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School clothes
  • LA_PygmyHerderLA_PygmyHerder
    Posts: 1,239Member
    Seeing as the school supply lists are out, it's time to think about school clothes as well. Spending massive amounts of money I don't have does not seem appealing, but I know my kids are mess magnets. So I ask you ladies, how many clothes do kids really need? What's important and what's just more clutter? I have 2 tween boys and a 6 yr old dd. What's your way of keeping the wardrobes under control?
  • CalliopemarieCalliopemarie
    Posts: 4,467Member
    my kids have never gotten new clothes for school. never had the money. I just get my son new pants when he needs them
    i am insane!!! mwahahahaha
  • AnonUser33
    Posts: 743Guest

    I usually buy them each 5 new outfits, lots of socks and underwear and shoes. Last year I bought new, next year they are getting goodwill. If they get anything at all. if I don't find a job they will be buying their own.

    As far as how do you keep the clutter under control? I have no idea

  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    I buy all their stuff at thrift stores aside from undies and socks.  It takes a bit more work but there is no way I can pay what clothes cost new and no need, because with enough hunting they have always had stuff that is nearly new and perfectly up to date anyway.

    I will splurge on new Converse when needed.  And a special couple of t-shirts for birthdays or Christmas (band shirts or something from ThinkGeek.com).  And yeah they generally don't get new stuff if they haven't outgrown everything.  If it's still in good shape they wear it until it isn't.

    With my boys I am good about not overdoing it and try to keep it down to about 7 complete outfits.  So they have something for the weekend if they get invited somewhere.  My boys hate it when I say "outfit" in reference to their clothes. LOL.  But with DD9 it is hard, especially because I get it so cheap, and she always has way too much clothing for one kid.

    We live in texas so heavy duty winter clothes are not needed, so I buy plain long sleeved shirts for them to wear under their regular t-shirts for cooler months.

    But seriously, I can wardrobe all the people in this house for what most people spend on 2 kids for BTS!   Or less.  The biggest clutter issue with clothing around here is MINE.  I have way too much.
    "But a lesson must be lived in order to be learned" Ani DiFranco, Manhole
    "Screw you guys! I'm going home." Eric Cartman
  • LifeofchaosLifeofchaos
    Posts: 996Member
    I was just telling my dh today we need to start working on this. The twins start Kindergarten in the Fall so we neec double everything. Not sure exactly what we are buying them. My sons jeans from The Childrens Place we bought last year still fit BUT every pair has holes in the knees. 5 new outfits sounds reasonable and they will need new shoes
  • AloneOverseasAloneOverseas
    Posts: 2,248Member
    Second hand stores/op shops are awesome! So are sales at Kmart.
    I love purple; I love cats. Imagine if cats were purple ...
  • AloneOverseasAloneOverseas
    Posts: 2,248Member
    Extra tough iron on patches for knees! DS6 burned holes in his knees in three weeks n a new pair of pants! Not impressed! I have patches to iron on now.
    I love purple; I love cats. Imagine if cats were purple ...
  • LLB
    Posts: 3,382Member
    I'm with charlotte_sometimes all of my kids clothes and shoes come from second hand stores with the exception of socks and undies and the occasional new outfit for Christmas or birthdays. In fact mine and dhs do too.

    I don't do bts shopping per say. If the clothes they have still fit and are in good condition thats what they wear at the beginning of the year. Never really understood bts clothes shopping anyway...

    Oh and my kids have all name brand, current style clothing too. I just didn't break the bank buying it all new.
  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    Llb said:

    I'm with charlotte_sometimes all of my kids clothes and shoes come from second hand stores with the exception of socks and undies and the occasional new outfit for Christmas or birthdays. In fact mine and dhs do too.

    I don't do bts shopping per say. If the clothes they have still fit and are in good condition thats what they wear at the beginning of the year. Never really understood bts clothes shopping anyway...

    Oh and my kids have all name brand, current style clothing too. I just didn't break the bank buying it all new.



    Yeah that.  I like them to have something new (well, new to them, not necessarily brand new) for the 1st day back but my boys never cared.  DD enjoys that though.  There's a thrift store in my town that is a different price each day, from $.25 an item to $1.75 an item.  I never go on 25 cent day because it's insane but I've picked up nice leather jackets and things with tags still on them for a buck fifty.  Can't beat that!

