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?

Replaced them toward the end of last term so they've not got new this time. The lunchbag handles had started to fray and despite regular washing - the insides were wrecked from exploding yoghurt so they got swapped. School bags - hadn't had an easy life since DD1 persists in trying to take an entire fucking library to school "in case she gets bored" so the seams tend to go, and the pair of them had suckered me into buying Smiggle which just hadn't lasted.

The old bags tend to get transferred to duty as swimming kit bags, or bags to hold kickboxing kit - or, in the case of the really cool Pokemon bag - I nicked it for university.

Uniform - they changed school last term so I had to rebuy. The old cardigans and skirts that no longer fit will go into our neighbourhood sustainable uniform recycling initiative and the old dresses will go to a family member who has that colour summer uniform at their school.

Anything generally reusable gets passed on around friends and family as a general rule- usually polo shirts aren't fit to do another year, but DD1 has been playing about making heat transfer vinyl decals to up-cycle them, and one got converted into an emergency "need to dress up in England tops tomorrow" dress up day.

Both my boys get new school bags each year and younger DS gets a new lunchbox.

I was the child with different things to everyone else when I was at school and there is no way I’m letting my children go through that.

@ihearttc

Both my boys get new school bags each year and younger DS gets a new lunchbox.

I was the child with different things to everyone else when I was at school and there is no way I’m letting my children go through that.

Why would they be the children with different things? Surely a bag that was used in July is perfectly fine to use in September. I really can't see classmates caring that your child has the same bag they used only a few months ago.

Well unless you live in Wales where we recycle food, paper, cardboard, glass plastics separately have a black bin every four weeks for unrecyclable stuff have to visit recycling center three times a month max for clothing electronics, metal, wood then not impressed by virtue signalling on here

Garden waste pay extra, for a brown bin just for cuttings, any serious clippings go on a central tip part of the three times a month. You have to book an appointment slot for those.

I also think that if those of you on here from England had to fork out approximately €160 per child for all books, exercise books, stationery etc and then a €40 photocopying and admin fee AS WELL AS uniform (like we do in Ireland) you would think twice about that school bag too!!

@burritofan

No every September I get new. Not sending my kid off to school being the scruffy one with last years tatty stuff. They’ll be the best-dressed kids on The Road

🙌

Another vote for DH. Buying new ones ‘just because’ is so wasteful.

YANBU, it’s not excessive. Of course she should have new if you can afford it.

@Whinge

I spent my entire childhood wearing old, dated and unfashionable clothes from jumble sales. I was always clean and tidy but never looked the same as everyone else. I never had shiny shoes, a new bag or a decent lunchbox…ever. I never ever got that excited back to school feeling or a fun shopping trip with my Mum. I spent the 6 weeks holiday dreading going back as I knew I’d get laughed at for not having the latest clothes or bags.

Of course I wouldn’t buy a new bag from July to September but they have used it daily for a year (yes even this year as the youngest was in every day) and they look awful. And I want to give my kids the excited happy feelings I never had. And if that means buying a new Nike bag for £20 and a new lunchbox each school year then so be it. The old ones get used for football training until they fall apart so won’t be wasted.

There is a massive difference between never having anything new (which is still sadly the reality for way too many) and replacing things every year just because they may be starting to look slightly used.

[quote ihearttc]@Whinge

I spent my entire childhood wearing old, dated and unfashionable clothes from jumble sales. I was always clean and tidy but never looked the same as everyone else. I never had shiny shoes, a new bag or a decent lunchbox…ever. I never ever got that excited back to school feeling or a fun shopping trip with my Mum. I spent the 6 weeks holiday dreading going back as I knew I’d get laughed at for not having the latest clothes or bags.

