My mom was really controlling about clothes and when I think about it, it's influenced my approach to dressing my kids. Like she used to sew a lot of clothes for us that were ugly and uncomfortable, and I hated itchy dresses and tights especially. I remember having one pair of jeans in ES and I would stash them in my backpack and change into them at school. When we were in MS/HS she would yell at my sister and I about shirts being too tight or showing too much skin, etc., when we actually dressed pretty conservatively.

So I want my kids to like and feel comfortable in what they wear and we have enough money where I don't need to sweat spending a few hundred dollars a year on clothes. We get some stuffed passed on to us but if there are things my kids don't want to wear, we pass them on and I supplement by buying things they do like.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really have no ice because I don’t budget, but not too much since my kids wear a uniform to school.

I would not buy clothes on eBay or used at all for older kids.

Buying used is much cheaper and better for the environment. Cannot emphasize the last part enough.

Or, buy new and pass them on or resell them.

I have boys and their clothes often get too worn out to pass them on. I rarely can even reuse the oldest’s clothes for the youngest. For the same reason I don’t have good luck buying from thrift stores. I don’t want things that look faded or have fabric softener smell on them.

Active boys are hard on clothes! I get a bunch of hand me down shirts and shorts for my 7yo DS from a friend but she's always like, sorry the pants were all destroyed! So I typically buy those new and they mayyybe can pass half of them on to DD or my nephew.

Definitely a mix for us and I should keep track but I don't, lol. Some hand me downs, some purchased second hand (DD loves all the quirky MB shirts but I will not buy those new so I keep an eye out for used on a BST group). Will hit up old navy, gap, primary sales, particularly for things that are more gender neutral and both my kids can wear. Occasionally I'll hit up an in person kids consignment sale if its convenient but no time to be driving around to various thrift shops where I may or may not find anything.

You need to teach your kids to take care of their things. My body’s have never destroyed clothing except a rare occasion.

I'd prefer to just let them be active and play and if I can't pass on all the pants, oh well. If its dress clothes, they change out of those after church or the event before they head outside to play. But thanks for your advice!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really have no ice because I don’t budget, but not too much since my kids wear a uniform to school.

I would not buy clothes on eBay or used at all for older kids.

Buying used is much cheaper and better for the environment. Cannot emphasize the last part enough.

Or, buy new and pass them on or resell them.

I have boys and their clothes often get too worn out to pass them on. I rarely can even reuse the oldest’s clothes for the youngest. For the same reason I don’t have good luck buying from thrift stores. I don’t want things that look faded or have fabric softener smell on them.

Active boys are hard on clothes! I get a bunch of hand me down shirts and shorts for my 7yo DS from a friend but she's always like, sorry the pants were all destroyed! So I typically buy those new and they mayyybe can pass half of them on to DD or my nephew.

Definitely a mix for us and I should keep track but I don't, lol. Some hand me downs, some purchased second hand (DD loves all the quirky MB shirts but I will not buy those new so I keep an eye out for used on a BST group). Will hit up old navy, gap, primary sales, particularly for things that are more gender neutral and both my kids can wear. Occasionally I'll hit up an in person kids consignment sale if its convenient but no time to be driving around to various thrift shops where I may or may not find anything.

You need to teach your kids to take care of their things. My body’s have never destroyed clothing except a rare occasion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol people on here are ridiculous. So much virtue signaling.

I don’t count this type of thing. If I had to try hard to make an accurate estimate, I guess I’d say maybe $200 a month. We don’t do secondhand and don’t seek out clearance. We don’t buy insanely pricey brands either.

$200 a month for kids clothes is insane. Lemme guess, you think Hanna Andersson or Boden isn't insanely pricey for kids clothes.

I have a 5, 7, and 9 year old, all same sex. We get hand-me- downs from family, but I could easily imagine spending 500-700 per season on clothes and then shoes, jackets, etc, add up. They need like 10 pairs of pants, 10-12 shirts, and then dress clothes, socks, underwear, etc.

Babies and toddlers are a lot cheaper if you don’t buy expensive stuff. Not true as they get older.

Not true depending on how you shop.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol people on here are ridiculous. So much virtue signaling.

I don’t count this type of thing. If I had to try hard to make an accurate estimate, I guess I’d say maybe $200 a month. We don’t do secondhand and don’t seek out clearance. We don’t buy insanely pricey brands either.

$200 a month for kids clothes is insane. Lemme guess, you think Hanna Andersson or Boden isn't insanely pricey for kids clothes.

I have a 5, 7, and 9 year old, all same sex. We get hand-me- downs from family, but I could easily imagine spending 500-700 per season on clothes and then shoes, jackets, etc, add up. They need like 10 pairs of pants, 10-12 shirts, and then dress clothes, socks, underwear, etc.

