New school bag and lunchbox every September?

[AvocadoHo]

Light hearted debate with OH.

Making a list of school uniform needed for daughter (8) going back to school.

He rolled his eyes snd asked "why does she need a new bag? What's wrong with the one she has?"

Nothing is wrong with it, it's just a bit grubby and battered. But when I was growing up we had a new bag and lunch box every year. He feels this is excessive.

Is it really that uncommon?

@HalloHello

One of the best things about the end of the summer hols was going shopping for a new bag, pencil case, stuff to put in it etc. After a year of solid use, things get lost, battered, dirty. Maybe I was just really lucky but everyone I knew always got a new bag. My daughter is just starting nursery and I'll be the same with her! Doesn't have to cost the earth.

Are you being ironic?

Why on earth would you buy new when not needed?

Lunchboxes come up looking new in the washing machine on a low heat cycle!

I'll be getting DD a new bookbag this year as the velcro is no longer sticky on hers and it's a pain in the bum, she's also had a new PE bag, but only because she didn't need one in reception last year, hopefully they will both last a few years!

I can still remember having new and my children did I now buy for grandchildren ,

Using a bag every day gets scruffy so needs replacing . The old lunchbox can be a spare,

Ds school bag lasted from year 3- year 6. He has just got a new one for year 7.

I refuse to replace things that still do the job perfectly

No, that is incredibly wasteful.
My dc have always used their bags for more than 2 years each.
I don't buy new bags, lunch boxes or coats just because it's a new school year - they have one if they need it.

DS1 really needed a new bag, DS2 didnt. I like to treat them fairly so offered DS2 the money to save instead, thankfully DS2 jumped for the money, so all happy.

There are approximately 10 million pupils in UK that is a hell of a lot of school bags (and wasted resources) if very child has a new bag each new school year. If we then start thinking about lunch boxes, uniform, coats etc, it is very scary.

Some parents make such a big thing about their children having new, and how could they possibly start a new year without new. Do they think about the pupils who get theirs from the charity shop. Do they teach their children that those children aren't as important as them, because they don't have new things at the start of term.

My DS has had the same school bag for three years. I bought a decent hardwearing one so it would last. His lunch box has lasted two years to date as has his water bottle (again I bought decent quality ones). I'm lucky he's quite careful at looking after his stuff and gives zero shits about having the same bag for ages. Personally, I'm very conscious of the environmental impacts of fast fashion and throwaway culture. I know some kids who get a new everything every year (including pencil cases and whole stationery sets) and it infuriates me. No one needs brand new colouring pencils once a year.

Doesn't have to cost the earth
But it does though, it actually does cost the earth.
Cheap bags and lunch boxes being replaced every year when it isn't necessary is using up the earth's resources, using power to produce them, often exploiting cheap labour in developing countries and so on and so forth.

@BooomShakeTheRoom Times have changed over the past 3 decades. Global warming is a much more pressing issue and I'd use this as a time to explain

Agree. Times have changed and we need to change our behaviour as well.

Which kid wants the same one? None I’ve ever met...

Really? It's never occured to any of my DC to get a new bag each year. It's not a money thing. It's a not being materialistic and craving "stuff" thing.

A pp is spot on that children take the lead from their parents. No child ever expects a new bag in September unless their parent has taught them that that's what they should expect. Which is obviously normal for some people going by this thread, but also seen as incredibly wasteful (rightly in my opinion) by others.

We only buy new ones when they are needed.

DS (27) is still using a rucksack that he had in prep school and it was second hand then. As long as it's not falling apart, then why change it. Throwing away perfectly useable stuff and buying new is incredibly bad for the environment and a waste of money too.

I bought my kids jansport school bags and they lasted the full 8 years of Primary school.
I got bigger ones for secondary school and they're going strong.
No need for new bags every year

@Thislittlefinger123

Which kid wants the same one? None I’ve ever met...

Really? It's never occured to any of my DC to get a new bag each year. It's not a money thing. It's a not being materialistic and craving "stuff" thing.

A pp is spot on that children take the lead from their parents. No child ever expects a new bag in September unless their parent has taught them that that's what they should expect. Which is obviously normal for some people going by this thread, but also seen as incredibly wasteful (rightly in my opinion) by others.

Excellent point

@L1ttleSeahorse

I am genuinely amazed at those on this thread that just do it without thinking about it.

I agree As well as those who are saying “wouldn’t cross my mind not to” I went to private school and so do my DC - I’ve literally never heard of this. Maybe people are just too skint after paying for fees and extortionate uniform - I can afford it but I’m loathe to spend more on a totally unnecessary bag and pencil case when last year’s is perfectly good. I buy a lot of uniform from second hand sale at school too - I’m going to hazard a guess that those who buy a new pencil case every year are not going to go anywhere near second hand uniform - but fine, their choice.

DD had her first bag in Y7. Then I bought one in Feb of Y9 because the old one had a big hole in it. That's already busted so have had to buy a new one for September. We can only buy the approved one so no say in the quality of it.

She also had the same sandwich bag for 2 years but the zips broken so we have just got her a new one. She's had 2 Chilly bottles since Y7 (going into Y10 next month).

She goes through a coat a year. Rips, repeated washes, zips breaking. Shoes: at least twice a year. But her very expensive school skirts from Y7 (bought miles too big at the time) have lasted since Y7 as has her blazer.

I have always tried to make things last as long as possible.

Mine dont get anything new unless broken or falling apart.

We also only buy when it's needed

I think younger children might need new lunchboxes as they get bashed and their tastes change so quickly.
My teenagers have had the same school bags for about 3 years now and they're still fine. They don't use lunchboxes or bags anymore.
I remember changing bags and lunchboxes and usually pencil cases every September when I waa young but times have changed and it's quite wasteful if things are still in good condition.
How does your DC feel? Do they want a new bag and lunchbox?

Ours have to have the school branded ones. Their not expensive. General they keep the same one for yrs 1 and 2, and the same one throughout the juniors. School bags that is.

Lunchboxes I wouldn’t ever have thought about replacing each year

*they’re not expensive