Of course I wouldn’t buy a new bag from July to September but they have used it daily for a year (yes even this year as the youngest was in every day) and they look awful. And I want to give my kids the excited happy feelings I never had. And if that means buying a new Nike bag for £20 and a new lunchbox each school year then so be it. The old ones get used for football training until they fall apart so won’t be wasted.[/quote]
I'm sorry you had a difficult childhood and felt out of place among your peers, however it sounds like it was much more than not having a new lunchbox / bag.

If the old ones are usable for football training then surely they will still be perfectly fine to use as a school bag? If they're so awful that the can't be used after a year then I would be having words about looking after their belongings, rather than replacing with a new identical bag.

Yes I buy the dc new uniforms and lunch bag ,water bottle etc because their kit is too small and well worn plus the lunch bag is done in and tatty

@EspressoDoubleShot do your children only grow from July to September?

What facetious point are you straining to make?So Desperate to be acerbic. Trying too hard
My kids have school new uniform each year, excluding blazer as I buy big they grow into it
New shoes, new trainers and Lunch bags,because after a year the items are knackered & tatty. I want to replace with new items , it’s my preference, they get a year out a uniform, it’s getting small in June , July I don’t replace knowing I’ll buy new again in August

So if DS’s feet grow in June so have to get new shoes then. Should I then buy new shoes in September as well just because it is September even though the shoes bought in June still fit him?

I bought uniform as and when needed. I hate tatty clothes and bags so replace when worn or stained. They get a lot of wear and tear five days a week.

We have a fabric recycling point close by so used that when needed a few times a year. No different from those who buy wine every week and recycle the bottles.

WTAF do all of these children do with their lunch bags that they get "RUINED, TATTY, DESTROYED...ETC??" My dc walk in and put them in their cubby or on the lunch box table, take them off, eat lunch, put them back, take them off, walk out of school and put them in the boot of the car.
Are they kicking them down the corridors or carrying them?? It's actually beyond me how they end up in such bad condition that they are deemed unusable!

I’d expect you to exercise your own judgment & preferences regard your own child @inneed

Of course items aren’t pristine after a year,
they get hoiked about,dropped, the zip repeatedly opened and closed, ,dragged about ,food spillage inside. Near daily use, and a year on it shows

@lazylump72

I think a bit about my replacing and I do accept the critisism its fine but its the trends. We change trends for ourselves so why not with the kids? Princess and unicorns will look dated.I am mainly talking about primary school years here where the things tend to be so cheap to replace. You can get so much cheaply at supermarkets etc.Like a new water bottle at Sainsburys was only 12.00 so I dont mind changing whenever really, had I been spending 40 or 50 on a bag etc I would think again maybe,

Who cares about them being dated in all honesty

@qualitygirl

WTAF do all of these children do with their lunch bags that they get "RUINED, TATTY, DESTROYED...ETC??" My dc walk in and put them in their cubby or on the lunch box table, take them off, eat lunch, put them back, take them off, walk out of school and put them in the boot of the car. Are they kicking them down the corridors or carrying them?? It's actually beyond me how they end up in such bad condition that they are deemed unusable!

I'm also curious. I understand they get messy with food spillages, but after a quick spin in the washing machine they're back to looking their best.

How many handbags do we all have? I am certainly guilty of having bought a new bag when the last one is still standing

Mine had Tupperware ones which seemed to last well in primary. I must admit I did buy cartons of juice from Costco for my ds in the end

@EspressoDoubleShot

Of course items aren’t pristine after a year, they get hoiked about,dropped, the zip repeatedly opened and closed, ,dragged about ,food spillage inside. Near daily use, and a year on it shows

But nothing is pristine after being used. You don't throw away clothes because they have a stain, shoes because they have a few scuffs or sports kits because they got muddy. You wash them and carry on using them.

@Pastrydame

How many handbags do we all have? I am certainly guilty of having bought a new bag when the last one is still standing

One, has it for about 3 years now.

I also have a backpack I use when taking Ds out as we have a lot of meds and things we need to take. That has been on the go for about 6 years now so I am looking for a suitable replacement