As the back-to-school season approaches, my son recently suggested we hit the mall for shopping instead of our usual go-to spots—outlet malls and my beloved discount retailers like Ross and Burlington. After explaining that we have two other kids to outfit with clothing, backpacks, and school supplies, he wasn’t thrilled with my response.
Here’s the reality: Kids need food, shelter, water, and yes, clothes. But I refuse to shell out a fortune on jeans that cost more than my monthly utility bill just to watch them outgrow them within a few months.
If they want those high-priced sneakers that rival the cost of new tires for the car, they can figure out how to earn that money themselves. After all, they’re teenagers now! Instead of spending their allowance on candy and video games, they can save up for those pricey jeans that seem to be woven from gold threads.
I’m not about to let them have a wardrobe that’s more expensive than mine. After all, I’m the parent here. I could share my father’s wise words from my own childhood when I begged for designer jeans: “School isn’t a fashion show.” But let’s be honest—I believed it was a fashion show back then, and it still kind of is today.
Whether it’s for the kids or the parents is up for debate, but I understand that looking “lit” is important to them. My bargain-hunting skills are top-notch, yet they don’t even appreciate my efforts.
I have zero guilt about sending them to school in off-brand or last season’s clearance items. Are they comfortable, warm, and still cute? Absolutely! If they’re wearing a button-down that didn’t come from a high-end brand and don’t own an outfit that costs more than a week’s groceries, they’ll be just fine. Plus, it teaches them to appreciate what they have.
Kids are messy. They grow quickly, spill things, and wear out their clothes no matter the price tag. If they want to ruin a good pair of jeans, let it be a discount pair I bought on sale. They play outside, get dirty, and use their shirts as makeshift napkins. So, if they want to keep up with their friends in designer gear, they’ll need to work for it.
I’m not concerned with ensuring they wear the latest trends or comparing their closet to their peers. Honestly, thinking about it exhausts me.
The main reason I’m avoiding extravagant back-to-school shopping is that they’re just kids, and they don’t need expensive clothing at this age. There are far better things to spend my hard-earned money on—like braces, toilet paper, and candles to maintain a bit of sanity when they start whining about needing $200 jeans.
So yes, I’ll be taking my “deprived” kids to all the discount stores, and they can cringe all they want. In the long run, I’m doing them a favor by helping them value the little things and keeping the extravagant purchases at bay for now.
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Summary
In this article, I discuss why I’m opting for budget-friendly school clothes instead of splurging on expensive brands for my kids. Despite their protests, I believe it’s important for them to learn the value of money and appreciate what they have. Kids grow quickly and can be messy, making it impractical to invest heavily in their wardrobes. Ultimately, there are far more pressing expenses to consider as a parent.