    My ex MIL will buy some BTS stuff when they are up there visiting at the end of summer (visiting my ex)... this doesn't apply to DS20 anymore but she will spend a LOT of money and they'd end up with maybe one pair of jeans each and a couple t-shirts and socks and undies... they boys would come home and kind of roll their eyes about their new $25 t-shirt.  I'm talking plain t-shirts!  She's a mall shopper with more money than sense, sorry to say it.
    "But a lesson must be lived in order to be learned" Ani DiFranco, Manhole
    "Screw you guys! I'm going home." Eric Cartman
  • AnonUser33
    Posts: 743Guest

    I only do BTS shopping because that is really the only time my kids get new clothes. They are like their dad and get really offended/pissed off if I buy them clothes for gifts. Unless they are wearing half shirts or high waters they better make that shit last all year.

    I was the kid who went to school in rags and thrift store clothes, long before thrift stores were cool. I was so embarassed and got made fun of. I never wanted that for my kids. They do wear thrift store clothes on a regular basis though.

  • mama2tutnkcmama2tutnkc
    Posts: 1,039Member
    I'm glad I‘m not alone in my cheapness!! I refuse to spend more than 5 or 6 bucks on something.. even that is hard sometimes.
    feels like *home* to me
  • mericksmom
    Posts: 388Member
    When I have extra cash and old navy has a sale (or JC's $2 clothes) I will buy  those  bigger sizes and stash them away because when it comes to school I tend to NEVER have money to buy school lists and clothes.  But for clothes I do them every 2-3 days so I try to have 4 bottoms and 5-6 tops that are new, new undies and new socks and some shoes.
  • irishlassirishlass
    Posts: 6,786Member
    I love having a uniform! I've bought 6 polo shirts, 2 sweatshirts and 6 pairs of trousers. Still to get the shoes, but it simplifies things so much!
    "Be who you are and say what you feel. Because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter." - Dr. Seuss
  • PurpleFlowersPurpleFlowers
    Posts: 5,781Member
    I buy all their stuff at thrift stores aside from undies and socks

    Yep, me too. A lot of the time you can find stuff with tags still on them.
    Stay away from my chocolate and nobody gets hurt!

    I think I like who I am becoming...
  • etherieletheriel
    Posts: 733Member

    The Assistance League in our county offers back-to-school clothing assistance for kids up through 6th grade. Basically, they allow you to spend $50 at Walmart for any school-appropriate clothing, including undies and socks, and then they'll give a $25 gift card for shoes at Payless. Unfortunately, my kids have had to use this program for their back to school clothes for the past few years. This year though I only have 1 child young enough to qualify. For my older 2, we'll be utilizing thrift stores.

    My kids are pretty easy though. DD14 couldn't care less about name brands. Just get her some jeans and t-shirts and she's good. DD12 is lucky enough to get hand-me-downs from my niece, all name brands and barely worn. DS10 is hard on pants knees, but he prefers shorts. Since we live in Texas, he can wear shorts almost year round and when Walmart or Target has boys shorts on sale for $5, I stock up for him.

    Shoes are what kills me. DD14 and DS10 can wear out a good pair of tennies in about a month.

    If I'm not supposed to do it, how come I can?
  • LA_PygmyHerderLA_PygmyHerder
    Posts: 1,239Member

    I shop thrift stores, goodwill, and clearance sales too. I can get complete new wardrabes for 3 kids for $200 including shoes.The problem I'm having is a disagreement with Dh about what the kids ACTUALLY need. He'd be happy to put all three kids in nothing but plain white tees and overalls year round lol. He's a bit overly practical. I'm thinking about going through kid clothes and having a giant yardsale to fund BTS shopping this year. If the rain would ever stop or the hurricanes don't flood us out.


     


    And last year DS10 went through 5 pairs of sneakers. This year I am debating just buying him friggin steel toe boots!

