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Last Updated on July 14, 2022 by Diane Hoffmaster
Last month, while planning our Florida vacation, my daughter came to me and told me that only three pairs of her shorts fit her from last year. Great. Three days before we leave and she has barely any summer clothes to wear! While teens tend to grow slower than smaller children, they still outgrow their clothes. This means that saving money on clothing for teens is a priority.
Whether it is a growth spurt of a couple of inches or a broadening of the shoulders, my teens still need new clothes almost every season. And since they wear adult sizes and have particular tastes, this isn't always cheap! There are a few ways to save money on teen clothes that I thought I would share, to help you stay within budget as the new school year approaches.
Tips for Saving Money on Clothing for Teens
I have family members and friends who hand their teenagers $50 every time they go to the mall. Well, that just isn't happening in my house. Clothes generally are functional, versatile, and come in a limited supply.
I feel it is my responsibility to keep them clothed but that doesn't mean they get to buy a new wardrobe every season on my dime. Here are a few ways to start saving money on clothes when your teens tell you they desperately need something new.
Shop Second Hand:
Not all second-hand clothes are worn and out of date. There are several resale stores in our area that cater to teens and only accept high-end clothing. You get name brands they love but for a very reasonable cost. Look for a Plato's Closet in your area. That is one of our favorites.
More Teen Parenting Articles to Check Out
- Back to School Teen Shopping Tips for Less Stress and More Fashion!
- What To Do for Teens Who Need Help with Getting a Job
- Things College Kids Need to Stay Organized
- A Message for my Daughter About Acting Her Age
Shop online clearance sales:
While shopping in stores for clearance is also great, many clothing stores have clearance sections online as well. We regularly find great deals at some of their favorite stores just by going online and checking out their website. You can usually pair clearance clothes with online discount codes as well.
Consign what they don't want anymore:
Instead of giving away what they no longer wear, consider putting those clothes on consignment. The money earned by selling your teen's clothes will help cut the cost of the new items they insist that they need.
Join store email lists
Many retailers offer special coupons and bonus deals for people who sign up for their newsletter. Head over to your teen's favorite stores and sign up. Then, watch your inbox (especially your spam folder!) for the deal to show up!
Encourage a teenager clothing swap
I bet your teen's friends all have clothes that don't fit or that they don't like. Have a clothing swap party one weekend. Ask each teen to bring over 5 outfits that they no longer want or need. Then, everyone gets to swap outfits with each other. Make a night of it with movies and popcorn or whatever else your teens enjoy doing with friends.
Never pay full price online
There are millions of coupon codes online to help you start saving money on clothing for your teenagers. Never complete your purchase without checking various online coupon sites for great clothing discount codes.
Saving money on clothing for your teens means setting a budget, letting them know what that budget is, and sticking to it. If your teenager has a job, they can be responsible for purchases that they may not NEED but really WANT.
Let them know how much you are willing to spend and encourage them to find ways to get as much clothing as they can for less money! Have any other tips for saving money on clothes for teens?
Here are a few other posts you might enjoy!
Consignment Sale Tips from a Veteran Shopper
Back to School Shopping Tips for Teens
Diane is a professional blogger and nationally certified pharmacy technician at Good Pill Pharmacy. She has two college aged kids, one husband and more pets than she will admit to. She earned her BS in Microbiology at the University of New Hampshire but left her career in science to become a stay at home mom. Years of playing with LEGO and coloring with crayons had her craving a more grown up purpose to her life and she began blogging and freelance writing full time. You can learn more about her HERE.
Kimberly C.
So far I'm ok, but my son is still young and doesn't care about brands and all that. I know it will be coming though and these tips will come in handy.
Diane
The older they get, the pricier the clothes are! And teens definitely have their own sense of style!
Elizabeth O.
Kids outgrow clothes easily so it's really not advisable that you buy anything that's too expensive. Well, you can sell them again if they no longer wear it. I think these are great ideas to save.
Diane
I always did second hand when the kids were little. It is so hard to find decent second hand clothes for teens but there are a few nice resale shops I stop at regularly.
Carol Cassara
Saving money on clothes is always awesome. I usually wait for sales and look for shops that offer discounts. Aside from that, these are all very helpful suggestions as well.
Diane
Glad I could help. We definitely try to stick to a low clothing budget here but it gets tough!
Lindsey London Mumma
Kids go through so much clothes, which I never realised and I have a toddler, so always having to replace can be quite costly. But with this tips I am hoppng to save a few pennies.
Diane
Good luck saving money....toddlers grow fast and are definitely hard on their clothes!