https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:00:28 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes/page/2#post-319036 Mon, 01 Oct 2012 12:11:16 +0000 daniellemybelle 319036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom took me shopping seasonally for basics, although I would get a few cute things too. So four times a year, I'd get a decent haul of jeans, T-shirts, shoes, etc. from Old Navy / Target / etc. Sometimes we would go shopping for fun and she'd buy me a top or something. My parents definitely kept me dressed! But I started working part-time when I was 15, and I would use my own money to buy things I liked when I felt like it. It was a good mix. </p> <p>My brothers on the other hand never bought their own clothes, but they were generally happy with what my mom provided so there wasn't a need. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes/page/2#post-318676 Mon, 01 Oct 2012 09:57:55 +0000 oahujeni 318676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I won't make my teen buy his own clothes, but if he wants anything above and beyond the basics (school clothes, undergarments, etc) then he can use his work money to buy them. My parents completely stopped buying me clothes when I was 14 which when looking back seems pretty crappy (especially since I know they still buy clothes for my younger siblings that are now in their 20s), but I had an after school job to pay for them and I still got As in school. I guess it depends on the teen and how much they can handle. I liked feeling independent at that age so didn't think twice about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes/page/2#post-318666 Mon, 01 Oct 2012 09:51:29 +0000 Mrsbells 318666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Food, clothing and shelter are basic necessities that parents should provide. Its different if they want a specific designer item and want to save towards it, then they can pay for that themselves, but in general I would buy clothes for my child. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes/page/2#post-318661 Mon, 01 Oct 2012 09:48:56 +0000 looch 318661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Crumbs: same here, mandatory school is complete by age 15. There are a bunch of options for continuing, I actually had to break down and buy a book so I could understand the paths.</p> <p>I actually don't know what happens to the allowance, I have to find out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes/page/2#post-318645 Mon, 01 Oct 2012 09:42:47 +0000 SugarplumsMom 318645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: We have the same thing here! But by 16, the money usually goes directly into the kids account IF they stay in school, it's supposed to be an extra incentive to continue studying. HS isn't mandatory (weird)! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-318515 Mon, 01 Oct 2012 08:42:29 +0000 looch 318515@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son also gets the allowance from the government, I mean, technically it comes from tax payers, but it's a nice amount of money that we can use as we please. We get it from birth until they're done with school.</p> <p>We use it to buy clothes and toys, we also invest some of it. I'll miss it when we return to the US, that's for sure!</p> <p>WRT to the original topic, we'll provide clothing, just like we provide food. The basics will be covered, but extras, like expensive designer items will not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-316614 Sat, 29 Sep 2012 06:53:37 +0000 blackbird 316614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@crumbs, my mom was really good about letting me get whatever i wanted. I didn't dress skanky or anything, though. I find that she imposes her style on me more NOW than she ever did when i was in school! She worked in a high school and was in the know about what was cool and what I liked to wear. </p> <p>@cocobee, if my kid wants clothes, he can come with me or he can let me pick him out stuff. No big deal, i'm not going to force a 15 year old to come shopping with me :) </p> <p>As far as trendy/designer stuff goes...I have expensive stuff in my closet and I value nice stuff, but I don't buy them frequently. So I don't want my kid to think that I get myself whatever I want, but she has to shop the sale rack because I get the good stuff. I do both for myself. But I think like designer jeans/purses are excellent birthday/christmas gifts....or things I can let my mom knows they want!</p> <p>(ditto @anonysquire) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-316562 Sat, 29 Sep 2012 04:44:11 +0000 anonysquire 316562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I'll buy my kids clothes, cell and car. I was provided those things and I am still a very hard worker, independent person. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-316404 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 22:00:04 +0000 Freckles 316404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We'll obviously buy the necessities, but they'll need to save up for items that are pricier. For instance, we'll give them a cap of $50 on shoes, and if they want something more trendy/expensive, they'll have to pay anything above that cap. </p> <p>I started working at my parents' store when i was 14, and started buying my own clothes when i was 15. They bought me the necessities, but i always felt guilty if i asked for something more expensive (though they didn't have a problem buying it for me since i didn't ask that often). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-316378 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 21:40:24 +0000 SugarplumsMom 316378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: My mom's the same way. She actually buys DH his clothes! He's uber easy to shop for, he wears jeans and polo shirts or a regular t-shirts. Though he's kind of tall, so it's tricky to find shirts long enough and the type of Levi's he likes, they don't sell here. So she sends those. