A lot of us have said that our kids have way too many clothes. I know mine do. I get great deals at yard sales and clearance sales, I get hand-me-downs from relatives, plus my mom is always buying them clothing. So many cute outfits... the closets are stuffed!

After I read Kelsey and Thomas's mom's post about being able to go three weeks without doing laundry, and another post about how one mom had 55 short sleeve t-shirts for her dd, I realized that I *have* to conquer this problem. The clothes are starting to take up too much time, too much storage space, too much energy.

But I think what has hit me hardest is that dd especially has SO much cute stuff that I am not even able to enjoy it all. She has some things that I really like, but each morning I think: no, she can't wear that cute outfit again because she has to wear of these other 47 cute outfits before she outgrows them, which is insane.

If I stopped over buying and just bought a few really nice quality things I would probably spend the same amount and be able to really enjoy the cute things that we have. Plus I would gain back a ton of "wardrobe" maintenance time, which includes running off to sales all the time, straightening up shelves and drawers and searching for things lost in the closet.

I guess this is very "European" thinking- just to have a little but really nice stuff, vs. American thinking: cram in all you can!!!

It will be a hard change for me, but I think it will also be a tremendous relief. I have been really decluttering and paring down the rest of my house to free up time for other things. I am already enjoying cleaner closets and less maintenance. I really want to start quilting again and working on the kid's scrapbooks. I keep thinking: what would the kids rather have in 20 years? A dozen Old Navy t-shirts size 2T? Or a quilt that I handmade for them?

What about the rest of you? How easy would it be for you to cut back?

__________________
I don't believe in miracles; I depend on them

Well Im European and do it the way you describe, its easier on the maintenace because first the clothes are better quality, last longer and survive wear and tear better.

Plus the less is more definately makes life easier all round in terms of choice and really you dont need tons of clothes its creative to mix and match and make new outfits out of what is in yours or your childrens closet

Anne

__________________
"When we know better we do better" Maya Angelou

My DS is 8 now and I've really cut back the last couple of years. He used to not be able to stuff all of his clothes in his drawers but what I found is that after he started picking out his own clothes - at around 3 - that he just wanted to wear the same 8-9 shirts over again. Soooo, if he's only going to wear 8-9 outfits, now he only has a few more than that for each season. He has mostly just tshirts but a few nicer shirts to wear every so often. He still has too much but can at least close the drawers now easily!

I am a big clutterbug and saver but I'm trying to change so that my son will not grow up to be the same. His clothes was a good place for us to start with that.

__________________
Better to give your kids the values you have
than the valuables you can't afford.

I had this problem more when my boys were smaller. Everyone was so excited that they really bombarded us with cloths (new and used). My sil sent a large garbage bag full of onesies she bought at a garage sale when I was pregnant w/ my first. What on earth does a person need that many onesies for? This fall will probably be the last of the problem. My youngest still has too many cloths because he gets hand-me-downs from his big brother. But they are starting to wear the same size shirts (yea!) Honestly, I don't have the money to over buy on clothing anymore, so this year after the initial clearing out and picking up a few new school cloths, we should be in good shape.

I've been clearing tons of stuff out of my house. I don't know what I was thinking by having all this stuff to store and not use. It really kind of clutters the mind.

__________________
formally~momof2crazyboys

I thought is was harder for girls than boys. Or maybe b/c I only have girls that's all I know. but my dh has very little and is very good about it. If I by him blue pants and he has blue pants already, unless they are worn and I mean worn he will not put the new pair out until he gets rid of the old pair. I literally have to toss his clothes they are so worn and he doesn't want to replace it until it is falling apart.

now, my girls are girly girls. they want pretty dresses and skirts. but they have to have pants for school. they have church clothes, everyday clothes and a few get as dirty as you want clothes. most of their clothes are everyday clothes. they don't really have play clothes. they play in any clothes except church clothes. I am trying to cut down. I am buying no new school clothes, except socks and undies.

of course I'm just as bad with shoes........

allgirls

__________________
allgirls, mom to 3 girls

I did do this. My 2 younger girls had so many clothes they each had 2 chest of drawers full plus a huge closet crammed full of clothes. I finally said that's it, we are done with it. We went through all their clothes, got rid of anything that didn't fit, anything they didn't wear, and anything they didn't want. They now have only a few things in their closet and share a 6 drawer dresser. They only wear the same 10-12 outfits even when they had 60 or more to chose from. I will say that I do still buy for them occasionally, but only at yard sales unless it is a birthday or Christmas. We ended up taking 6 trash bags of clothes out of their room and sold most of them at our yard sale.

i started doing this last year and boy does it help with the closets and laundry my kids have enough for an outfit a day. we now only have to do clothes laundry once a week for everyone.(as soon as the basket is full the load goes in). it is a much simpler way to do things and i don't end up with clothes my kids never wore...

__________________
SILENCE IS GOLDEN BUT DUCK TAPE IS SILVER.

I think this is a good limit. *DD is two and I buy ahead at yard sales, clearance sales, etc. *I try to keep it down to one outfit a day for play clothes (in reality there are probably 7-11 play outfits to account for any changing throughout the day due to major stains like popsicles... ) and three or four nice outfits for going out in public. *One lightweight play jacket, one heavier play jacket, one lightweight "going out" jacket, one heavier "going out" jacket...well, you get the picture. *

The one thing that really keeps me in check with clothes is my list. *I have two pieces of paper for each of the next three sizes...one is for spring/summer and the other is for fall/winter. *I made a master list and just make a little check mark next to that item when I buy another one. *When I have my limit, I don't buy anymore...no matter how good a deal it is.

I can't afford new clothes for my DS so everything I have comes from garage sales, thrift stores or from very giving folks that I have met.

We don't have a lot of clothes but enough to be happy. We have camping clothes to get dirty in and then also nice clothes for dressing in everyday. Just pull on shirts and shorts. We also have to have an entire winter collection because it gets so cold here and for so long. It is hard to keep finding good clothes at rock bottom prices. We treasure what we have but DS grows so fast.

My kids have entirely too many clothes but my budget is really small. I am lucky enough to get hand me downs from a couple of people. I used to (cut back) garage sale alot. I generally buy clothes for 5¢, 10¢, and 25¢. Rarely will I buy something more expensive. Really good jeans I *may* go up to $1. If it's in the store there is a strong possibility it is on clearance for at least 50% off.

Like I said I have cut down on my garage sales and general shopping. I'm trying.

__________________