I Thought I was Frugal Until...

[QM]

I saw these really cute matching raincoats, boots and umbrellas at Old Navy and everything in me wants to buy them for my daughters. I checked at the front how much they'd be per child (the items are all on sale) and it would cost $38.50 per child.

BTW - We still don't have a budget, so I'd have to cut back to pay for these. Still it's approx. a total of $80!!!

Why do I want them then? I want my girls to match and have nice raincoats, boots and umbrellas. I could totally pass on the umbrellas because we already have some, but it would still cost approx. $30 per child for the raincoat and boots combined.

Am I crazy? DD1 needs rainboots and a raincoat, but DD2 only needs a raincoat. If I were to go to a few thrift stores the coats/boots would look worn and not match. I want my girls to look nice.

Why am I like this? Please knock some sense into me or tell me why I can justify this purchase.

[freebs]

I grew up with no rain coat or rain boots, my kids have none either. Is there a reason that you think that they need them?? We would just use our umbrellas if we had them and we dont...lol. We jsut run thru the rain to get to the house or car. I wouldnt buy them as they will outgrow them before you would get that kinda monies worth out of them.

[joyofsix]

You want them to look nice because you love them, you want them to look cute so others will enjoy them too, you want to be able to give them stuff. Now, stop. Any old coat and boots will do. Do they really have to walk in the rain that much? If so by all means get a coat, but if they're only going from the house to the bus or the car is it necessary with boots and umbrella? They will never remember if they had a cool matching rain set or not, but they will remember tension from an overstretched budget.

[MoonMommy]

Well, every year I try to find my kids rain coats. However, in the end, they only wear them a few days. Last year, I found some in the discount rack at K-mart for a few bucks each. Even though it was basically a "boys" coat and it was a few sizes too big, I got one for my Dd and I got one for my son. I also try to find boots that are on sale too, however, boots we can wear while camping and playing in the water/stream so I don't mind paying a bit more for a fairly good pair.

[Jayne]

could you get something similar for cheaper?

[mombottoo]

You "want", but do you "need"? Your girls will survive without matching rain coats, boots & umbrellas...you will survive if they don't have matching rain coats, boots & umbrellas.

My kids rarely had all those things at the same time...with four of them it was hard enough to keep shoes on their feet. Now, as adults with children themselves they realize what I meant when I said "sorry, can't do it, you can't have it, and so on"...and they also realize that sometimes no matter how much you may want to get/do something for your children there just isn't a good enough reason for doing it.

[QM]

could you get something similar for cheaper?

I keep going over this question. Like others stated, they could make do with their "regular" coats. DD2 already has 2 pair of hand-me-down rainboots that she could wear and I could probably pick up a cheap pair of rainboots for DD1. DD1 and my daycare boy often play outside in the nicer weather (including mucky wet grass) so they could definitely come in handy.

Thanks everyone for your words of wisdom. I won't be going back to Old Navy to look at that rain-outfit again. Why risk the temptation? Why is it that we/I want our kids to look good? Of course they'd look cute in matching rain-outfits and if I took pictures I could show them how cute they were matching in the spring of 2009, but in reality they are cute regardless of how they look.

Plus, frugal speaking, I'd save $80 that I could hopefully dump on my huge Line of Credit.

[frugalbabe]

Take that $80 and think about applying that toward a debt. It's only $80 right? What kind of a dent is that going to make? Well, that $80 is $80 you're never going to have to pay interest on again. The sooner you get out of this debt you can start making yourself (and daughters) more secure. Think down the road would your daughters be more appreciative of the fact that you gave them matching raincoats when they were little or that you have a bit tucked away for their college? I know it sounds overly dramatic but seriously it is these little purchases while you are still living without a budget and carrying a debt balance that is going to make the difference in a future with dignity and a future that is uncertain. You can do it! I'm right there with you...I hate, hate, hate telling myself no to things I want but I am really trying to change my thinking from short term to long term. You sound like a great mama, you'll do what is best!

[forHISglory]

Here's another way of looking at it. How many hours would the kids be wearing the outfits? To make it easy, let's say they will actually be in the coats and boots for 8 hours total. If the bill is $80, then you are spending $10 an hour for their cute clothes.

Then think about the cost per hour of other clothes. If you have an $80 outfit that you wear 8 hours a day, once a week, for a whole year, the cost is about 17c an hour.

Now, to be honest, I don't buy $80 outfits. And to be equally honest, I'm not a math wizard and may have calculated wrong. But you get the idea....... it's just not worth it.

[Grainlady]

I'll tell you how frugal I am, I didn't even KNOW we had an Old Navy (a friend told me), which has been in town for 2 two years..... That means I don't go out to the mall so I avoid the temptation to begin with.

Our kids wore 2 plastic Kansas State Wildcat Ponchos we got free at a home show, and they walked back and forth to school in wet weather - not really a fashion parade moment.

I also agree with putting the money on debt.

If your kids need outerwear for rainy days, you might consider plastic ponchos in a small plastic carrying case. You will find them in the camping department or with umbrellas. They can wear them for a lot longer than one season because it's difficult to quickly outgrow a poncho like it is a coat. It will serve the purpose nicely. Wants and needs - sometimes it's just soooooooo hard....

[UUMomof3]

Sounds to me like Old Navy did an excellent job of marketing their rain sets!

I often feel similarly tempted by cute dressy winter coats. They can wear them all winter for church, instead of their everyday play coats. They will look so cute! But I've decided that the stress isn't worth it. The guilt of having spent that much money, worrying that they will break the zipper or tear the coat or somehow stain it.

Besides that, I only ever wear thrift store clothes. I try to look decent, but I'm a stay at home mom so I don't dress up. Why do I want my kids to look like they came in a limo, while I look like I came straight from the bus station? It's not that bad, but the point is the same.

[NewLeaf]

My kids do not have raincoats. They go from the house to the car to the school. Once someone gave ds6 a Bob the Builder raincoat. And someone else recently gave him some good ole black rubber boots (muck boots) to play outside in. I always try to "put the word out" first, then thrift, yard sale or ebay.

I think the poncho idea is a good one. Some dollar stores even have "character" rain ponchos for cheap.

[rainbowgc]

Raincoats today or rainy day later? You found your answer.

[lotsadebt]

We want our kids to look cute because it is a reflection on us as parents. " See my kid... they are so adorable in their new ____, I am a good parent."

We don't have raincoats that I purchased, DS has one that was a gift. They use an umbrella. Coats are passed down, DD is older she gets the new one, DS is 3 yrs younger he gets in next in gender neutral colors. I do buy a good coat. I swear by Lands End. They do last DD's is 3 yrs old and will be going to DS in the fall.

[MommyBliss]

Everyone here has such good advice for you and it looks like you know the answer to your own question. I'm famous for doing this with my kids over the years and I think I've quenched to a point. Hugs!