Tomorrow, I brave Smiggle

[NotSoBlondeAnyMoreGirl]

DD has been desperate for a Smiggle pencil case or school bag for a while now. She's got much better at looking after things and has also, to be fair to her, been a star throughout this whole lockdown, so, Smiggle it is.

Please advise, wise ones. I've told her she can spend £50. What's worth it? The bags seem quite sturdy, not sure about the pencil cases?

Pencil cases have lasted well for us, but if she likes lots of pens/pencils, then the boxes with a calculator are small.

They do tend to do good discounts on older ranges, so encourage her to check those out. Bags are expensive, water bottles generally a good buy

I would also set a time limit on exit before you allow her into the shop.

Once out, go and lie down somewhere quiet. You’ll need it!

They have a lot of stuff half price online just now. I’d get something picked from there and save the hassle of the shop!

But we are getting another year out of the bag she got last year so it’s lasted fine (albeit not been used since March)

All the water bottles leak in my extensive experience. And if thr straws split they won't replace them and they are an awkward size to find.

My kids love/hate them.

Oh the sale is fantastic...

What about the multi-compartment pencil cases?

The sale prices are fine but you’d be hard pushed to cover both a bag and pencil case for £50 full price. They’re hugely overpriced and the quality is crap too.

The water bottles do all leak, I can confirm this. I’ve bought about six over the years and they have all leaked, just rubbish.

Against my better judgement, we got a rucksack. Actually it lasted 2 years, I was grudgingly impressed.

We have settled on buying online and having a hot chocolate as our trip out tomorrow. Marvellous.

She's perusing the website. Has just informed me that 'the problem is, I want it all, Mummy'

The problem is I can’t blame them...because I’d have been exactly the same if smiggle had been around when I was a child. In fact a tiny part of me secretly loves it all

I’ve gone past the smiggle days with my girls but they used to do a raid in there every so often. We found that things broke easily and quickly so avoid as much as you can that have little bits stuck on or added. We had one of the hard pencil box things that have a sharpener in, you pressed a button and the lid popped up you could sharpen your pencil in there, then there was another bit that you pressed and the entire lid flipped up - that kind of thing. The whole thing broke in about 2 days. Same for their umbrellas. And a few other gadgets. The actual stationery was fine (obviously stupid prices but they really enjoyed collecting scented rubbers and pencils and stuff so I didn’t mind).
The sales are pretty good, usually 50% and I think some things up to 70% off.