To buy a new school bag?

[MrsMillhouse]

Nothing wrong with his old one, but I think the exciting part of going back to school is new stuff: particularly a new bag which you get to choose etc!

Aibu.

[quote Willwebebuyingnumber11]@Notaroadrunner that’s crazy she’s the same size shoe! My DD is Y3, started nursery in a size 6 and is now a 13![/quote]
I'm assuming the shoes were bought at the start of year 6. Some girls' feet stop growing at that age.

Ooh goody. It's time for the traditional summer 'buying new school stuff' thread.

Excellent squabble between tutting eco-warriers and the insanely profligate.

You will get lots of posts telling you how wasteful etc .. but mine get all new everything, every September and I don't know a single family personally that don't do the same.

I have summer borns who fit clothes true to size, so they need the next size up uniform each year by the time Sept rolls around. DD1 gets mostly new with the odd skirt from a cousin or 2nd hand jumper. DD2 gets DD1's stuff with anything that's knackered replaced with new.
Bags, shoes, pencil cases, water bottles, or any other bits of equipment are replaced as and when they fall apart.

No one in my friendship groups buys all new 'just because' it's the start of a new school year AFAIK. Some are strictly 'as needed', others do a mix of reusing with some not-strictly-needed-yet new bits.

Have you put the bag through the wash OP? That usually breathes a good deal of life back into them.

The only nice, positive memories i have about school was annual shopping. My kids aren't bothered that much.

I’d say no.

Annual ‘just because’ school shopping is pointless. I need to buy polo shirts and two pairs of shoes this summer. Thankfully both lads have bags and coats, and there are sandwich boxes as needed.

[quote Willwebebuyingnumber11]@Notaroadrunner that’s crazy she’s the same size shoe! My DD is Y3, started nursery in a size 6 and is now a 13![/quote]
She's in secondary school, so from age 12. She got a size 6 shoe then, sometimes she takes a 5 in other styles. But they still fit her.

@Norabird

I wouldn't if it isn't needed. It's just more crap going into landfill.

Agreed le

I always bought new and we do for my grandchildren. We know enough struggling families who are happy to have hand-me-downs. Who do you think supplies the charity shops with their goods? Not the people buying their children two sizes too big uniforms.

Who do you think supplies the charity shops with their goods? Not the people buying their children two sizes too big uniforms.
I always donated DS's uniforms to the second hand uniform pool. They were still in good condition after two years. Some came from the uniform pool to start with.

Ds will be having a new bag, his pencil case restocked, new boots & trainers because he wears them out quickly due to walking badly. It's the last time I will be doing it as he starts Y13 in September, I will most likely buy him a new winter coat & a waterproof as well. He doesn't wear uniform so I will probably give him money for some more jeans, Tshirts & a couple of hoodies for the winter. I can't complain he doesn't cost me that much for clothes, as long as they are grey or black he doesn't mind & isn't in to brands & labels, he is happy with Next ot Tu stuff.

Can people really not make the most mundane of decisions these days?

@PercyPigAndMe yes they can. But it’s interesting to hear different points of view. Particularly as various friends have different ideas about kids getting new bags each year

@Rabbitheadlights

You will get lots of posts telling you how wasteful etc .. but mine get all new everything, every September and I don't know a single family personally that don't do the same.

I am in a so-called wealthy area, and I can't think of many families who bother to buy everything new for September

but then again, if the kids need something new in June/July, they get it there and then.

DD gets stuff as and when she needs them rather than just buying new for the sake of buying new at the start the the new school year but if things are looking a little bit worn out (but still useable) at the end of the summer term I'll just replace it before the new school year because all the "Back to School" sales mean I can often get better deals than if I wait until the item finally wears out Mid-December.

What happens to the worn out item depends on how badly worn it is - if its unusable then it gets binned but if it is just that it won't stand up to another year of daily use then it will be "retired" from school use to be used at home if it is better quality/in a better state than the current home one.

I had this conversation with DS today. I asked what bag he wanted and he said "Mum, I like the bag I've got now. I don't need another one!" We were always brought up to have a brand new bag and coat for the start of the new school year and I'm continuing this with him.

My ds is 18 and has just left sixth form and we always had a back to school shopping day and a meal out and part of that was a new rucksack every year. We passed his old ones to the charity shop and they were all decent ones like Berghaus and North Face. It’s always been a tradition.

Dd is 10 and going into year 6. She gets a new backpack for September every year. The last few years were Smiggle but she’s too old for these now and has her eye on a very expensive bright yellow one which she will probably end up getting. She gets everything new right down to socks and underwear. My mum did the same with me.
Dd also has a back to school shopping trip but prefers the stationery buying to anything.
Ds is having a gap year so won’t be buying him one this year. He is keeping his last sixth form one for the gym/trips out so it won’t go to waste.

I find if the older bag is going to a new home then what’s the problem? Actually just remembered that dd gave a Smiggle backpack to a younger neighbour who was thrilled with it. We don’t just send them to landfill.

I find if the older bag is going to a new home then what’s the problem?
It depends if the trend to buy new means that poorer families feel pressured to buy cheap new items every year rather than good quality second hand. Many second hand things do not sell and are just waiting in the charity shop on their way to landfill. A new item may be cheaper than buying from the charity shop. It will only last a year but is new and shiny in September, same as the better off children have.

DD15 school rucksack only lasts a year at a time. The shoulder straps rip. Guess he has a lot of books to carry round all day and walk home with.

New bag every year here and new shirts. Everything else is on a 'need' basis

We’re not there yet, but we’ll just replace when needed. I got bought what I assume was a relatively expensive backpack when I was about 14, and I think it eventually died when I was nearing 30, and that was just one zip. I’ll be encouraging them to get something quality that will hopefully last.

It sounds like he is very young and he isn’t at all bothered so I wouldn’t waste money buying just because of the date!

Ds had the same school bag from yr3 to the end of year 6. It did exactly what was needed so no need to replace.

@Willwebebuyingnumber11
My dd is going into yr9. She has shoes, which still fit from yr6. They’re falling to bits but she refuses to get rid. Annoyingly her feet suddenly grew a size up in yr7 then shrank after a couple of months. In consequence I bought 3 pairs of branded shoes - sport, school (£120) 😱 and home (the latter were birthday gift). All these shoes became ridiculously too big. I suppose the only consolation is the amount of wear she has got from the huaraches bought in yr6.

Although some girl’s feet stop growing around age 11, they continue to change shape. Dd needed new ballet shoes for an exam last month ago. I told the lady at the shop in dd’s dance school that her 18 month old dance shoes were like boats and she said children’s feet continue to change shape. Dd’s feet for example are slightly longer than 2.5 years ago but narrower so she can wear her old shoes albeit I’d buy a half size bigger now.

I never answered the op.

No I wouldn’t. Put the cash into savings. You’ll need it for when your ds reaches secondary. Shoes are very expensive. Uniform is too.

My kids get it when they need it. Eldest ds needs a new bag soon....noticed yesterday his is on the way out. He's going into y9 and had it since year 5 or 6. My daughter had a smiggle one which I have replaced before it's fallen apart as she's off to secondary. But she used it for 3 or 4 years.

How often do you replace it generally? A new one every year is just wasteful. But if it's been a while and there is one he really wants, then yes it's fine. New stuff for the new year at school and can be very motivating.

If he had a new bag last year though I would be focussing on other stuff he does need like stationery, uniform etc. Kids don't need everything new every year.