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-316316 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 20:53:26 +0000 prettylizy 316316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think we'll do some sort of hybrid of buying for her and letting her save up for herself. My parents would take us back to school shopping every fall up until high school, and there were always clothes gifted to us at birthdays and christmas. If we were shopping together, mom and dad would pay for some stuff to be nice, but we worked and bought our own stuff too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-316304 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 20:42:00 +0000 immabeetoo 316304@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will probably follow my parents' lead. We evaluated what I had and what I needed, and then I had an allowance for that/shopped with her. So jeans, socks, tennis shoes, nice-ish stuff for school. After that, recreational shopping with friends was all on me.</p> <p>The allowance was important - I never got into "designer" stuff because.. I would've only had one outfit, ha!</p> <p>Once I had a job at 14, I was even more on my own for stuff I didn't actually need. I definitely appreciate that though - when I was told I had to pay for my own hair cuts &amp; highlights... I started cutting my own hair and stopped dying it! It became a habit and has easily saved me a thousand dollars over the past.. 5 years combined. Similarly, I started shopping at thrift stores and revamping/upcycling things to fit and look the way I wanted.. which I still do today :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-316276 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 20:19:06 +0000 SugarplumsMom 316276@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I asked DH about it and the verdict is he had to buy his own clothes at 14 - even socks and underwear! I was so shocked about this and he claims all kids at 14 WANT to buy their own clothes. He can't understand why I'm so shocked! </p> <p>He says his parents bought the expensive stuff like a winter jacket, winter shoes or if there was something that was expensive that their kids wouldn't be able to afford on their own. But yes, he had to save his allowance to buy jeans, socks, and underwear.</p> <p>I find this so odd! Working while in school is illegal here, but summer work isn't. Though he never had to, nor wanted to work to buy anything. But all kids in Sweden get the same amount of "allowance" by the state. It's every kid's right and his parents also gave him allowance. So he said he never had to actually save, by the end of the money he always had more than enough.</p> <p>"When you're 14, you don't want your parents to buy your clothes."</p> <p>I still think it's weird. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-315762 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:56:06 +0000 birdofafeather 315762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my parents bought me clothes through college. if i wanted something more expensive though, i had jobs, etc to pay for it. i like what @Coco Bee suggests though in terms of giving an allowance for clothes. if they want to blow it on two shirts and a pair of jeans, then that's on them. i would shop at TJ Maxx, Marshalls, etc. it was a bigger source of pride within my friend group to find some awesome outfit for $0.50 than spend a fortune on clothes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-315524 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 12:20:14 +0000 Rubies 315524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will buy her an appropriate amount of clothing in a variety of styles and colours. But if there is something particular or specific that she wants (ie. fashion sneakers, leather jacket, etc.) then she will save her money to buy it herself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-315506 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 12:13:30 +0000 ladyfingers 315506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd never thought about this, but my parents always bought my clothes. Of course, it was subject to veto. If he wanted anything terribly expensive that isn't a necessity, he would need to buy it himself. If it was anything inappropriate (for a boy, I guess that would just be stuff with dirty sayings on it, etc.) he could certainly buy it himself, but I wouldn't let him wear it anyway ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-315461 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 11:54:09 +0000 JerricaBenton 315461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We'll definitely buy our kids' clothes. I do think it is a great idea to have a young teenager/older teen save up for something extra that they want, like and expensive bag or shoes. I like that it teaches a kids to appreciate things that they pay for themselves. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-315444 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 11:44:27 +0000 Honeybee 315444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom still sends me clothes... Actually, she buys clothes for everyone in the family! she just sent a big box of t-shirts for DH the other day.</p> <p>I think we'll continue to buy the kids' clothes, but by college, we'll probably start cutting back. I'll probably still send them things occasionally, but by college, they should be buying the majority of their own clothes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-315385 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 11:19:31 +0000 Meridian 315385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents always bought my clothes through high school, so I'm sure I will do the same. Once I hit maybe Jr or Sr year, they just gave me a set amount, $200 I think, for back-to-school clothes shopping. Somehow I managed to stretch that and bought a lot of stuff! </p> <p>Even now on the rare occasion that I go shopping with my mom, she'll still buy me a dress or something... and I'm 32 years old, hehehe!