Talk about not planning ahead - This surprised me

**cab54** · 09-15-2011, 11:00 AM

That kind of thing always surprised me, too, when I had little kids. It's like 'did you not know they would grow?'

I always did a lot of garage sale prowling and some shopping at the Value City or sales at WM, and stuff. You can easily 'guesstimate' what size your kids are going to be the next season.

I don't get it either....

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 09-15-2011, 12:31 PM

the chilli day definitely caught us by surprise. I now need to find the time to go through the boxes and bags of hand me downs to dig out some fall clothing. Pretty sure I won't be making a run to the store - although that might be a lot easier!

**monkeywrangler71** · 09-15-2011, 02:34 PM

When it comes to clothes and other household items, I buy what we need, when we need it. As a result, I typically buy far less than most bargain shoppers, and also end up spending far less, even if I occasionally spend more on a per item basis. I especially don't buy clothes a year ahead, whenever I have in the past it has been a waste as they either didn't fit in the right season, or were never really needed.

**oheoh's momma** · 09-15-2011, 08:45 PM

I think most people are unprepared. They spend their money on whatever and never think about tomorrow. I know it is sad

**Debbie-cat** · 09-15-2011, 10:42 PM

I am just glad that I have always had the foresight to buy ahead of time at yard sales and from clearance racks. I have saved a ton of money over the years being organized!

**SwirlyThing** · 09-16-2011, 02:42 AM

I'm going to admit that I've done that. It wasn't because I couldn't afford to buy the stuff sooner though. Rather, it's usually because of another reason. I live in Florida, and it's so warm/ridiculously hot here most of the year. When the cold weather does come, I remind my kid to dress warm. She comes trotting out in last winter's wardrobe which is now too small... oops! And I end up at Walmart at 7am to buy a long sleeved shirt.

**Emjo** · 09-16-2011, 10:27 AM

For my kids the spring/summer clothes get brought out in March and fall/winter stuff comes out in August - weeks before it's needed. We do a little "fashion show", I figure out what's still wearable and what's outgrown, and I make a list of what we need to buy. That way, I know what we need and I have a few weeks to look for deals. It's not hard...you know weather changes are coming, you've got to be prepared.

**AspiringToBeFrugal** · 09-21-2011, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by krbshappy71

Maybe for some of them their kids put on their pants from last year, stored for the season, only to find out they grew 2 inches. I could not keep my kids in pants from school year to school year, it was crazy how they grew like weeds.

This was my "problem". It's been chilly on and off here for the last two weeks and DS has grown substantially since the spring when I last bought him jeans. With the recent cool-down, I also realized that DS doesn't have too many warm winter clothes that still fit him--a couple of long-sleeved t-shirts we picked up last year, two sweatshirts, and one coat I was smart enough to pick up at the end of season clearance sale for $10. I had to go to Walmart yesterday and pick up four pairs of sweat/knit pants, four sweatshirts or long-sleeved t-shirts, and two pairs of jeans. That should get him through the next couple of months.

**rickysforever** · 09-21-2011, 10:16 PM

i think many people would not plan too much ahead too,but it's actually not a good custom,who can guess the weather tomorrow,all we can do is just preparing for the changes.

**Jessesbride** · 09-30-2011, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by imagine

We have a chill in the air this morning.

My children go to their drawers and picked out a hoodie or a jacket.

After school drop off, I head to walmart.

There were a bunch of people there, way more than normal at this time of day. They weren't buying the ordinarily "this is for my lunch" things either. But jackets and pants.
Like one jacket or one pair of pants. Like their children needed it before going to school or jacket for them before they headed into work today.

This surprised me. I guess there are some people that truly live from need to need. As in yesterday pants or a jacket were not a need but today it is, although jacket wear almost always hits right about now.

Do you think there are lots of people that do not plan ahead? Is that the norm?

I think most people do try to plan ahead, but what if your kids have outgrown everything? What if you're a foster parent & your new kids didn't come with everything they should have (which is USUALLY the case ~ the last one we had barely had the clothes on his back & they didn't fit)... Maybe they've had a house fire/tornado etc that wiped out what they had the previous year. Plenty of things can set us back.

**imagine** · 09-30-2011, 04:38 PM

Wrong thread sorry

**xtena** · 09-30-2011, 04:59 PM

I am not great at pre-planning. For instance I live in the desert, and although we are supposed to have a monsoon season...we've been in drought for far too many years. so I never seem to have enough rain gear when we need it. I had to rush out the day before our girl scout troop went camping earlier this month, to purchase rain ponchos for me and my daughter, because rain was in the forecast. Fortunately they were only a couple of bucks. And thanks for the reminder...her last year's winter coat should still fit, but we'd better check the rest of her wardrobe before it gets cold here (it is still HOT during the day).

Being a single, telecommuting, homeschooling Mom, I am ALWAYS running around like a chicken with its head cut off...it just comes with my territory.

I do the best I can with what I have, and I do try to be frugal most of the time by my own standards, which may vary from yours. I don't beat myself up when I am less than frugal, but I do need to buckle down and revisit the budget and start planning better.