How Often Do You Buy Clothes?

Updated on August 26, 2011
K.L. asks from Story City, IA
21 answers

I read another post on here about how much money you have left over at the end of the month to buy things such as clothes and it got me thinking about how often people actually buy clothes. For myself, I can't really remember the last time I bought myself clothes! I'm a SAHM and I usually spend my days in T-shirts, yoga pants and jeans...I'm a simple girl! Last year before I got pregnant, I lost about 40 pounds, so I had to buy some new stuff for myself. And when I do buy clothes, it's basically just t-shirts from Walmart or our outlet mall in town. My husband really only gets stuff as needed, which isn't often at all.

My 6 year old daughter never seems to need clothes! She just started school and I didn't have to buy anything for her because everything still fits. I've just gone thru her closet and she won't need much more for the fall and winter either, probably just jeans! And when I do buy her clothes, it's usually from one of the 2 awesome second hand stores we have here.

So, am I odd for not buying us new clothes all that often? I mean, if things still fit and are still in great condition, why buy more clothes?

What can I do next?

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A.C.

answers from Boston on

I only buy clothes when I have absolutely no other choice. I know it's not normal, but I HATE to shop. So if my size changes, or the butts are finally all worn out on my jeans, then I drag myself to the store.

5 moms found this helpful

A.M.

answers from Kansas City on

I'm a snob...I am always buying the kids clothes...but I only buy off the clearance racks. So I tend to buy a season or two ahead.

I have recently lost some weight so I've been buying shirts, and just wearing old jeans/pants with belts...I don't want to go there yet.

Updated: I use my individual money to buy them things and not the money we have for bills/expenses.

2 moms found this helpful

More Answers

N.P.

answers from San Francisco on

Shh. Don't tell anyone but I'm 33 and still have t-shirts from high school in my closet. I don't go clothes shopping unless something turns into a rag on my body as I'm wearing it.

6 moms found this helpful

T.L.

answers from St. Louis on

We honestly don't buy many clothes either. I am luck enough to wear jeans and t's to work every day too. However, I do get bored wearing the same old things every day, but can't manage to get up any earlier to dress up. I may buy a new shirt for myself here and there, but that's about it. My husband only gets clothing as needed. The kids only needed new jeans for this winter so we don't spend that much on clothing. We too get most of our children's clothing at upscale 2nd hand stores.

3 moms found this helpful
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B..

answers from Dallas on

I haven't purchased clothing in several years!! I am lucky, in that I've been the same size since high school. When I was pregnant, I borrowed some size medium clothes from a friend. I HATE shopping. For my son, he is still growing like a weed. We get mostly free hand me downs for him, and the grandparents purchase the rest. We don't even budget for clothing, when we revamped our budget. My husband gets new clothing every year, or so. He needs nicer jeans for his job, and he can go through jeans about every year. We just take that out of our extra/misc. section of the budget.

2 moms found this helpful
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B.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

It all depends on how you want to spend your money.

Some people are clothes horses and some are not.

I bought two pairs of "Sunday" pants in March or April because they had them on sale. I bought a pair of jeans at the second hand store for $3 and three dress shirts for $3 each. I bought two pairs of socks at the 99 cent store for 99 cents for both. I bought two long sleeve white shirts for church for $7 because they were on clearance. (Normal price was $20 each.) And that's all the clothes I've bought in the last 3 or 4 years or so.

I'd rather spend my money on other things.

Good luck to you and yours.

2 moms found this helpful

T.C.

answers from Austin on

Here in TX we have a "tax-free" weekend, and that's when I do a lot of my shopping. We went to Walmart and the outlet mall and I bought a rainbow of $4 t-shirts for myself. When my old ones get holes and deodorant stains I don't feel guilty about tossing them.
For our son, whenever we find a pair of pants or shorts that fit him and are comfortable, we stock up on a few sizes. My husband likes to shop online and we also get hand-me-downs from his family. I get annoyed with my husband, though, because often he will buy new clothes for our son without "shopping" in his closet first to see what we already have. Sometimes we just want new things- he's 9 and the 4T Bob the Builder shorts have got to go even though they still fit.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

I seem to be buying clothes continually. I never buy expensive clothes, and often try to pick up bargains at a great second hand store. I need to stop!

