Budgeting for children’s clothes

Press, 27 October 1982, Page 11

Budgeting for children’s clothes

A New Zealand family with two children spent an average weekly sum of $23.28 on clothing during the March 1981 to Mairch 1982 year.

This figure was recently released by the Department of Statistics household survey.

Using the percentage expenditure revealed in the survey, the Home Science Information Service estimates the average clothing and footwear budget to be about $3OO for the man’s wardrobe. $475 for the woman's wardrobe and s22o'for each of the two children.

Clothing the family within such financial constraints requires budgeting' and consumer skills. The Home Science -Information Service at the University of Otago has investigated the current cost, of providing a basic wardrobe for a seven-year-old child.

' This was about $275 for a girl and $250 for a boy (October 1, 1982).

The Dunedin retail outlet from which prices were obtained has stores throughout New Zealand. The cost covers night attire, underwear, school, casual and sportswear as well as footwear for these occasions. The wardrobe selected should cope with the normal wear, tear and growth of childhood. It meets basic clothing needs, but an increase in costs will result when there is excessive wear

and tear, or when fashion garments and special sportswear are required. A child's growth usually results in clothing being too small next season — so a small wardrobe, well worn, will prove the most economical. For play, select garments of durable construction,' strong fabric, and sufficient ease to allow for growth and movement, Outfitting a child within the family budget takes skill and good judgment. Often ready-made garments are so competitively priced that those home-made are no cheaper.

However, the person who is skilful at home sewing or knitting can make significant savings by “recycling” suitable fabrics from adult clothing which has been seldom worn.

The leaflet “Remodelling Clothes For Children” costs eighty cents posted from the Home Science Information Service. University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin. This leaflet .discusses how attractive garments can be made at a very small cost.

The Household Survey reveals that appareb accounts for about 7 per cent of household expenditure, — that’s amount in a family budget. Consumer skills are essential if children’s clothing costs are to be kept under control.