire paycheck on clothes because no one ever taught her how to budget properly (while still getting cute things she likes! there's very little sacrifice here).

Kids ARE expensive, but I assumed this post was going to be about the cost of braces, a special needs therapy for which no one takes insurance, or having to buy a new wardrobe for a kid who shot up 3 inches in a year or something. If you are experiencing sticker shock here, just wait until you actually HAVE to spend money on your kid for something a lot less fun than a new swimsuit for vacation.

Please - you've never indulged your kids in some frivolous way? I doubt that very much. These will be what she wears for the next two or three summers. I'm happy for her to have options she's chosen. She's sacrificed plenty in the name of not being financially wasteful, and I am not worried about her being careful with money as an adult.

WTF does this mean in the context of an 8yo? Wearing a few hand-me-downs is not a sacrifice if they are in good condition etc.

OP, you are an idiot. We have a high HHI, my DD has a ton of hand-me-downs, and she has 3 swimsuits. Two nice ones for parties and vacations, and one less expensive one for indoor pool lessons. They cost $100 in total.

It means that about 90% of her clothes and shoes are hand-me-downs. It means when she wanted to take ballet but a cousin handed down tap shoes, she agreed to take tap. I could give more examples, but you'll all find fault with anything I say. Apparently because I did one big thing for one of my children once, you've decided I'm a horrible person.

90% of her clothes are hand me downs? That is so weird and sad if you can afford to buy her new things. Also, items of clothing that touch ones genitalia should not be worn as a hand me down. Again, so weird and gross. You should have been buying her her own reasonably priced swimwear this whole time. Do you make her wear hand me down undies too??

Are you 12? Whatever hotel you stay at you can guarantee those towels have “touched genitalia “. What is wrong with you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All DD8's swimsuits are hand-me-downs from older cousins that she's been wearing for two years. In preparation for our spring break trip I just had her try them on and they're all way too small. So we are getting her: 3 one pieces, two rash guards, and two tankinis (two pieces that aren't bikinis?). $348. I am in sticker-shock!

We can afford it, and this is literally the first time I'm buying her swimsuits in her life and she's at the small end of the size range of what she's getting so all combined, it's fine. But I had no idea they could be so expensive!

But also ... they're not that expensive if you've only spent $348 in 8 years. They cost of kids isn't measured in one purchase.

[Anonymous]

Yeah you should choose your audience better. I don’t complain about the cost of hockey to non hockey parents. We chose it, knew going in was expensive and other parents will just say wow we wouldn’t spend that. Other hockey parents will get your pain, goalie parents will one up your pain. You should have complained to another mom friend who also spends ridiculous amounts on kids clothing.

[Anonymous]

We have 1 swim set and we bought them at Walmart. Life is about choices.

[Anonymous]

13 bucks

https://www.nordstromrack.com/s/7768827?color=532

[Anonymous]

Op do you understand how tone deaf you sound? You are privileged enough to have nice hand me downs from family, but can also afford expensive swim suits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You need, AT MOST, two swimsuits, in the event one of them doesn't dry in time for the next day. You rinse swimsuits after each use, to get bleach or salt out, but you don't need to wash them with detergent. You hang them to dry (hence why you need two unless you dry them in the sun).

Also, OP, state college is $30K a year today, total cost of attendance. My son's private uni is $85K a year. Costs are only going to go up. Other costs, haphazardly: $90/lesson for music lessons or tutoring (which went up to $200/hr for AP and SAT/ACT test prep for my kid in high school). You can also get a cheap online tutor from a lower COL state, if you want, just like you can buy two swimsuits. Public school is free with taxes, private can go up to 70K a year, with donations and fees.

It's all relative

All of this. We have an only and are doting and I absolutely indulge my kid. But even with plenty of money and only one kid to buy for, we are strategic and think big picture.

Also, if you get in the habit of going overboard like this all the time, it absolutely will start losing its charm for your kid and will simply become an expectation. You will wind up with the kid (or kids) who complain because you're going on vacation and even though their old swimsuits all still fit, you are not purchasing a brand new "swim wardrobe" for them. Being more strategic and limited with indulgences will help your kid see them as the treat they are, and not just the way the world works. Good luck with that.