1 mom found this helpful

J.I.

answers from San Antonio on

I really don't buy clothes either. When I do, it's 3 shirts here and a pair of jeans there. I spend less than $40 each trip. In one month, I likely spend about $30 on clothes, if that.

1 mom found this helpful

M.L.

answers from Houston on

I love to buy clothes, I own way more than I should, for me, it's about retail therapy... then I go and return most of them. But, I get most of them at thrift stores and garage sales and I spend very little. I have recently even had to cut back on that.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.N.

answers from Los Angeles on

Well I buy 1-2 items of clothes probably every other month, either work or casual depending on what I need since I work in business environment, I need suits and nice clothes for work. I also lost a bit of weight after my last son and needed pretty much everything new since nothing fit. I buy my kids clothes pretty regularly, but only on sale, and my youngest gets all the hand me downs so I don't feel guilty. My husband doesn't really buy anything new, I usually get him clothes on birthdays or Christmas since he wears a uniform to work, he's a plumber.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

I buy clothes for my kids, as they grow out of them.
They recently grew out of, clothes/shoes I got them only 2 months ago.

Me- well I hardly buy clothes for myself. But recently there was a good sale on Old Navy online, and I got some stuff just for myself.
Under $50.
So I was happy.

My Husband- only as he needs it. Which is not often.

As most Moms... we get things for the kids, mostly. Necessities. Clothing. Underwear. Shoes. etc.

I only shop sales.
Of course, as most Moms do.

1 mom found this helpful

C.M.

answers from Washington DC on

I buy new clothes for my kids maybe 2 times a year. they need winter clothes, and summer clothes and that's really the only time unless we are doing something special. For my husband, he hates to shop. The last time he (or me) bought anything for him was right after we moved here in January and it was because he needed a jacket in the winter. For me, I did actually buy a sweater today but usually I don't buy stuff for myself. I had to buy some jeans last month because I wore holes in the knees of my other pair. I only have 3 pairs of jeans and no pants, so it was time. My birthday is coming up in Oct and my mom will be visiting so she said she will take me shopping.

1 mom found this helpful

C.P.

answers from Columbia on

I love to have some pretty things, but usually just stick to the basics. I have some nice dresses, but I always by classic, non-trendy styles that are timeless.

Before spending $112 at Maurice's last month (4 pairs of new shorts, 4 shirts, a dress and a cardigan...not a bad deal!), I hadn't bought clothes since I returned from deployment in 2009! And I still have items from ten years ago. Every so often I go through and donate what I don't wear, but what I do wear is well loved and taken care of. :o)

1 mom found this helpful
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M.C.

answers from Detroit on

Wow, I wish I were more like you:) I tend to get my clothes off the clearance rack whenever I see something that I think looks good on me, I'll buy it. I tend to wear out my clothes since I'm constantly washing and wearing them as I have a small closet and one dresser, and I'm a minimalist, so I hate clutter. Every season though any of my good clothes that I'm sick of wearing, get donated. As for the kids, since mine are still young, I buy them clothes as they outgrow them. I don't buy them designer duds. I figure that's coming up as my kids grow older.

1 mom found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I do not buy clothes monthly. I buy them when I need to update something.

I do buy from good stores. You get what you pay for. For instance, 12 yrs ago I bought a beaufiful classic dressy dress from Neiman-Marcus and I still wear it to formal functions... it looks great, is something that is always appropriate.

I might buy 1 good new pair of jeans a year if I retire an older pair, about $150 but they last 10+ yrs.

I am not one who likes to go clothes shopping. I go buy what I need when I need it and move on. I have personal shopper at White House Black Market who knows my style and when they get something in that she knows is my style, I go try it on and buy it if I love it.

My 16 yr old daughter is another story. She thinks she needs an outfit set up for the month and rarely wears something twice in a month. She buys most of it with her money from Abercrombie, Hollister, Victoria's Secret, etc.

