Kids & Clothes

tropicana · 02-17-2004, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean

I was hoping for clevage.

I could have lived my entire life without that mental picture.

2ManArmy · 02-17-2004, 07:50 AM

If I were a parent...
I would lay down a list of places where I would buy them clothes (i.e., Target, Wal-Mart, -and the mall for holiday clothes only-), and if they want something off that list, then they have to pay for it them themselves. This can result in numerous outcomes, though the first and most satisfying/amusing is: your child will suddenly realize that they don't like those clothes as much as they thought they did. I started buying many of my own clothes when I was 12 or 13, and now I shop mostly at American Eagle (which is priced close to Abercrombie, but has good sales), and I'm a great bargain shopper now. I can generally get a high-quality, mall-purchased outfit for little or no more than a Target outfit would have cost.
That's just one tactic, but IMO, it's the most logical one.
And a side note: I wouldn't recomment buying expensive clothes -other than church clothes- for a kid who wasn't substantially grown... b/c church clothes don't get ruined as much as play clothes, and they can be handed down to younger siblings.
Just my .02.

**Role Modlin** · 02-17-2004, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2ManArmy

And a side note: I wouldn't recomment buying expensive clothes -other than church clothes- for a kid who wasn't substantially grown... b/c church clothes don't get ruined as much as play clothes, and they can be handed down to younger siblings.
Just my .02.

Define "church" clothes. Just kidding.

But seriously, we go to a very casual church so my kids wear jeans and such. Heck, I wear jeans most of the time.

idk_andy · 02-17-2004, 03:30 PM

I've got 3 boys - 13, 10 & 8. (As if this qualifies me to spout off...yeah, right.

)

I think the advise to say "No" is good. Don't forget...YOU are the parent. What You say, goes. It doesn't hurt their psychie to hear you lay down the law.

IF they want to buy pricey stuff, let them pay for it themselves. It teaches them the worth of working and saving for what they want and they are more likely to take good care of things that they bought themselves.

bobthecockroach · 02-17-2004, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idk_andy

IF they want to buy pricey stuff, let them pay for it themselves. It teaches them the worth of working and saving for what they want and they are more likely to take good care of things that they bought themselves.

But doesn't teach them how to spend money wisely. :kroll:

Elizabeth · 02-18-2004, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobthecockroach

But doesn't teach them how to spend money wisely. :kroll:

It could. If they realize how stupid it is to spend a lot of money on a piece of clothing just because it has a certain name on it, they could very well learn that it's better to buy cheaper stuff.

loriborealis · 03-06-2004, 08:52 AM

My one tip is whatever you choose to do with the first, do with the second.

My parents wouldn't buy me name brand clothes, and I was always really self-conscious about it. (I was a self-conscious child.) Then my younger brother came along and my parents had more money by then, and they bought him the clothes he wanted because they could now. Whatever their motives were didn't matter to me- I was irate!

**Role Modlin** · 03-06-2004, 10:21 AM

I vivdly remember wanting a Members Only jacket back in junior high school. This was in 1984 when they were cool, as hard as that may be to imagine now.

Well, they cost $45 and that was a bunch of money back then. And I had to have one. EVERYBODY had one. My parents made me a deal. If I made all As on my report card they'd buy me one. It took two tries but I finally got one. It was burgandy and I thought it was the greatest thing since the Atari 2600. That coat was my prized possession. I appreciated it because it took discipline for me to get it. My parents would do that whenever I wanted something pricey. The same thing happened when I wanted a $75 pair of white leather Sperry Top Siders. They didn't mind spending the extra money, but in return, I always had to work for it. I got what I wanted, but I realized that it was gonna cost me as well as my folks. As a parent, I really appreciate that now. When my boys get old enough to start wanting those kinds of things, I'll probably do the same thing.

Gracie Love · 03-17-2004, 02:01 AM

My kids are not old enough for that. I agree totally about not paying $40 for shoes that they are going to were for like a second. My 5 your old Matthew has to have a new pair of shoes every 2-3 months. He grows that fast. Poor kid. He is only 18 inches shorter than me now.

My husband and I were never into the expensive stuff. I never did care what people thought. Neither did John for that matter. I think that if you instill in them a good set of values and teach them that the tag has not importance they don't care about it. (btw not saying your aren't instilling those values already) It also depends on the parents, whether or not they wear Walmart clothes or Macy's (whatever store). I am trying to instill in Matthew now a since of priorities wear it comes to money. You know- tithe your 10% first-Then save 10%- Then whatever ever you want. I think we have to do this when they are young so they learn not to use credit cards and so on.