Please HELP: How much to budget for back to School Shopping for 12 Year old girl going into 7th grade?

Question

My 12 year old daughter is going into 7th grade and I fear imminent bankruptcy due to her tastes in clothing. She says it is what everybody is wearing. I guess everyone is extremely wealthy to do all of their shopping at Pacsun and Wet Seal. $35 - $45 dollars for a t-shirt?

How much are you budgeting, how many new outfits do you expect to get? Do you have any tips for me? I really feel like I’m failing when it comes to the needs of PRE-TEEN style. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I'm not saying I would ever pay $35 for a t-shirt. I have my set of rules and I think I am doing a good job. However, I'm looking for your input, mostly, in the defense of "Everybody else has nice clothes." & "They all shop there."

Dear oxoxox,
Thank you for your severely misguided and misspelled answer.

SunnyDlite48, I read your profile, questions, and answers, and if you are who you portray yourself to be, you have the luxury of too much money and time on your hands. Yours is not the way the other 80% or more of us really live.

Answer 1

Just take her some place affordable. You know she is lying when she says "everybody is wearing it" so take her some place affordable. Either that, or she can use the clothes she already has.

Answer 2

This may sound a bit pretentious, but I buy expensive clothes off of eBay (some new, some used) for my 13yr. old and so she goes in 'style'...

I try hard to keep her from being too materialistic, but I also want her to feel like she fits in with the rest of the kids.

So taking into consideration your daughter has some clothes on hand, I believe the following would be a fair start...

Clothing: I would buy her enough to give her a different outfit every day for two or maybe three weeks. If you're smart you'll get pieces that can mix and match. This should carry her through to mid-term at least.

Footwear: A least a good pair of tennis shoes (two pair would be better), a pair of casual/dress shoes, and a pair of sandals also need to be a part of this.

Accessories: Purses, jewelry, etc. can be bought at a great discount off of eBay as well. You can ask your daughter what she prefers and in what colors.

I know there are those parents would think this is just not enough, but being sensible with a budget should fit in somewhere.

Finding a balance is something a lot of parents struggle with, and so I wish you luck.

Answer 3

I feel your pain. I am going to do a little back to school shopping for my fourteen year old daughter who is headed to 9th grade and my eleven year old daughter who is going to 6th grade when I get off work today. I am not wealthy, but I want my girls to be pleased with what they get for back to school. There is so much pressure to dress a certain way, especially in middle and high school. I am budgeting $150 per child. This is a really strict budget when you take into consideration that Nikes cost at least $50 (and that's off ebay). I would suggest that you check ebay for bargains. You should also take your daughter to Ross, Marshall's, Target, Goody's, TJMaxx, Old Navy, and the mall. When you get to the mall, hit the sale and clearance racks. The trick is to be very selective and shop around for the best bargain before making a purchase. By the way, I intend for each of my girls to get 3 outfits and new sneakers out of that $150. It can be done because I've done it before. If you allow your 12 yr old to dictate what purchases will be made, you will go bankrupt. Kids have no real understanding of money. They just expect to get what they want. Assert your parental control and tell your daughter that you will listen to what she would like to have and try to accomodate her wishes to the extent that you are able to. If she pouts and makes a fuss, tell her that the alternative is that she get nothing for back to school and wear what she already has. As parents, we can only do what we are financially able to do. Good luck and I hope that you catch some good sales. Your daughter can still be a fashion diva for a fraction of the price.

Answer 4

Nowadays you have to know where to shop.. Aeropostale has the same clothes style as those stores and way cheaper, Hollister isn't that bad either. Macys has some good deals if you look right too. Forever 21 has lots of cute tops for girls (tank tops and cute shirts) I don't think you should go crazy and buy a whole bunch of clothes for the whole year. You can budget between $250- $400 (not to be too cheap) but help her buy interchangeable outfits that she can mix & match. Tell her that these clothes are for a few months and gradually two or three outfits every two or three months. This of course is not including the price of shoes....... when I was young my mother was a spendthrift person but I got by. I have come to realize it doesn't matter what brand something is just as long as it is nice & I like it.. And this lesson I have taught my litter sister which is also 12