1 mom found this helpful

T.C.

answers from Dallas on

Um...not very often. Maybe once or twice a year? And, usually I'm only buying stuff because I've been pregnant so much the past five years that I can't fit into my normal clothes at times and need something else.

I did recently realize how out of style I had gotten, though! I used to care about style a lot and enjoyed dressing nice and cute...then I started having babies. I've recently started looking into it more and have gotten rid of a ton of my non-prego clothes because they are more in style for around the year 2000. When I have this baby, I will need to go buy some more - hopefully IN STYLE - clothes. I remember when I was a teen, I always wondered why some of the people a decade or more older than me were dressing like they were still in the 80's or something. I didnt' get how they couldn't see how out of style they were! So, I was surprised to realize I was kind of doing the same thing:-) hehe. I've noticed a lot of my friends do the same thing too. hehe.

So - I'm not really sure how to answer the question. For the past five years or so, it's mostly been to buy clothes that fit me post baby (my belly bieng the main problem!). I have lots of different sizes. After this baby comes, I'll be done having babies. I'll be able to get my body back to whatever normal is, and then I'll probably buy clothes every few months (not a lot of them - probably a shirt here and there, then a pair of pants another time, and maybe some shoes, etc) just to stay somewhat in style. I'm not in to buying from expensive stores. Target or some online store would probably be enough. I wouldn't need anything super expensive because I don't plan on wanting to wear it for years and years since styles change.

For My Kids:
A couple times a year. We used to get hand me downs a lot and didn't have to buy anything, but that's been happening less as they get older, so we're having to buy more so the kids have clothes! We buy as inexpensive as we can..but I do like it to be stylish and cute.

For My Hubby:
A couple times a year. We're trying to redo his wardrobe slowly. He's been stuck about 10 years behind, so we're catching up. For work, we buy new clothes about once a year.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

For my son, I buy when he outgrows stuff.
For me, whenever I can get out of the house, uninterrupted for a few hours! (Maybe every other month.)
My husband is like a self-contained mechanism--seems he always has spare packs of undies, socks, etc. And since he wears "work clothes" every day, his "nice stuff" lasts forever. I have to pitch if they go out of style (pants with pleats, etc.)

1 mom found this helpful

M.C.

answers from Pocatello on

I buy clothes about once a year, for my husband and I. If I catch a deal at a second hand store, or have a special event to attend, I might buy an outfit or 2 other times. Almost all my kid's clothes are secondhand, unless they are gifted to us... but you couldn't ever tell... some of them are even ralph lauren! My older girl gets clothes twice a year- summer clothes and winter ones... her sister gets her clothes. New clothes usually only come as gifts.

I do buy an Easter dress, a Fourth of July outfit, Halloween costumes and Christmas clothes for my girls, When my younger daughter is a little older she will wear the older one's "seasonal clothes" - but she is a summer baby so right now all her sizes are "opposite" my older daughter's.

-M.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.R.

answers from Phoenix on

Wow, I think you should pat yourself on your back for not being a clothes hoarder in today's world.

One of my best friends is a realtor (extremely successful), and she tells me ALL the time how she can't stand to go into people's homes and see closets jam packed with brand new clothes with the tags still on them, new shoes still in the boxes, unopened and unused, etc.

I wish I lived as simply as you and all I can say is that I'm working on it. Really, just today I went through my kids closets and will be driving to Goodwill tomorrow with 2 huge bags of last years clothes.

My clothes goal is to have 14 outfits per season. But we have moved so often and then travel a lot so I end up with more than I need to live with, but end up wearing most of it all over a few year time span. Like I wont' wear the same clothes to Maui as I would to Italy, or Calgary versus Phoenix. The climates and styles are just too different.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.C.

answers from Columbus on

I used to never buy clothes... until I started thrift store shopping. Now, I'll stop by the thrift store about 4 times per year, and spend about $15-$20 per visit. There is a really nice one right next to where we shop for our pet food, so the temptation is higher now, LOL. Except for specific things like bras & underwear, which we buy new, we always shop the thrift store first. It's just cheaper. This includes clothes for me, DH & LO.

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