Babies and toddlers are a lot cheaper if you don’t buy expensive stuff. Not true as they get older.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really have no ice because I don’t budget, but not too much since my kids wear a uniform to school.

I would not buy clothes on eBay or used at all for older kids.

Buying used is much cheaper and better for the environment. Cannot emphasize the last part enough.

Or, buy new and pass them on or resell them.

I have boys and their clothes often get too worn out to pass them on. I rarely can even reuse the oldest’s clothes for the youngest. For the same reason I don’t have good luck buying from thrift stores. I don’t want things that look faded or have fabric softener smell on them.

Active boys are hard on clothes! I get a bunch of hand me down shirts and shorts for my 7yo DS from a friend but she's always like, sorry the pants were all destroyed! So I typically buy those new and they mayyybe can pass half of them on to DD or my nephew.

Definitely a mix for us and I should keep track but I don't, lol. Some hand me downs, some purchased second hand (DD loves all the quirky MB shirts but I will not buy those new so I keep an eye out for used on a BST group). Will hit up old navy, gap, primary sales, particularly for things that are more gender neutral and both my kids can wear. Occasionally I'll hit up an in person kids consignment sale if its convenient but no time to be driving around to various thrift shops where I may or may not find anything.

Anonymous wrote:I’d would venture about 2K including school uniforms. No hand me downs. Buy new only and will look on eBay/Poshmark for nicer brands to find them cheaper. When I left the DC area and moved South the little girls are DRESSED especially for church. A lot of Matilda Jane, Persnickety, Well Dressed Wolf with Livie and Luca shoes, coordinating bows, etc..it was an eye opener for sure especially the price people are willing to pay.

Right?! DH is from the deep south and we got a bunch of baby gifts for these really boutique-y brands I had never heard of. Which I could not really justify putting my infant in due to spit ups nd blowouts! Ended up reselling a few in Facebook groups and literally every buyer was from the South!

8 year old girl - she gets about 4 or 5 pairs of shoes each year (sneakers, boots, flats and sandals) then gets 8 or 9 warm weather and cold weather tops and bottoms and a couple of dresses.

12 year old boy - he gets a couple pairs of sneakers, 1 pair of crocs and 1 pair of nicer shoes. Then for clothing gets about 8 hoodies and sweats for fall winter and the same number of tshirts and shorts for spring/fall.

My guess is about $600 for both of them.

I’m 19:50. I’m not trying to virtue signal in wearing hand me downs. I like for my kids to look cute! But I just really hate shopping.

I don’t like to shop. So at the beginning of spring, I buy my 4 year old 10 shirts and 7 bottoms + swimsuit. Beginning of fall, same thing + coat. We have a lot of hand me downs from neighbors and cousins. I have never purchased any clothes (maybe a pack of pants?) for my 1 year old because I have everything from his brother. I have tubs in the attic with their clothes and rotate through them. So I think it’s about $100/season plus shoes ($100 for sneakers, sandals, and rain boots) and a coat ($50?). I mostly buy from Target and Children’s Place.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really have no ice because I don’t budget, but not too much since my kids wear a uniform to school.

I would not buy clothes on eBay or used at all for older kids.

Buying used is much cheaper and better for the environment. Cannot emphasize the last part enough.

Or, buy new and pass them on or resell them.

I have boys and their clothes often get too worn out to pass them on. I rarely can even reuse the oldest’s clothes for the youngest. For the same reason I don’t have good luck buying from thrift stores. I don’t want things that look faded or have fabric softener smell on them.

Anonymous wrote:Firsthand shopping + driving to the store + using non-reusable bags is horrific.

Leave it to DCUM to call normal activities “horrific.”

Anonymous wrote: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.

I do a mix. I live near the Hill so I get clothes used on MOTH and also on a local group called "take my kid's sh*t"

I also supplement with new purchases (from Carter's or Gap Kids or Target) to complete outfits and have a few newish outfits for something like seeing family, going somewhere.

Anonymous wrote:Lol people on here are ridiculous. So much virtue signaling.

I don’t count this type of thing. If I had to try hard to make an accurate estimate, I guess I’d say maybe $200 a month. We don’t do secondhand and don’t seek out clearance. We don’t buy insanely pricey brands either.

$200 a month for kids clothes is insane. Lemme guess, you think Hanna Andersson or Boden isn't insanely pricey for kids clothes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really have no ice because I don’t budget, but not too much since my kids wear a uniform to school.

I would not buy clothes on eBay or used at all for older kids.

Buying used is much cheaper and better for the environment. Cannot emphasize the last part enough.

Or, buy new and pass them on or resell them.