Similar HHI and spending patterns as you, OP, but also no fixed budget. I basically buy on an as-needed and, honestly, as-wanted basis. I'd bet that if I added it up -- including footwear, outerwear, and activity-specific clothes (bathing suits, leotards, etc.) -- it'd be around $3000.

HHI is around $200. I have a boy and a girl and don't have a budget for their clothes. Their shirts/dresses/sweaters are mostly Tea and Boden purchased almost exclusively on sale and a little bit of Gap and Old Navy. Pants and leggings are mostly Gap, Old Navy, and Target with the occasional Tea or Boden. PJs are about 50% Hanna and 50% Carter's. DS has plenty of clothes but not too much. DD has way too many clothes. And she just turned 3.

HHI is 400k and my budget for our 5 and 8 year old is 2,520. I have no clue why I made it that specific last year, but I am carrying the number over or 2015.

Oh, another tip --buy coats a size up so you can get two winters out of them. And I get nice LL Bean parkas that last for both kids, always on sale.

PP here - forgot to mention, I usually don't buy boy #2 anything, he wears hand me downs except pants and shoes because they never last to get handed down.

I make sure each kid has 6-8 seasonal shirts and pants/shorts. I have 2 boys so I buy Target shirts but usually Gap cargo pants on sale because they wear the knees out of target or Old Navy crap in a couple of weeks. I would buy LL Bean but their legs are too long, LL Bean boys pants are for stubby little fatties apparently which is too bad because the quality is better.

I try to buy on major clearance at Kohls and Target and get items often for $1-2. DS is one and still going thru clothes very quickly so I'm not at a point where I need to shop for longer lasting higher quality clothes. Mostly its daycare clothes and we've gotten a few nice Gap outfits from friends as gifts. I've bought a few things on ThredUp that are Gap too. I don't like to spend more than $5 per item of clothing if I can help it. This could all change as get gets older and starts wearing clothes for longer though, I don't know.

HHI $300K, one child. We don't have a budget but I am budget-conscious if that makes sense. I buy only on sale usually at the end of the preceding season, unless we have a particular event that we need clothing for that is only available full-price. We also gladly accept hand-me-downs from friends.

We're not yet at an age where we do official back to school shopping each summer, so really I'm buying year 'round as DD needs something. Earlier this fall I bought a bunch of new underwear for her when it was on sale at HA. I also grabbed a few extra pairs of leggings at Target in October when I realized that she'd grown more than I thought over the summer and the leggings she had from the spring were too short. Last spring I bought the winter coat on sale that she's wearing now and will also fit into next winter. Last week I spent $150 at the HA sale.

Anonymous wrote:Funny, that you posted this question... I was just updating our budget. For 6yo DD, we spend around $1,200/year or $100/month. We shop at Old Navy, Target, Costco, The Children's Place and the outlets.

An outfit for home and school consists of top+bottom or dress+legging. I budget about $30 per outfit.

This is the quick breakdown:
$300 10 outfits for Spring/Fall (can re-wear Spring to Fall or visa versa)
$200 7 outfits for winter
$200 7 outfits for summer
$100 2 dressy outfits for holiday, recitals, portraits
$150 6-7 sneakers/shoes
$200 2-3 jackets, hoodies, vests
$125 2 coats, 1 snow pants

This sounds about right to me. But at a HHI of $550k, we still don't shop Tea Collection, Boden, etc. Seems wasteful to pay that kind of money for clothes that kids are just going to abuse on the playground.

Funny, that you posted this question... I was just updating our budget. For 6yo DD, we spend around $1,200/year or $100/month. We shop at Old Navy, Target, Costco, The Children's Place and the outlets.

An outfit for home and school consists of top+bottom or dress+legging. I budget about $30 per outfit.

This is the quick breakdown:
$300 10 outfits for Spring/Fall (can re-wear Spring to Fall or visa versa)
$200 7 outfits for winter
$200 7 outfits for summer
$100 2 dressy outfits for holiday, recitals, portraits
$150 6-7 sneakers/shoes
$200 2-3 jackets, hoodies, vests
$125 2 coats, 1 snow pants

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.

Agreed - we don't budget. HHI a bit higher than you mention. We just buy what's needed and attempt to be reasonable.

Anonymous wrote:I just buy whatever they need.

+1. I never really understood people that budgeted for these things. Do you give yourself a number before and say "I am only going to spend this". Then what if the kid needs more? Or rather, are you keeping track of how much you spent for the entire year? Or season?

We have a similar HHI and I have no idea what I spend on clothes, but I give myself a guideline of no more than $10 for everyday items (we have a toddler and a baby) so I do not buy Boden and Tea. I buy used and on sale, mostly. I obviously spend more on heavier items and fancy items, but I really limit fancy things since they get such little use.

I just buy whatever they need.

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