Page 4 | AIBU to wonder how much you spend on your children’s clothes per year?

NoseinBook3 · 2021-02-21T04:36:01+00:00

Hello, Just realised that none of the kids now fit in their clothes so I’ve put an order in. I’ve got two children and it came to about £400... but that includes two coats, two pairs of trainers and then jumpers, tshirts, trousers, underwear and dresses. I probably still need to get another pair of shoes for them both, pjs and swimwear. Also I found it quite difficult to find any decent coats. I very much hope that’s them now set for a while... but it did make me wonder. Do you budget for clothes for the year?

Heyha · 21/02/2021 13:10

I'm a big fan of the second hand bundle, especially for nursery clothes. If you plan ahead and look for the 'wrong' season on eBay you can pick up good deals usually. There's always a few things not to my taste in a big bundle but these get given to the clothes bank. I've also got a couple of colleagues who sell on their childrens' clothes and they buy similar to what I would so I've been lucky really. I've got fantastic second hand coats and puddlesuits from eBay too, you just have to be patient and persistent if you know which size, brand etc you would prefer. Always new swimwear, pyjamas, vests and footwear and then a few nicer new bits for going out (remember that?). But that's mostly from supermarkets, shopping the sales and stashing outsize stuff in the loft. I got all of DDs next size up footwear in the January sales, she's not in it yet but it's not far off!

Heyha · 21/02/2021 13:12

I haven't added it up though. I probably wouldn't be very pleased to see the total but she has just slightly too many clothes so it's only necessity purchasing really- if I get behind on the washing the cupboards do look bare so I don't think she's got an excessive amount.

Original poster

NoseinBook3 · 21/02/2021 14:06

You’re welcome @Hamsterfan

I actually really love Facebook market place for clothes.. there just isn’t a lot about in the sizes I need at the moment.

I don’t remember going out I think that’s why I’ve massively slacked on buying kids clothes. Except for walking and the park we just don’t go anywhere

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montysma1 · 21/02/2021 14:25

I spend bugger all on clothes except maybe at Christmas I get a few things.
We live in a rural area and there is a real culture of passing
out grown clothes around.
Mine seem to be at just the right age (two at 12 and one at 9) to click for clothes from everybody. I try to pass on as well but have such tomboys that things are rags when we are done.
The jumpers for our village school are passed around about a million times too. I bought one set of school jumpers ever when they started. The rest are passed on. You can hardly write initials your initials on the label for all the names od previous owners!
Other than that I buy lots of trainers because they fall apart in weeks and lots and lots of socks as they disappear.

WaltzForDebbie · 21/02/2021 14:31

I budget £80 per month for 4 kids for shoes and clothes.

AmyandPhilipfan · 21/02/2021 14:51

I bought a few bits for my 3 kids today online from M&S. Chose what I wanted and it came to over £200 so whittled it down a bit as I thought it was a bit much to spend in one go. Spent £125 in the end. When shops are actually open though it’s easy to spend way more than that over the course of a few shopping trips as I do enjoy buying my children clothes. I barely ever buy myself any! I don’t have a set budget, just buy as and when. My 2 boys are both at secondary now but fortunately aren’t bothered about labels yet and find Primark joggers and t shirts nice and comfy. I can hand a lot down from the eldest boy to his brother but I feel a bit mean if I’m often buying the oldest something new but saying to the youngest ‘here, you can use your brother’s.’ So I do get him a few new bits too and consequently his wardrobe is always packed out! My daughter’s only little so i love buying her clothes as they’re all still cute with nice pictures etc. I always hand down whatever I can from the boys to their cousin plus just about everything of my daughter’s goes to a friend’s daughter plus a few unisex bits go to a younger male cousin. Sadly we don’t get very much handed down to us.

AmyandPhilipfan · 21/02/2021 14:55

Also, while on the subject of clothes, can anyone recommend where to get jogging trousers from for 13 year old boys who are a bit plump?

Height wise he would be in age 13-14 clothes but I have to admit he has a bit of a tummy on him so I usually get him the next size up. But lots of places stop at age 14 for kids but he’s not really anywhere near an adult height yet. I tried M&S today as they go up to age 16 but all their age 14+ joggers were sold out. Does anyone have any suggestions please?

Original poster

NoseinBook3 · 21/02/2021 15:11

@AmyandPhilipfan

Also, while on the subject of clothes, can anyone recommend where to get jogging trousers from for 13 year old boys who are a bit plump?

Height wise he would be in age 13-14 clothes but I have to admit he has a bit of a tummy on him so I usually get him the next size up. But lots of places stop at age 14 for kids but he’s not really anywhere near an adult height yet. I tried M&S today as they go up to age 16 but all their age 14+ joggers were sold out. Does anyone have any suggestions please?

I’m not sure but H&M have lots of trousers with draw string waist or adjustable waist. I wasn’t looking for those sizes though but it’s probably worth a look

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Original poster

NoseinBook3 · 21/02/2021 15:13

Just had a look and they go up to 14+ in kids so maybe they might fit?

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kowari · 21/02/2021 15:17

@AmyandPhilipfan

Also, while on the subject of clothes, can anyone recommend where to get jogging trousers from for 13 year old boys who are a bit plump?

Height wise he would be in age 13-14 clothes but I have to admit he has a bit of a tummy on him so I usually get him the next size up. But lots of places stop at age 14 for kids but he’s not really anywhere near an adult height yet. I tried M&S today as they go up to age 16 but all their age 14+ joggers were sold out. Does anyone have any suggestions please?

Boys trousers are usually adult length once you get above a size 14, so even if the men's are a bit long they likely won't be longer than the boys'.

rosiejaune · 21/02/2021 16:28

My daughter is 9, and I probably spend a few hundred pounds over the year on clothes, including shoes and coats. It's all organic (apart from any plastic outdoor stuff).

Some things last two years (size wise, though they are not always worn out by then). And I sell the shoes afterwards (they are barefoot ones, so retain some value).

She's home educated so doesn't need uniform. And spends a lot of time in pyjamas at home anyway!

FuckyouBrennan · 05/03/2021 23:08

Spend probably £1000 per year on DD (8) including shoes. This does depend on how fast she grows. We obviously didn’t go anywhere last year, so she didn’t need holiday clothes or “nicer” stuff, it was all cheap playing out stuff so didn’t spend anywhere near that year last. This year she’s already had 2 pairs of trainers and new school shoes as her didn’t fit so that was £130 straight away. Just spent £300 on some new clothes as she’s had a growth spurt, which will see her through spring & summer. She chooses her own and really loves clothes, but she looks after them and appreciates them.

Probably spend less on the boys as they’re younger, even though there’s 2 lots to buy, and I pass down from the eldest boy to the youngest. So at the moment I’m buying 3-4 & 2-3 so clothes are still fairly cheap at this age. Coats & wellies have fitted youngest son this winter from oldest son last year so that’s worked out well.

Spudina · 05/03/2021 23:12

Probably about £200 for 2 DDs for summer clothes and the same for winter. Extra for school stuff and shoes. But there are only two years between them so DD2 gets a lot of hand me downs which helps.