  • chaosmomchaosmom
    Posts: 3,834Member
    We have a lot of hand me downs that are still in excellent condition. Kids go through clothes so quickly. Actually, ds3 is wearing a shirt that ds13 wore when he was little. He is the 5th kid to wear it!! We get stuff from some better off families in our church or the thrift store. Undies & socks by get from Walmart. My SIL provides most of the shoes (her gf gets Nikes & such at a huge discounted price). Rarely do I buy brand new clothes.
  • AnonUser33
    Posts: 743Guest
    OMG shoes. I have to buy DS13 new shoes every 2 months, DD14 new ones every 6 months, I have been rocking the same pair of shoes for 6 years now and they are my only pair.
  • ImWendyImWendy
    Posts: 6,527Member
    My kids have uniforms, and that does make it easier! They have to wear khaki or navy bottoms, and red, navy, of white polo shirts. I learned the hard way not to bother with the white shirts. They were horribly stained after the first couple of weeks!

    I usually have to spend $300 on supplies and clothes, which is a lot but I remember my mom having to spend $500 on just me, so I don't complain. Thankfully Walmart has uniforms and they hold up well. I usually buy them each two more uniform sets in January of February and those still fit in August so I can safely only get them 3 sets if in august and a couple more in September. I think Noah has graduated to small men sizes, and I hope I can get them as cheaply!
    deus ex machina
  • LesboMomLesboMom
    Posts: 2,929Confessional Manager
    I would definitely say that kids need a couple shirts - some shorts and pants - some plain long sleeves to go under short sleeves for winter - new socks - I don't think that they need ALL new - but SOME new helps their ego I think. But white shirts and overalls don't QUITE cut it, I don't think. 

    confessional-manager

    Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow. -- Helen Keller
  • LA_PygmyHerderLA_PygmyHerder
    Posts: 1,239Member
    lol @LesboMom Thank you for that. It's what I get for marrying a right brained engineer I guess
  • ChristyJChristyJ
    Posts: 902Member
    We usually just buy clothes as they are needed. I might get DS one or two new outfits and a new pair of sneakers.  He has slowed down a bit on the growing, so clothes and shoes are lasting a little longer, right now.
    Imperfect and proud of it.
  • Katescrazymom
    Posts: 1,899Member

    Uniforms would be awesome!  I plan on doing some back to school shopping because dd will need some fall and winter clothes. 

    I must be going to the wrong places at the wrong times, because I rarely find anything that isn't worn out second hand. I do hit the endof season sales for things they will wear year round.

    My goal is10 outfits per kid per size, now that dd isn't growing as fast, she is accumulating more. 

  • LoveLove
    Posts: 12,843Administrator, Moderator
    LA_PygmyHerder said:

    Seeing as the school supply lists are out, it's time to think about school clothes as well. Spending massive amounts of money I don't have does not seem appealing, but I know my kids are mess magnets. So I ask you ladies, how many clothes do kids really need? What's important and what's just more clutter? I have 2 tween boys and a 6 yr old dd. What's your way of keeping the wardrobes under control?



    We have school uniforms. ::LOVE::
    Each kid gets:
    3 pairs of khaki pants
    one pair of navy pants
    2 red polo shirts
    1 black polo shirt
    1 dark gray polo shirt
    1 light gray polo shirt
    1 pair of new school shoes
    1 new pack of socks
    1 new pack of undies

    and when we move back home (where there are no uniforms), I think I'm going to keep it pared down like this again. My kids had WAAAAY too many clothes, and it's just ridiculous. No one needs 15 damn pairs of jeans. They're JEANS for Pete's sake! I gave away 7 of those big black garbage bags of kids clothes when we moved, and it wasn't because they had outgrown them--they just had too many, and wouldn't be needing them for school anymore.
    5 pair of jeans, 2 pairs of khakis,1 pair of navy dress pants, and a bunch of shirts, and that's PLENTY in their closets, I think! Just enough different tops to wear for two weeks of school without re-wearing, I think is how DH counted it out. Which is useless if your kids pick out their own clothes, because mine will re-wear the same thing every day if it's clean and in their closet! They do.not.care. LOL

    community-manager


  • LA_PygmyHerderLA_PygmyHerder
    Posts: 1,239Member

    We seriously NEED to do a scary mommy clothing swap!!! It would help so many of us!