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-315326 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 10:51:48 +0000 heffalump 315326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll buy her clothes. If she wants something crazy expensive that I don't think she needs, she can save up and buy it herself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-315303 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 10:42:39 +0000 ShootingStar 315303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I probably won't do this. I'd rather my kids concentrate on their school work. An after school job or occasional baby sitting money is great for extra spending money. But I'd rather they worried about getting grades and being involved in extra curriculars that are good for resumes, than to be worried about not having enough clothes to wear to school every day.</p> <p>When I was kid my mom took me shopping in the fall for the school year, and got me clothes as presents for Christmas and my birthday (in the spring). I imagine I'll do something similar. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-315261 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 10:30:51 +0000 LAGS 315261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was gifted clothes and Mom would always take us back to school shopping etc. but other than that, anything else we wanted we bought and paid for ourselves. </p> <p>It was a want vs. need thing for my family. What we needed, our parents supplied. What we wanted (like a 15th pair of jeans, or some other unnecessary splurge), was up to us. I assume I'll do something similar for our children, I always felt it was fair and felt taken care of. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-315253 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 10:24:46 +0000 pinkcupcake 315253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents bought me all my clothes, so I'll do the same for my LO. I did have to save up and chip in some of my own allowance money if I wanted to get something expensive, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-315177 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 10:02:48 +0000 hilsy85 315177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't imagine NOT buying my kids their clothes...it seems strange to me to have them buy things like jeans, t shirts, etc. especially when they're growing and probably need new stuff each year. That doesn't mean I'll pay for ridiculously priced things (like really expensive shoes or multiple pairs of $200 jeans). If they want THAT stuff, they can save for it, or they can get it for birthdays/holidays. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-315140 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:49:31 +0000 Rock n Roll 315140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom took me shopping on occasion when I had outgrown my old clothes and truly needed new ones. But most clothes were received as gifts so we could appreciate them. I started working when I was 14, so I bought my own stuff a lot. And I did hand-me-downs most of my childhood since I had an older cousin. </p> <p>I just want my kids to appreciate when we buy them things because we're NOT made of money. I rarely buy myself clothes. I wear things until they're falling apart. Going shopping is not a birth right! </p> <p>The other thing is that she really needs clothes for her birthday and she really does not need any toys. She has way too many as it is. So, we're just getting her one big toy (a play kitchen). I figure if we give her the clothes for her birthday, it will give her more presents to unwrap, which is a big part of the fun at this age, no matter what is inside. Not to mention that I dropped a few hundred bucks on these clothes, so I would prefer the pageantry of her opening them instead of just sadly folding it and putting it in a drawer. ;)</p> <p>I AM a sucker for special occasion shopping. I do a pretty Easter dress every year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-315127 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:44:18 +0000 Mrs. Pen 315127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Crumbs: perhaps... but somehow I dealt with it and made it through my teen years alive... and happy even ;) If my future daughter choose only a few brand name pieces, I will remain steadfast to our agreement and not give in, and hopefully she'll have learned her lesson by the next year :)</p> <p>and aww that is really special I think! I remember once my g'ma took me shopping and it was so fun. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-315126 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:43:26 +0000 LuLu Mom 315126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will purchase the basics and make sure she has enough clothing, but if she wants something "extra" or unncessary she will either have to save up for it or be gifted it. This is how my parents were with me, and it worked out great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-315098 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:35:38 +0000 Alivoo01 315098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We'd purchase the clothing, but if they wanted something that we don't want to pay for (e.g. not practical - crazy name brand that costs $$), they can purchase it with their own money. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-315078 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:31:50 +0000 Mrs. Bee 315078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i won't be able to resist. i will get my vicarious shopping high by buying things for them instead of myself! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spin-off-will-you-make-your-teens-buy-their-own-clothes#post-315009 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:12:15 +0000 DillonLion 315009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will definitely be buying my LOs clothes. I do not trust pre-teens/teenagers to buy appropriate things for themselves. I want to have veto power. </p>