How much do you spend on your childrens clothes?

silvermist05

I'm sorry if this is in the wrong place but I wasn't sure where to post.

I'm just curious as to how much people spend on their childrens clothes monthly/annually or seasonaly.
The reason I ask is I have 3 children, 2 girls age 6 and 7 and a teenage son and I hardly ever buy them clothes everything they have is handme downs or gifts because of this they have nothing fashionable or clothes that match, I have decided this year I need to invest in smartening them up especially the teenager but have no idea how much to budget.
any advice would be much appreciated.

angelil

I personally would never spend a great deal on the majority of children's clothing. Why? When they are small they will only be sick on it/urinate on it/get food or mud on it etc. They should grow out of this But even when they are teenagers they will still be growing so nothing will last *that* long anyway. Teens can still look fashionable on the cheap at places like Primark or Matalan, or take trips to outlet stores.

I think the only things I would spend proper money on for kids would be their shoes (you don't want to wreck growing feet) and winter clothing such as coats or thermals (you don't want them to freeze after all).

I don't have kids yet so couldn't tell you exactly how much to spend or not spend - but tbh having worked aplenty with kids aged 2-18 in my work I can't see the above changing. I think your approach is right to be honest - they are kids who play and grow, not mini fashion-plates.

HappyMJ

How much to budget? No idea. Could be £100 for the latest designer jacket but then if they lose it or it's nicked there's £100 gone. I wouldn't spend much but it depends on what you want to buy or need to buy for special events such as weddings/funerals and similar. The teenager might need something to make him presentable at an interview for example but that depends on if he 13 or 19? Are they asking for fashionable clothes? If they don't ask try not getting them into wanting all the latest designer gear when hand me downs and charity clothes meet their needs and they are not complaining.

Caroline73_2

My teenage son lives in Superdry stuff. quite pricey but I use topcashback and there are often discount vouchers. he doesn't have a huge quantity of clothes but he doesn't mind. He'd rather have the quality than quantity. To help with the cost once he's outgrown them I eBay them. he does look after his clothes and never loses anything. I wouldn't replace it if he did. I buy him cheaper jeans and get him branded trainers like Nike from Brantano.

my 6 year old just has supermarket clothes but always looks cool. today he's wearing a superman logo t shirt with jeans, only about £10 in total. I bought him 7 shirts from Tesco last month. using discount codes it only came to £40. That with two pairs of jeans and two pairs of shorts will see him through the summer.

alanalea

I have 2 girls aged 6.5 & 2.5. I very rarely buy clothes from new, the only new stuff they get from Christmas, birthdays and sales. My 6.5 yo is very content to wander around the bootfares with me, picking up 2nd hand clothes that I could never afford to buy new for next to nothing. Even at her age she has decided she likes the boho/hippy clothes from places like Uttam & she has found some beautiful things rummiging around at our bootfare.

balletshoes

I'd say for your girls, keep doing what you're doing, they're a bit young yet to be chasing the latest "look" and when they're teenagers you can introduce them to the joys of Primark (a whole wardrobe full for £50 ).

we were actually discussing this at work this week, those of us with teenage/nearly teenage girls agreed that usually they like buying loads for their money (ie Primark) but teenage boys often prefer to buy one or 2 items instead, but from a label range (ie Bank, Jack Wills is it? Superdry etc etc).

our family usually gives money/vouchers for the kids' birthdays once they get past around 7 years old, and the girls and the boys can go clothes/phone etc shopping with that, its their choice then whether they buy loads of items, or just a couple, for their money.

i don't have a budget for my DD's clothes, I buy when she needs clothes, and we look for bargains.

rachbc

as little as poss - charity shops ebay, hand me downs, a few HM bits from my mum. Did send £45 on stuff for dd in H&M plus a new coat (£15 in TK Maxx)- that was it for the whole of winter though.

6/7 yos dont need fashionable clothes or things that match - they need things that are warm/ dry/ cool (according to season) comfortable, easy to play in and washable!

Caroline73_2

I'll just be glad when they stop growing. DS1 is only 13 but is in size 11 shoes and he's nearly 6ft tall. He can't grow much more can he?

xxlouisexx56

Too much!

I wear nice clothes and I like my kids to look good when we go out as they are a reflection of me.

They wear mostly next and h&m with the odd bit of supermarket stuff thrown in.

I do like to buy them nice bits in gap and Boden and take advantage of the sales

vik6525

Im also in the 'too much' gang!
My son lives in Superdry and Hollister clothes. Hes 12, and obviously takes after me when it comes to his sense of style, because I spend 'too much' on me too!

Lunar_Eclipse

I don't have a specific children's clothing budget, but would estimate at about £400 each a year, excluding school uniform and sports (kit) clothing. That basically boils down to a few items twice a year, with top-ups coming in the form of gifts. At Christmas for example, DD1 received two items of Jack Wills clothing. We go for less being more in our general approach to clothes (well all shopping actually), none of us see the need for over flowing wardrobes.

We shop for clothes when we need things. And only when we need things, since we all hate shopping and don't really have time to do it. I do as much as I can online. I offered to take DD1 to Hollister for some new jeggings earlier this week (we were in town and her favourite pair have a small hole in them) and she couldn't be bothered saying her ones would be fine for a bit longer (that's my girl!) So at £40-50 a pair, I decided I wasn't going to force her!