I was wondering if anyone doesn't shop for school clothes?!

I remember when I was a kid, my grandmother would take me shopping about 2 weeks before school and get new jeans, coat, shoes, etc, and we would spend a small fortune (now I know she couldn;t even afford to).

I don't buy my kids anything except socks, and maybe a few fill in items. I shop all of the time at thrift store, bag sale, etc and whenever I see something for them, even if it's a size or 2 too big, I get it, so we always have bins of clothes. Last year, DS did go through jeans before the end of the school year, so I ended up having to buy a couple pair during the year, but that was it really.

Do you buy a whole new wardrobe for your kids?

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

I stopped doing that with DS1. One year I bought him a whole pile of pants and things right before school started....it was about a month after school started before he could wear long pants. In that time, he grew right past that size!! Groth spurt! Now we just fill in here and there....mostly start school with their summer wardrobes and then get the fall stuff later.....although they always get new shoes for back to school.

cj/

I clicked "the basics" but my son has :

4 new pair of pants (six total if you count the ones I got him last month, but he is currently wearing)
1 hooded sweatshirt that zips down the front
3 short sleeve shirts
2 long sleeve shirts
1 pair of shoes
(I will purchase next week : new pack of underwear, new pack of socks)

He already has a lot of shirts, but this year we reached a compromise : I wouldn't make him wear his jeans, if he let me get rid of his beloved sweatpants. He hates jeans with a passion (as DH did as a child) and I just don't like the sloppiness of sweat pants on him. We decided on the Dickies pants that have the non-button but slide type closure and exercise/workout type pants. Nike makes some really cute workout pants and at Ross they are only around $14 each.

I estimated that we will pay around $130 on school clothes this year (and that counts the like new coat I got him at a thrift store for only $4), the most expensive item being the new pair of Skechers at $40 (I bought them online since I found a style that I know he likes - he hates tie shoes but I hate the massive velcro type shoes - Skechers has some very nice looking velcro shoes - and to avoid potential drama, he knows how to tie his shoes just fine.... ). His shirts averaged between $5 - $10, and his pants were around $14 each. I love shopping at ROSS!!!

I bought:

2 teeshirts for each (at an Old Navy sale last January and JCPenney coupon + sale last Spring).
1 pair of shoes for oldest only (on clearance... nice shoes!) ... youngest doesn't need new shoes.
Socks.

We spent around $22 total.

I'll buy jeans when the season changes and we'll go from there on the rest of their wardrobes.

I buy all year through for cheap, then pull out the clothing items during the appropriate times of the year. I get Mudd, Aeropostale and other name brands for shirts about $2.00 each at the end of the season, jeans $5-10 apiece, socks and undies on mark down. I do buy new shoes right before school, I wait because of the size changes with growth, but I do get mark down shoes. I also buy at thrift stores and yard sales throughout the year.

I think when my kids are older they won't be happy with all of these hand me downs and used clothing. Little kids don't care as much. Last year the teacher asked DS about shopping for a new coat or something and he told her we shop in his closet, there's lots of coats in there. If she only knew, she thought he didn't know what he was talking about.

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

I don't buy very much for the start of school...we live in Florida and the clothes she has worn this summer will go til probably October/November. Luckily I have stocked up on clearance jeans from JCP, Old Navy and Bealls for the fall. She did need shoes, dang big foot has gone up a size since last year and has worn flip flops all summer. Oh and she got a fresh white polo and blue skort for her safety patrol uniform.

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TLJ ~ Women United in Spirit

I just fill in for them but they all have birthdays right after school starts so that is great. Usually they get money from relatives and they shop for the "must haves" that I don't or can't afford to get them. The older ones work and I will give them money for the basics like I get the younger one but over and above that, they buy it for themselves.

I am very thrifty and am not ashamed of it. They look nice and wear clothes that look good. We are all happy.

By the time I'm done it's a whole new wardrobe.

We normally just fill in where needed. This year though they have outgrown or ruined literally everything. So we did whole new wardrobes. Which I've only spent around $600/$700 including shoes which was $198.

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I wanna hear about those $198 shoes!! Hopefully that was more than one pair!

My 13 year old daughter & I have been "fighting" over this issue for weeks now. Hew closet if full, she has at least 15 pairs of jeans that still fit her & about 20 shirts that still fit her. I told her I would buy her a new socks & underwear but she flipped out saying she can't wear the same clothes she wore last year.....everyone will notice that she is wearing the same clothes. My husband is unemployed now & has been for the past few months, so it's impossible to buy her new clothes & truthfully I don't see the point of there still in good shape & fit.

Anyone else going thru this with there teenager?? She is 13 going into the 7th grade....talk about "DRAMA QUEEN"

we get them new shoes (if needed) and usually a new shirt for school pictures if they want. Otherwise, I just buy to fill in. Most of our shopping is done at the end of the previous year. So I will be buying shorts and shirts for next summer coming up here soon when it's all discounted and I bought a lot of fall/winter stuff last year for this year.