  • CrashCrash
    Posts: 8,521Member
    I go BTS clothes shopping because it's about the only time my kids get new clothes. My nanny for some reason had weird clothing ideas. She bought our youngest shit tons of clothes, but told my oldest that 4 pairs of pants were plenty. Nuh uh, I don't think so! I hand down clothes from my oldest to my youngest, even though they're 4 years apart, they're only about 2 sizes apart, so there's only a year's difference. They get a lot of wear. My list for clothing would be this:
    A pair of pants, a shirt, socks and underwear for every day of the week.
    Four sets of pj's.
    Three to seven sets of hot weather clothes
    four sweatshirts/hoodies,
    And if you have girls, then an additional four dresses or skirts and four pairs of leggings.
    See ya in another life, sister!
  • CalliopemarieCalliopemarie
    Posts: 4,467Member
    I like that idea @la_pygmyherder! so many people would benefit from it!!
    i am insane!!! mwahahahaha
  • LA_PygmyHerderLA_PygmyHerder
    Posts: 1,239Member
    @Calliopemarie It would have to be privately done and no association with SM. That way if it flops it doesn't look badly on the site. I don't know of anyone who's ready to organize such a feat. I know I'm in no position to do it, but it's nice to dream about it lol
  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    @Katescrazymom

    With the thrift store thing I think it helps if you are in a large city.  There are still thrift stores in my city that I have never been to... there are that many!!

    Also the age of your kid.  I have always done the thrift thing but it was harder to find stuff that wasn't worn out when I was shopping for little (K-4th grade) boys because that age just seems to be hell on clothing.

    Now I am one of the few that do NOT like uniforms.    I only had the uniform issue one year when I switched DS to a different school (charter) that had uniforms.  I HATED it.  I spent way more than I'd ever have spent on regular clothes at thrifts and the khaki pants always ended up stained beyond help.

    Around here they are supposed to help out if a family cannot afford the uniform but I know one mom who battled with the school because at the end of the year her son's uniforms were stained from food and paint (school didn't have them cover clothes to paint)... and the school didn't want him wearing them.  So she sent him in regular clothes and they sent him home.  She kept explaining she had no money for more and school was due to be out in six weeks, they kept insisting she purchase more even though she couldn't.  It was round and round ridiculous.  They would NOT help her with the needed uniform even though they are supposed to do that.

    So that's my take on the uniform issue -- no thanks! 
    "But a lesson must be lived in order to be learned" Ani DiFranco, Manhole
    "Screw you guys! I'm going home." Eric Cartman
  • JenInHeels
    Posts: 101Member

    One word - UNIFORMS!


    They are doing them in most public schools in our area now and its GREAT!

  • AnonUser33
    Posts: 743Guest
    Our kids wore uniforms in Kindergarten when they went to a private school. I LOVED it. I wish I could force them to wear uniforms now. I loved not having the daily fight over what is being worn to school.
  • deviltwinsmommadeviltwinsmomma
    Posts: 2,388Member
    I hit up penneys when theres a sale and stock up. Uniforms are WAY more expensive than regular street clothes and make children look like little prisoners. I personally dont like uniforms as per my statement.so i totally agree @Charlotte_Sometimes my kids school (thank god) does not required uniforms and i hope it stays that way. I like the "creations" my kids come up with. but then again they are tshirt and jeans with cowboy boots type of kids..
    my mother used to sing me a song. It went like this: "Life is short, life is shit, and soon it will be over.
  • gamommiegamommie
    Posts: 348Member
    I WISH we had uniforms. My DS gets pants from kohls but only when they are on clearance bc they have the skater pants with the reinforced knees and heels. also shirts from walmart when they go on clearance and i buy coats socks and underpants a size too big for extra wearing.
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    Posts: 7,022
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    well behaved women seldom make history
  • LoveLove
    Posts: 12,843Administrator, Moderator
    I don't think my kids look like "prisoners" in their uniforms LOL I think they look very nice and neat, personally!

    image

    well, except for that I hadn't yet hemmed these pants LOL

    community-manager


  • many_moons_ago
    Posts: 338Member
    I do seasonal. I have huge plastic storage bins in the garage that I put all the hand-me-downs, clearance and op-shop finds into and each spring and winter I sort through, pull out that season for each kid and write up what they need normally only around $300 each season for everyone. It's also when I re-organise the bins into kids names (for the older 2), shoes and sizing (for the younger 2).
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