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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Teenagers - how much do you spend on their clothes?

22 replies

InMincePieRehabBackSoon · 31/12/2021 11:21

Just trying to work out what's fair for DS age 14.

So, how do you manage your DC's clothing - do you give them an allowance for it, particularly if they like brands?

Do you just buy what they need as needed? If so, how much would you estimate you spend a month or year?

Thanks

OP posts:
mamaduckbone · 31/12/2021 11:26

I buy basics (school uniform, sports clothing, underwear, jeans, coats etc) but both of my boys like eye-wateringly expensive brands so our arrangement has always been that I will spend what I think is reasonable and they top up with birthday money / saved pocket money. For example, I might pay £20 for a t-shirt but if they want a t-shirt that costs £40 we'll go halves. They also get more expensive items like trainers as birthday / Christmas presents.

Original poster
InMincePieRehabBackSoon · 31/12/2021 11:26

Thanks - how much would you put down as a "baseline" for joggers or trousers for example?

OP posts:
alrightfella · 31/12/2021 11:54

@InMincePieRehabBackSoon I'd expect to pay about £30 for joggers or jeans for DS (14) no idea if this is average just thinking back on the cost of the last two pairs I've bought. I'd pay a bit more but if he wanted some that were say £50 I'd be thinking birthday/Christmas present or he contributes.

User135792468 · 31/12/2021 11:59

I agree with a PP, set out a realistic and fair amount you’re willing to pay per item and they have to top up the difference. Save the really expensive bits for birthdays and Christmas if feasible. Look at the websites for their favourite shops to figure out the amount. They shouldn’t need to top up every single item.

User135792468 · 31/12/2021 12:00

I think it’s also important to figure out how many items you’re willing to buy. In my experience, boys tend to have fewer but more expensive items whilst girls have a lot more but cheaper individual items.

AlexaShutUp · 31/12/2021 12:01

I give my dd a monthly allowance and she has to budget for what she wants. She has a part time job now too, but she had the allowance for a couple of years before that.

feelsobadfeltsogood · 31/12/2021 12:15

My brothers daughter is 14 but when she became a teenager he started giving her £100 a month for clothes and bits she wanted which I thought sounded a lot but realistically it's not that much.
They still buy her school uniform and coats etc but she has to buy shoes and any clothes, make-up and so some
Months she says she doesn't want it and she has double the next month and goes shopping but the shopping is always supervised by my sister in Law to make sure she doesn't buy a load of junk from primark that she'll wash once and it'll fall to bits!!

mamaduckbone · 01/01/2022 13:07

Wow - £100 a month sounds a lot! I agree with the op who said boys tend to have fewer more expensive items. Baseline for joggers / jeans probably about £30 - generally I'll pay high street prices and if it's a more designer brand that's when they top up.

Svara · 01/01/2022 13:14

I buy what's needed. DS doesn't care for brands and doesn't like any obvious branding other than a small logo. I haven't added up what it costs but it's not much.

Madwomanuptheroad29 · 01/01/2022 13:16

My 16 yer old is getting 80 a month into her account as combined pocket money/clothes allowance.
We pay school uniform, monthly bus ticket and phone.
The sum is what she calculated as reasonable.
She has suddenly discovered a love of charity shops and started sewing/customising.
We are definitely saving.

Remaker · 01/01/2022 13:19

I have a girl and a boy. DD definitely has more clothes of lower individual value. DS has fewer clothes but likes brands. He decided he wanted mostly clothes for Christmas so on Black Friday weekend he searched up and sent me links for the things he wanted on sale. For trainers I buy good quality that fit him well. He wanted special trainers that cost twice what I usually spend so for his birthday he got a voucher so he can buy them. I still feel like DD gets more spent on her for clothes and entertainment so we’ve decided to give them a monthly allowance and whatever they don’t spend they can keep/save. I have to look through the bank statement to work out what is reasonable.

Svara · 01/01/2022 13:23

Joggers were about £10, jeans were £5 (second hand), tshirts 3 for £25

PiesNotGuys · 01/01/2022 13:30

My teenager get £30 a month each with no strings attached and they can buy what they like with it. I’ll cover school uniform and boring basics.

But they both have jobs, one has two jobs, so they have their own money and priorities - clothes and brands don’t seem to be one of them yet.

alrightfella · 01/01/2022 13:39

@Svara where are you getting teenage sized joggers for £10? And three t shirts for £25?

Svara · 01/01/2022 13:49

[quote alrightfella]@Svara where are you getting teenage sized joggers for £10? And three t shirts for £25? [/quote]
Joggers from sports direct, tshirts from rapanai (can pick sizes and colours too)

alrightfella · 01/01/2022 13:51

@Svara I bought joggers last week from sports direct they were £28 although they were Nike maybe that makes them more expensive.

alrightfella · 01/01/2022 13:52

@Svara that sure looks great for plain t shirts thanks

AppleBarrel · 01/01/2022 13:53

I have a 14 yo teen, and I go with number of items.

If I think something is needed, I will pay for it - expensive branded stuff might sometimes need to be bought second hand though.

If I feel Dc already has enough hoodies of whatever item, then it's probably a birthday present/own pocket money scenario.

TBH my Dc is not massively into brands (though likes the occasional special thing for going out) and tends to live in casual/sportswear most of the time.

Svara · 01/01/2022 14:02

[quote alrightfella]@Svara I bought joggers last week from sports direct they were £28 although they were Nike maybe that makes them more expensive. [/quote]
DS's are Slazenger, I think they were actually less than £10 each. He doesn't care about brands though.

mamaduckbone · 02/01/2022 12:31

Oh to have a teenager that doesn't care about brands. I certainly don't but Dh does and was also a trainer fiend in his youth.

SnipSnipMrBurgess · 02/01/2022 12:40

I'm in ireland sp adjust for the wuro/Sterling, buy a pair of Nike runners can be 125, champion hoodie 70 euros, joggers 50euros.

So my teem asks for JD vouchers from people at Christmas, I replace tshirt/joggers etc as and when needed but if there was something ye wanted cos it's fashionable, like the runners, he would save up, use the vouchers, I'd pitch in a bit.

It's all really expensive so it's sporadic enough.

RagzReturnedUnwrapped · 02/01/2022 12:51

DD is 11, but wears adult size 8 (poor love got my boobs and hips early!), I took her to Primark the other day and basically bought everything for the season as she has grown again. She was asking for clothes/money for clothes for Christmas and birthday, but I explained I'm happy to pay for basics and she can save her money for special things.
We bought
3 pairs of jeans
I pair of joggers
4 t shirts
4 long sleeve tops
Pack of bras, socks and knickers
2 hoodies
3 shoes/trainers
Cost me £170. Will probably just do this twice a year and she can buy special stuff with her own money.

DS1 and 2 are harder as they don't like to.come shopping, quite happy to pick a bunch of things off Sports Direct website a few times a year. DS1 isn't interested in brands and just likes jeans and t shirts and hoodies, DS2 likes brands and would rather have fewer items but more expensive.

Cost wise, I budget £100 a month for all their clothes including uniform. So £400 a year per child. Probably easier to do a couple of big shops/online orders a year and then it's done.

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