When the kids are older and have an opinion about what they want to wear (thank goodness it's not here yet), I'll probably tell them they each get $50 to go clothes shopping and it must all pass my approval If they have learned anything from me, they should be able to get a few things for that $50 and not just one thing.

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

my friend has a 12 year old who wanted a Coach bag for xmas because "all the others girls have one". My friend laughed and said "I'm 40 and have never had a Coach bag" and laughed.

When I was a kid, I got about 4 new outfits to start the year off but I knew girls like your teen...can't wear the same clothes as last year because their friends will think less of them. To me, it's time to get new friends...but to them it's the end of the world. No advise....feel for you though

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

My girls always get a new first day of school outfit. Other than that, I buy just a few fill ins, usually new shoes because they need them. Since it'll be turning cool soon enough, I see no point in buying tons of new clothes for now. I'll wait and buy their fall/winter wardrobe when needed. Though I did buy my youngest a coat after winter last year, on sale at Dillards for $13!!! woohoo.....and she just tried it on a few days ago, fits perfectly. Let's hope it still does in a couple of months when she'll need it.

Here in Texas, it will still be hot and kids will be wearing shorts for some time. I have to buy DS clothes often because of his growth spurts (he's 8 and 4'8"), so he's pretty well stocked for school. I will buy him something new for picture day, but he's one of those kids that just doesn't care about clothes - thankfully!

My 15 year old DD and I had a conversation about this two days ago.

She asked why we don't go back to school shopping? I told her the truth. We buy clothes when they need new clothes, not just because it's "that time of year".

Oh yes, that's 2 pair. I have 2 boys and they both had to have a new pair. They got the new Shox that came out this season. They were $90 something each. That is crazy prices! I hate paying more than $30 for my own shoes.

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Middle school is a time when girls (not usually boys though) get really interested in clothes, what is "cool", who wears what, etc. (I work in a middle school and see it all the time.) It is hard on the girls and can get very expensive. But you don't have to give in. What I do with my own teen is, buy her clothes at local consignment stores or off-season or outlet stores (like Nordstrom Rack instead of Nordstrom). At the consignment store we go to, the clothes is either never worn with tags still on, or barely worn (that is all she would buy anyway). And, when she gets tired of her clothes or outgrows them, we take them to the same consignment store to resell. She has a gorgeous wardobe--in fact, she gets asked all the time if she is "rich"---ha ha, as if on a teacher's salary--and compliments on her clothes all the time. I tell her to just smile and say thank you and never has to say where she got her nice wardrobe.

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DDs 7th & 8th grade will each get $300, $50 for shoes and the rest for their clothes.
It has been this way for a couple years now. We actually make a trip out of it, stay the night out of town near the outlet mall and have a great time. This year I didn't really want to go, but DH reminded me that in a year or two I won't be needed/wanted anymore so I had probably keep it up to make the memories. He's right
The girls make a list of what they have that still fits and what they would like to add. They can use the 'clothes' money for more shoes too if they would like. They do know that they HAVE to buy a good pair of shoes for volleyball/basketball with that $$.
Oldest DDs bday is Nov so she usually gets a few new clothing things, then there is Christmas. Younger DDs bday is Jan so she has Christmas and her bday for some new things.

I am in GA and it was 97 here today. Some school districts started today, but ours doesn't start until next Monday. My kids will be wearing shots and t-shirt for the next few months, so they really don't need anything new right now. They both got new sneakers over the summer which still fit and are in pretty good shape, so they'll just wear those. I'll wait for the clearance sales and buy then. We really only have 3 months of cold weather, so they don't need a lot. I also buy a year ahead, so both of my boys have plastic containers in their closets with new clothing I bought for just a few $ each. DS #2 also had hand-me-downs from DS#1. Usually my kids end up with more clothes than they need, but I get them for very inexpensive and then consign them when they don't fit anymore and then use that money to buy new if they need it.

Sarah.........mom to Jason & Devin

I buy shoes and sneakers first. They grow so fast that I buy all year round for clothes and it is too hot for tons on new clothes (long sleeves) in Sept. Plus they go on sale in Oct.!!

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Carolyn
At the Jersey Shore

I just went shopping today with 3 boys that are going into the 7th grade.

Clothes were very important to them. Only one boy was mine. He got new jeans, one pair of ugly shoes (but the boys thought they were just right) a necklace and a new T-shirt. He also got a new bookbag -- I can't think of what they are called now -- it's kind of a mailcarrier bag thing. That was $60.00, and I thought it was on sale for $30.00. I told him he could get it for a treat. It rang up at $15.00. I was thrilled. The salesguy said we hit that one right!!

Those boys spent well over an hour in this small boutique type place picking out their stuff.

We will be buying more new jeans and cargo pants as DS has outgrown everything over the summer. He will be wearing shirts and things from last year though too. I've got a couple of thrift stores I want to hit too to check for jeans -- now that I know what size and style he likes.