Answer 5

By 7th grade, I was buying mostly my own stuff with babysitting money. My mom would buy me one complete outfit (shirt, shoes, pants, etc) and then I was on my own. If your daughter has no source of income, then give her a set amount of say $150, and tell her she can spend it where she wants. If she's smart, she'll learn that she can go into a store like Ross or TJ Maxx and buy a whole new wardrobe. Working with a budget will be a educational experience, even if she doesn't llike it. I always felt like it wasn't fair when my mom set guidelines like that, because my friends had no limit shopping sprees. But she will understand your thoughts eventually. Besides, summer isn't over, and there is still time to get some more cash if she feels she needs it.

Answer 6

I would budget $500 for new clothes. This will go a long way at Marshall's or TJ Maxx, but will only get her 3-4 outfits at aeropostale or PacSun. Although Nordstrom's and Macy's have great clearance prices that are better than Target.

She's right. I don't know how parents are affording these clothes, but I do see all the junior high and high school kids wearing the expensive Aeropostale clothes. I also suppose it depends on where you live as well. Hope that helps

Answer 7

Wal-Mart has tons of t-shirts with cool screen prints just like any expensive store these days. I'm a working mom with a three year old, and I still like to wear funky stuff myself(my dress code at work is casual thank goodness!), but my budget is really tight of course, so when I do have extra cash I go to Wal-Mart or a thrift store. I used to shop at thrift stores all the time when I was a teenager, which, if you have patience and imagination, you can make some great finds there. Most importantly, you need to help your daughter learn that the clothes aren't what makes a person. Good luck :)

Answer 8

well, I'm like the same age as your daughter and i am a very cheap person. I dont mind buying clothes for cheap. I buy expensive clothes once in a while. Try going to Ross or something. i like the store Anchor Blue, and what I did one time was I went on there website and looked for a sale and did some serious math to get the most out of $50. it sounds stupid and a lot of work just for shopping but I mean, a girl has to look good.

Answer 9

7-10 outfits are reasonable to start off the school year. I agree with the advice I have read here. I would say that around $300 should do it. jeans can be more expensive but they are the most durable thing in most peoples wardrobe so they are worth the extra expense. also 2 pair of shoes are reasonable.

And she must already have some clothes that fit so it isn't as though she must be completely start from scratch.

i agree with you that $35 for a t-shirt is too expensive. don't allow it, unless you are giving her an allotment and then it is her choice as to how to spend the money.

Answer 10

Two of my children are pre-teen, 11 and 12. To be honest with you, we live in a RURAL community and we do not have a wide range of choices of department stores.Unless I choose to go an hour out of my way. Which for me, as a mother is great. I'm not having to go from store to store etc.
I buy my daughters' clothes at Wal-mart,K-mart and Kohl's. I make sure they get enough clothes to mix and match in order to make several out-fits for the week and that's it. A winter coat, gloves, hat, socks , under-garments , as well. Just on those 2 children I will spend no more than $300. To me, that's enough. There are too many other things to buy for, and everything is just too darn expensive nowadays. A lot of kids have no respect or idea how hard it is for parents to make ends meet and they could care less. Unless they have RICH parents that give them EVERYTHING they want. To me, that's not good parenting, that's being LAZY and shows NO discipline. Good luck to you! They're growing up fast!

Answer 11

I feel for you! I lucked out cause I have boys and I have to FORCE them to go to the mall!
Anyways, I would plan on 5 new outfits, one for each day of the week. Plus a couple pairs of shoes. I would budget about $75. per outfit. She should chose pieces that can be mixed and interchanged. Hit the sales at her favorite stores and try stores like Old Navy. Target has cute junior size clothes too.
Also, ther may be a resale store in your town for teen clothes, one I know of is called Plato's Closet. Maybe she could go thru her closet and sell some of the things she doesn't want anymore to contribute to the clothing budget. Plus she might find some stuff there that she likes too.
Good luck!