---
title: "How to budget for kids' clothes when they keep growing"
description: "A guide to budgeting for kids' clothes: what children need each season, buying second-hand and in sales, hand-me-downs, and a yearly figure to plan with."
author: "Wealtie Team"
published: 2026-11-11
updated: 2026-11-11
category: "Budgeting"
canonical: https://wealtie.com/blog/kids-clothes-budget
---

# How to budget for kids' clothes when they keep growing

A kids clothes budget works best as a yearly figure split into seasons, with most items bought second-hand, in sales or handed down. In a worked example, clothes for one child cost about 360 a year, or 30 a month, instead of 700 bought new each time.

## Key takeaways

- Plan kids' clothes as a yearly figure split into seasons, since children grow fast.
- In a worked example, clothes for one child cost 360 a year with second-hand, sales and hand-me-downs, against 700 all new.
- Buy fewer, more versatile items, and check what still fits before each season.
- Spend more on shoes that fit well and less on clothes that'll be outgrown quickly.

## How do you budget for kids' clothes?

As a yearly figure, split into seasons. Children grow quickly and unevenly, so clothes need replacing often, and buying as you go can lead to lots of small, expensive top-ups. A plan for the year, with most items bought second-hand or in sales, keeps the cost steady and much lower.

## How much do kids' clothes cost?

Here's a worked example for one child over a year, in round numbers that work in any currency:

| Approach | Per year | Per month |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Everything bought new, as needed | 700 | 58 |
| Second-hand, sales and hand-me-downs | 360 | 30 |

![A year of clothes for one child. All bought new: 700, Second-hand, sales, hand-me-downs: 360.](https://us-1-s3.polodev.net/wealtie-blog-media/posts/2026/11/a-year-of-clothes-for-one-child-all-bought-new-700-second-f3b637e226.webp "Source: Worked example in round numbers")

Your figures depend on the child's age, how fast they grow and how hard they are on clothes. Babies and toddlers outgrow things fastest, while older children wear clothes out faster. Teenagers often have stronger opinions about what they wear, which can push costs up, so giving them a set clothing budget to manage themselves can help everyone. They learn to choose, and you know the total in advance.

## What do children need each season?

Fewer clothes than many families buy. A simple list for each season:

- Enough everyday tops and bottoms for a week, plus a few spares
- A warm coat in winter and a light jacket for spring and autumn
- Shoes that fit, plus wellies or sandals depending on the season
- Pyjamas, socks and underwear
- One or two smarter outfits for occasions

Children often wear the same favourites over and over. A smaller wardrobe of clothes they like is cheaper and easier to keep clean than a big one they don't wear. Choosing colours that go together means more outfits from fewer items, and darker colours hide stains better on younger children.

## Where can you buy cheaply?

Second-hand and hand-me-downs are where the biggest savings are:

- Hand-me-downs from siblings, cousins and friends
- Second-hand shops and charity shops, which often have barely worn children's clothes
- Online marketplaces and local selling groups, where bundles in one size are common
- Swap events run by schools, nurseries or community groups
- End-of-season sales for the next year, buying one size up

Children's clothes are often outgrown long before they wear out, so second-hand items can be nearly new. [Buying second-hand](https://wealtie.com/blog/buy-second-hand) covers where to look.

## When is the best time to buy kids' clothes?

At the end of each season, for the next year. Summer clothes are cheapest at the end of summer, and winter coats at the end of winter. Buying one size up in those sales means the next season's basics are already in the cupboard. The risk is guessing the size wrong, so stick to basics like t-shirts, leggings and pyjamas, where a slightly big fit is fine.

Avoid buying for occasions far in advance, since sizes and tastes change quickly.

## What's worth spending more on?

Shoes, mainly. Well-fitting shoes matter for growing feet, and second-hand shoes may have worn to someone else's feet. Get feet measured when you can and buy shoes that fit. A good winter coat that lasts the season is also worth spending on, since a cheap one that lets in rain needs replacing.

Everything else can usually be cheaper. Children don't care about labels for most of their childhood. Waterproof trousers and a good raincoat are worth it for younger children who play outside a lot, since they protect clothes underneath and cut down on washing.

### How do you avoid buying what you don't need?

Check what fits before each season. Go through drawers and try things on, then make a list of what's missing. Shopping from a list stops impulse buys of cute outfits that rarely get worn.

Store outgrown clothes in labelled boxes by size if you've got younger children, so you can find them later. Sell or pass on what you won't use. Selling a bundle of outgrown clothes in good condition can pay for a good part of the next size, especially for babies, whose clothes are often barely worn. Mending small holes and replacing buttons also keeps clothes going for longer.

## How do you spread the cost?

Set a monthly amount aside, like 30, and use it for each season's needs. That way, the start of winter or a growth spurt doesn't hit one month's budget. A [sinking fund](https://wealtie.com/blog/sinking-fund) works well for this, alongside other predictable child costs like birthdays and school trips.

[The family budget](https://wealtie.com/blog/family-budget) puts clothes alongside the other costs of raising children.

## How do you track kids' clothes costs in Wealtie?

Give children's clothes their own line in your [expense categories](https://wealtie.com/features/categories), so you can see what they cost over a year. A share of your monthly limit in the [budget tracker](https://wealtie.com/features/budgets) keeps it in view, and shows when a season's shopping is close to its amount.

## Questions people ask

### How much should I spend on kids' clothes?

Plan a yearly figure based on what you can afford. A worked example comes to about 360 a year for one child, using second-hand, sales and hand-me-downs.

### How can I save money on children's clothes?

Use hand-me-downs, second-hand shops and swaps, buy in end-of-season sales one size up, and check what fits before shopping.

### Should I buy second-hand shoes for kids?

Usually it's better to buy shoes new, since well-fitting shoes matter for growing feet.

### How many clothes does a child need?

Enough everyday clothes for a week plus a few spares, seasonal outerwear, shoes, pyjamas and one or two smarter outfits.

*This article is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Your situation is your own; check the numbers that apply to you before you act on them.*