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Donna

We just bought sneakers, shoes and socks for $80, not including the school supplies at $70. We will just get a few things now since they can still wear light capri's. October is when I do most of my shopping.

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Carolyn
At the Jersey Shore

I bought three things for DS2 who is going into 8th grade: Fila F-13 triple white leather high tops - $60(ugh, I hate them...), an LLBean backpack - $65, and a BC Eagles replica football jersey - $17 at TJMaxx - what a find!! Later in September, we'll figure out what size jeans he'll need and buy them then.

DS1 going into senior year, bought him some undershirts and socks. He bought himself three dress shirts and a pair of top-of-the-line Dockers pants at JCPenney with his employee discount on top of the huge markdown. We're still looking for a good tie to go with the yellow one. I'm hoping when we pick up his three sport coats from the cleaners that they still fit and will make it through his last year...

cj/

I have an 8th grader and a 5th grader - both dds.

Neither have gotten new clothes yet - they will go the 1st month in the shorts/tee's and flip flops they've been wearing for the summer. When it cools off, they will get new jeans - the number depends on what still fits from last year - and some new long sleeve shirts - again the number depends on what they've got that still fits.

Oldest is fashion conscious, but not brand consious. She wants to wear what the others are wearing and I buy that from Kohls, Penney's, Old Navy. She also asks for gift cards from Christmas & bday for Abercrombie and those. She's knows they're expensive and likes to shop the clearance racks their, but doesn't get upset about me not buying it. I'll buy a shirt from there occasionally if she finds one I like.

Youngest is a tomboy. We save all the clothes oldest outgrows. Youngest goes through her closet to sort otu what she's outgrown, then the hand-me-down closet. I will then buy to even it out what she needs. I don't make her wear any hand-me-downs that she doesn't want to (oldest loves pink, youngest hates it!) She picks and chooses what she likes and I'm just glad she saves me the money she does.

Oh, I just remembered. They both got new tennis shoes on vacation when we happened to find a Nike Outlet! They also got a new pair of jeans at the Levi's Outlet, but they ususally do not get that until it cools of like stated above.

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

My boys start school next week. I havent bought them anything but school supplies, such as paper, binders, etc. It is still hot here so they will be wearing shorts for the first couple of weeks. After that we will assess the jean situation for each boy and see how much they grew over the summer and who needs what.

I made the mistake of being all proactive about 2 years ago and bought them each a few pairs of jeans at the middle of August before school started, by the time that they wanted to wear them to school, they had grown out of them. Lesson learned. I wait to buy the jeans and such until later.

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Sell crazy some place else, we are all stocked up here.

Both boys got new shoes, 2 pair new jeans and 2-3 t shirts a piece. Not too bad.

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Freedom Stands...Because HEROS Serve

Mary

We start school this morning- all I bought for is 1 skort. Thank goodness for my Mom- she shops all year round so we just went shopping for the rest at "Nonna's store".
We'll have to get new shoes in the next month or so but that's about it.

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Mom to Katie 1/95 and Sara 5/97

I can't say i don't blame her for wanting new clothes, all kids especially girls love new clothes and at her age she wants to fit in. I always had new clothes for school so i do the same for my kids. There is nothing like having new clothes to start the year. I understand a lot of families can't afford it, but even if you buy one outfit a week it doesn't seem so bad. We can't really afford it either, but we make it work and cut out other things just so our kids have nice things for school. I feel its important to them. I am not downing anyone that feels different its just my opinion.

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SAHM of Bailey 12, Tyler 10 , Emily Ann 6, and Ryan Matthew 4 yrs old.

I feel the same way, I always had new clothes for the new school year (I remember my mom spending hundreds of dollars in a couple different stores she even brought us to a town an hour away so that nobody had the same sneakers as we did) I can't imagine not having had new clothes for the new school year (I used to have so much fun trying to figure out which outfit I like the most to wear on the first day). I get my kids brand new clothes and uniforms for the start of the school year. I only get a few things for each but it is costly. I can say though that boys are much easier, my younger brother is 15 and only gets a couple pair of pants and a couple shirts and ties and doesn't really care about school shopping.

We got all new pants and shirts and shoes and sox. Pretty much the only thing we didn't get was underwear, now that I think about it. In the past I haven't shopped for school clothes during the year, to put up, but, this year, I will try to do that. It's just so hard when they grow in spurts. They pretty much always have a bunch of jeans at any one given time, so we're usually always good there.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I buy new undies, socks, and shoes. I usually stock up on clothes through out the year and put them in my closet until needed or until the next school year. Last year I hit awesome clearance at Aeropostal and put it all away. My kids were thrilled to have new brand name clothes. I bought my son tons of Levis for $5 each last year. I bought a few sizes up so I have some for this year. My kids are teens so they aren't growing as much as they were when they were younger.