to use the same book bag and Lunch box next year

[Abbazed]

Trying to save money ds starting school in sept. Intend not to buy new lunch bag and book bag quite aibu

[Abbazed]

Am I being unreasonable?

[LemonFritz]

In my opinion, to buy new ones would be wasteful and damaging to your DS’s future planet.

[helpmum2003]

You are being completely reasonable but I know there's a lot of pressure to do otherwise....

[DontMakeMeShushYou]

Of course not. It would be wasteful, both for your wallet and the planet, to replace things that don't need replacing.

[cliquewhyohwhy]

If things are in good condition still no point in buying new. I buy things throughout the heat and just leave school shoes until last. Keeps the cost down loads.

[cliquewhyohwhy]

Year not heat lol

[AuntieStella]

I have never noticed anyone in RL replacing perfectly serviceable items just because of what the calendar says.

I certainly wouidn't be so profligate, both on financial and environmental grounds

[QueenofCBA]

Is this a thing now? Of course YANBU!

Do consider buying new for secondary, though! My heart nearly melted when I saw one of my Year 9s eating from a Teletubbies lunch box

[ATowelAndAPotato]

We will be using the same book bag until it breaks!
Lunch bags get replaced every couple of years/when even the dishwasher can get that weird smell out...! But DC do have a couple each they use on rotation.

[ATowelAndAPotato]

*can’t get the smell out - D’oh!

[thisisthetime]

Had book bag for nearly 2 years now, hoping to get another year or 2 out of it. Doesn’t have a school bag currently but when dc does it will be replaced when it needs to be. I like to buy quality things that last.

Has had same lunch box since preschool so nearly 4 years now. I didn’t buy a character lunchbox for that very reason and bought a good quality one. It still looks new. I wouldn’t replace them unless they are broken or really outdated, seems wasteful.

[Strugglingtodomybest]

Do people do that? My boys had the same book bag for 7 years, and maybe 3 or 4 lunchbags.

[cleomummy]

Why would you if he doesn't need it? It's wasteful. My ds will go to school with the same book bag and school bag into year 2 he started in reception with! They are a little worn but nothing wrong with them. If they were falling apart then I would replace them. He gets a different type of book bag in juniors anyway so if I brought a new one he d only have it a year. The cost of replacing his uniform and buying uniform for dc who is starting in sept too is enough for me.

[babysharkah]

Why would you?!

[stucknoue]

Think we used the same book bag throughout primary, had a couple of lunch boxes as they do get icky after a while

[my2bundles]

My son has had the same bag and lunchbox for 5 years.

[Sirzy]

Ds used the same bookbag from reception to the end of year 2. Then he got a bag which is still fine at the end of year 4 so will hopefully keep going for a couple more years!

I don’t get why people feel the need to replace everything just because it’s a new academic year. I replace things as and when needed not just because of the date!

[irregularegular]

seriously?? I've never replaced these things as a matter of course. they used them until they had completely outgrown them.

[DobbyTheHouseElk]

Really do people do this? I didn’t get that memo, we use things til they need replacing due to age.

The book bag lasted 4 years before the Velcro wasn’t sticking and the bottom was looking a bit worse for wear. Otherwise we’d have still been using the same ones.

No wonder the planet is in such a state.

[SoyDora]

I don’t know anyone who replaces these things annually when they don’t need replacing.

[Pipandmum]

Same book bag and games bag for all of junior school. By the end my son’s games bag had lost its wheels, the handle had snapped on one side and there was a huge whole in one corner!. In sr school they’re allowed their own choice and I’ve made it a ‘start the new school year’ gift of new school bag and pencil case for my daughter each year. My son doesn’t care he treats it like a bag of rubbish so same bag until it wears out!

[HomeMadeMadness]

Why would you replace? My eldest has had the same book bag since nursery - he won't need it next year for Y3 but if he did or if I had a third DC starting nursery I'd use it again. I only replaced his packed lunch rucksack because it was Peppa pig (chosen by him in nursery) and he'd be mortified to still have that - he's had the same one for since Y1 though.

[Stravapalava]

I've never heard of buying new each year! My DC had the same book bag for 3 years!

I bought a few of the same lunchbox at the beginning of year 3 when my oldest started on packed lunches and they're still going strong. I have had to replace the lunchbag though as it was getting dirty on the outside and I couldn't machine wash it.

[PantsyMcPantsface]

Mine don't tend to use book bags now (lots of the kids don't) but I wasn't going to buy a new backpack for next year - DD1 might end up with another one if she saves her pocket money like she's trying to for a fucking Smiggle one - we've said we'll part-fund it if she makes a good effort to save her money towards one.

[daisypond]

What on earth? Why would you buy new? My dc’s book bags lasted the entire way through from reception to end of year six. Mine had school lunches so didn’t need lunch boxes.