As I already posted, this is the FIRST TIME IN HER LIFE she's gotten to pick out swimsuits. This is not a habit. And I think I mentioned in the OP that none of her swimsuits fit anymore. This is literally the first time I've indulged her with clothes this way.

So then … you deduced that kids are expensive from this one time? Ok then.

[Anonymous]

Only read the first page but I don’t get all the people suggesting OP is wrong they kids are expensive because she could have saved some money buying cheaper suits.

Kids are so expensive. 8 is when it starts. Wait until middle and high school. Wait until college.

[Anonymous]

Ha. Kids are expensive their whole lives. It doesn't start at 8. Most people buy their children completely new wardrobes every 6 months because they outgrow a them and you can usually do that with $350 if you shop smart and in sale (this includes swim suits, shirts, pants undies, socks etc.) So yeah in gonna side with the other posters that this original post is rediculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ha. Kids are expensive their whole lives. It doesn't start at 8. Most people buy their children completely new wardrobes every 6 months because they outgrow a them and you can usually do that with $350 if you shop smart and in sale (this includes swim suits, shirts, pants undies, socks etc.) So yeah in gonna side with the other posters that this original post is rediculous.

You are missing the point. When your kids are little, you can shop smart and on sale, by buying things at Target or from previous seasons or whatever. When your kids enter 4th, 5th, 6th, they start to reject those purchases. By middle school they pick their own clothes. In middle and high school if you are saving money on your kids’ clothes when you can afford not to, you are probably doing them a disservice. You will see.

OP was correctly noting the change from having little kids who wear what you buy them to an older tween girl who starts to want what her friends have. Different ballgame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ha. Kids are expensive their whole lives. It doesn't start at 8. Most people buy their children completely new wardrobes every 6 months because they outgrow a them and you can usually do that with $350 if you shop smart and in sale (this includes swim suits, shirts, pants undies, socks etc.) So yeah in gonna side with the other posters that this original post is rediculous.

You are missing the point. When your kids are little, you can shop smart and on sale, by buying things at Target or from previous seasons or whatever. When your kids enter 4th, 5th, 6th, they start to reject those purchases. By middle school they pick their own clothes. In middle and high school if you are saving money on your kids’ clothes when you can afford not to, you are probably doing them a disservice. You will see.

OP was correctly noting the change from having little kids who wear what you buy them to an older tween girl who starts to want what her friends have. Different ballgame.

Oh, honey.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only read the first page but I don’t get all the people suggesting OP is wrong they kids are expensive because she could have saved some money buying cheaper suits.

Kids are so expensive. 8 is when it starts. Wait until middle and high school. Wait until college.

Not always true. My biggest cost is food. My kids want nothing. The older one can be mistaken for a homeless dude.
His backpack is broken and he had an old Sumsung phone for the longest time. He doesn't want new clothes or new anything.
He has my CC for food when out and about and even that is used max $40 a month.
The younger one has one activity which costs $15 an hour few times a week.
There was a time when buying few expensive thing made me feel warm and fuzzy, but since the boys didn't care, I stopped.
Nos spending money makes me warm and fuzzy now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ha. Kids are expensive their whole lives. It doesn't start at 8. Most people buy their children completely new wardrobes every 6 months because they outgrow a them and you can usually do that with $350 if you shop smart and in sale (this includes swim suits, shirts, pants undies, socks etc.) So yeah in gonna side with the other posters that this original post is rediculous.

You are missing the point. When your kids are little, you can shop smart and on sale, by buying things at Target or from previous seasons or whatever. When your kids enter 4th, 5th, 6th, they start to reject those purchases. By middle school they pick their own clothes. [/b]In middle and high school if you are saving money on your kids’ clothes when you can afford not to, you are probably doing them a disservice. You will see. [b]

OP was correctly noting the change from having little kids who wear what you buy them to an older tween girl who starts to want what her friends have. Different ballgame.

A disservice? Really?