How Many Clothes Do I Need?!

We've put together a general list of how many ofAdjust shoes for your wardrobe
each type of clothing we recommend. Don't beWomen (who work outside the house)
horrified if it doesn't fit your families' needs. When my7-9 work/dressy outfits
granddaughter was born she had a stomach valve5-7 casual outfits
problem and we had to deal with non-stop throwing2-3 outfits for relaxing at home
up. She needed about 3-4 times as many sleepers as3-4 pair work shoes (depends on your work. Only 2
a normal baby. Not only that but my daughter and Iif you wear tennis shoes or the like to work)
had to change our own clothes from her bouts about3 pairs casual shoes
4-5 times a day. Throw in the fact that it was theFor everyone, you need:
dead of winter with no dryer and, needless to say,1 winter coat
the clothes list had to be adjusted very quickly.1 dress coat
It takes just a couple of minutes when you are1-2 pairs boots, short and long
organizing your children's cloths to really figure whatRemember, these are just the bare bones of a
they need. Do they wear 7 t-shirts a week and youwardrobe. Add or subtract according to your needs.
wash t-shirts twice a week? Then 7 t-shirts shouldThe main thing is to be ruthless. Most women wear
be more than plenty. If they wear 7 pairs of socksonly 20% of the clothes 80% of the time. Get rid of
and underwear a week and you wash twice a week,everything else!
10 pairs of everything is more than plenty. Why putYou can get most kids clothes at garage sales for a
15-20 pairs back in the drawer, especially if you don'tfraction of the new price. Be picky and only buy the
have a lot of room?few things you love. By spending one morning going
Be sure to go through and weed out too small orto garage sales, I found all the clothes I needed for
worn out clothes in your children's drawers everymy 3 year old son. We usually get enough clothing as
couple of months. More children become frustratedChristmas gifts, but this year he didn't get everything
trying to put their clothes away into drawers thatthat he needed. I spent three hours and $5 on
are already full of clothing they have outgrown. Theyeverything from shirts to shoes. I got 10 shirts, 5
then get in trouble for not putting everything awaypairs of jeans, 3 pairs of shoes and 4 pairs of
properly. There's a scripture that says "do notpajamas. I saved myself $225. That is $75 an hour I
provoke your children to anger". This is one of those"earned" by going to garage sales or 24 hours (3
cases where parents do it all the time.days) less my husband would have had to work to
Sit down and plan how many outfits each memberbuy the clothes.
of your family needs. Most families wash the laundryLinens
once a week or more. You don't need 15 pairs ofSheets – 2 sets per bed. You can get by with
jeans for each child. Three or four pairs will work justone set if you wash and put it back on the bed the
fine. A newborn may need 10 pairs of pajamas sincesame day.
the newborn lives in them and spits up on them, but2 towels and washcloths per family member
a 10 year old only needs three or four pairs. Here are5-6 hand towels
a few guidelines to help you get started. Like I said,4-5 towels for guests
feel free to adjust this to best fit your family.10-12 dish rags
Hopefully by following these guidelines you will be able10-12 dish towels
to cut back on your clothes budget and get more10-12 kitchen hand towels
use out of what you do have.Shoe box of small rags
Toddlers and Pre-schoolersSmall box of large rags
9-10 everyday outfitsStack of old towels for large emergencies like the
3-4 dressy church outfitstoilet overflowing
3-4 casual dressy outfitsThese are minimum suggestions. Adjust according to
4-5 pajamasyour needs.
2 pairs play shoesLaundry and Children
1 pair dress shoesI am probably the only mom who would not allow
1 pair casual nice shoes (optional)my children to put their clothes away until they were
School Ageolder. Why? Because, by the time I had carefully
(including teen boys, if your teens complain about thewashed, beautifully folded and ironed everything, I
clothes, make them responsible for them, includingdidn't want it to be dumped, wadded, smashed and
paying for the extras that they want.)mooshed between the laundry room and my
3-4 pairs of jeans or school pantschildren's bedrooms. It's amazing what a husband and
7-9 school shirtschild can do to a clean pile of laundry!
1-2 pairs dress pantsEven though I say that, children do need to be
3-4 dress shirtstaught how to do laundry from beginning to end.
1-2 casual dressy outfitsFrom the age of four or five I would have the kids
2-3 pajamashelp me fold wash rags and underwear. Once they
1 pair school shoessucceeded in those things, we would moved on to
1 pair causal shoes or 1 pair of shoes for dirty workother things.
1 pair dress shoesAs soon as they were tall enough, I had them help
Women (stay at home)put clothes in the washer, then move them to the
5-7 everyday comfortable attractive outfits (NOdryer to fluff and finally take them out of the dryer.
SWEATS, I REPEAT, NO SWEATS!)Young children seem to love doing this, so let them.
1 outfit for dirty work such as paintingBy the time they are old enough to start cooking
4-5 casual dressy outfits (depending on your socialsimple things on the stove, they are old enough to
life)start ironing with supervision -- Boys, too.
4-5 dressy church outfitsOnce kids reach high school, they should be able to
2 pairs of comfortable shoes (one for painting andtake care of their own clothes from start to finish.
one for wearing everyday)Until I had them very well trained, I didn't expect
2-3 pairs casual dressy shoes like loafersthem to do the laundry alone. This wasn't a bad thing.
4 pairs dressy shoes for church (black, navy, whiteI enjoyed visiting and learning about their day while
and tan pumps or flats)we folded clothes together or while I was ironing.