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?

there are some laugh out loud virtue signalling and conspicuous giving to the poor going on in this thread.

Yes I agree. I hope this thread has made some people re-consider why they buy new stuff every year (if they do). But trying to pass off buying new as a good thing because it means someone else can use the "too poor for my own child" item is pretty sad. Why not just say you buy new because you can and because you like to, although you do try to mitigate the environmental issue by passing the old item on to someone else.

I think it would be a good thing to break the cycle some have on here of "buying because its september" which is nonsensical when you think about it. It takes people choosing to stop to stop making it a "thing" in their family.

Re earlier mention of Eastpak; DD is nearly 30 and persuaded me to Miyazaki her one in year 5 when they were all the rage. Her argument at the time was that it would last 25 years at which I massively rolled my eyes. It is still on the go for weekends away etc.and looks pretty good. She hasn't used it daily since school but it certainly owes us nothing at this point .

Yes it is always easier to get better quality things when you have more money for the initial outlay, something which is not available to many people.

That's always been an issue. Rich person might pay £100 for a pair of good quality leather shoes that can be maintained and give many years of wear. Someone else might be only able to afford a £15 pair of plastic shoes or cheap trainers and they are worn out or broken in months and need to save up again and they are usually not the type that can be re-heeled or waxed so can't just get a repair. £ for £, poorer person pays out much more in shoes for shit quality. Same applies to needing a money meter for fuel etc etc etc.

Those of you recommending redistribution of monies to the disadvantaged do you maintain that principle in your own life?

Invited to a wedding as a guest do you think, that money that I could have spent on outfit or accessories I’ll give to the disadvantaged. Or buy the outfit and give it to poor/less well off.

Surely it would be nicer to buy a new lunchbox for a disadvantaged child who may never have anything new, rather than giving them your child's seconds each year? really….you make do and buy the “disadvantaged” new. Don’t believe you

Um.Why not donate the new items to the school, if there's nothing wrong with your kids bag/pencil case etc? do you apply this logic to your own family..do you make do with existing item and buy new for someone else who is financially constrained? No phone or tech upgrades as existing item works, but donate new item to someone else?

really….you make do and buy the “disadvantaged” new. Don’t believe you

If you don't believe me then I doubt there's anything I can say to change you mind. 🤷‍♀️

I work in a school, and like many school staff I have been known to buy new items for disadvantaged children. It shouldn't be a part of the job, but unfortunately it's not an uncommon occurrence.

I wouldn’t think to replace a bag or lunchbox except if it was worn out or somehow unfit for purpose. Good ergonomic school bags don’t come cheap, and a decent quality bag should last longer than just one year.

Do you routinely forgo an item for yourself to buy new for someone else instead.
Public sector health,SW and education buying or giving clients items when they’re skint,yes that goes on.regularly. I’m not asking you about the infrequent payment of a school meal or small item . I’m asking you do you regularly and routinely forgo buying yourself something say a new coat, but divert that sum of money to someone else? For example You do not upgrade your own tech as it still works but do you take the equivalent sum of money and spend it on someone else?

Most teachers,SW, HV,Doctors, OT, police have at some point bought or donated items for clients. That’s different from choosing to deny self a new item but buy the equivalent item for someone else because they don’t have it

@EspressoDoubleShot

Do you routinely forgo an item for yourself to buy new for someone else instead. Public sector health,SW and education buying or giving clients items when they’re skint,yes that goes on.regularly. I’m not asking you about the infrequent payment of a school meal or small item . I’m asking you do you regularly and routinely forgo buying yourself something say a new coat, but divert that sum of money to someone else? For example You do not upgrade your own tech as it still works but do you take the equivalent sum of money and spend it on someone else?

Most teachers,SW, HV,Doctors, OT, police have at some point bought or donated items for clients. That’s different from choosing to deny self a new item but buy the equivalent item for someone else because they don’t have it

Why does it need to be a regular occurence?

I don't regulary buy new coats or upgrade my technology, so no, I wouldn't donate the equivalent sum of money or buy those items for someone else. As I only replace them when mine are no longer usable.

The thread was initially asking about buying new lunch boxes and bags each September when there's nothing wrong with the old ones. I can suggest that it would be a nicer idea to donate the new bag or lunchbox if someone felt they had to buy new each September, without applying this to every area of my life.

Blimey this is an eye-opener.

Our lunch bag is going into 5th year of use this year having followed DS through nursery and beyond, and I bought a used school rucksack for £1 at the PTA sale which is now in its 3rd year of use with us, who knows how many in total? Bit scuffed but perfectly functional.

We could well afford new but really, what’s the point?

I thought some of these comments about buying something new for a disadvantaged pupil, were in response to other posters who are saying that their child could not possibly turn up to school on the first day of term in September without a new bag, but it is okay because they donate the old bag to charity (in other words, it is okay for a poor pupil to turn up with an old, used school bag but not their precious child)

Right,there we are

So, You pay the occasional school meal, buy an occasional item for pupils. That’s very decent and may public sector workers do too.

It was suggested in thread that instead of buying new items,people should keep existing item and buy someone poor the new items with the equivalent sum of money. That’s A whole lot of virtue signalling

Yes @ineed and this was extended to Um.Why not donate the new items to the school, if there's nothing wrong with your kids bag/pencil case etc? I am asking is it a global give new items to poor pupils or only new items up to a certain value. So give a new pencil case or bag but don’t give a new coat or blazer?

I don't think it is virtue signalling as such, it is meant to be showing how awful the attitude of some people are that their child couldn't possibly come to school without a new bag, but it is fine for children of poor families to do so.

The virtue signalling was the quote I posted Um.Why not donate the new items to the school,if there's nothing wrong with your kids bag/pencil case etc? Give new items To school, prove how big hearted and benevolent you are to the wee people. Retain your own used items and buy someone else new items

Wow, new every year - what a waste!

Landfills are overflowing and we have to ship our textile waste to Africa. I am not advocating never having new things, even sometimes for fun, but there is zero reason to do this every year. All it does is teach your kids that buying new stuff is how to become happy and being wasteful is ok.

It doesn’t teach my kids that In the least. Know that’s out with your prescriptive speech that you’d prepared about profligate spending and waste
In fact, They do obviously see that when an item is too small or broken or tatty it’s gets replaced.

Also - this idea that nothing we do makes a difference, so we might as well just consume.

People today by twice the number of clothes they did 20 years ago. And that does make a difference - it is so much stuff, it actually destroys communities. It comes from the same attitude, that we should just buy stuff because. It doesn't really even add value to people's lives.

This kind of thing is the low hanging fruit where it's easy to make a difference with essentially no pain.

@EspressoDoubleShot but why does it only get too small or tatty in September, what happens in the summer holiday that causes that?

@EspressoDoubleShot

Do you routinely forgo an item for yourself to buy new for someone else instead. Public sector health,SW and education buying or giving clients items when they’re skint,yes that goes on.regularly. I’m not asking you about the infrequent payment of a school meal or small item . I’m asking you do you regularly and routinely forgo buying yourself something say a new coat, but divert that sum of money to someone else? For example You do not upgrade your own tech as it still works but do you take the equivalent sum of money and spend it on someone else?

Most teachers,SW, HV,Doctors, OT, police have at some point bought or donated items for clients. That’s different from choosing to deny self a new item but buy the equivalent item for someone else because they don’t have it

Yes. But you won't believe me.

My laptop is 8 years old, I could have passed it I to DNiece and bought a new one for myself. But, I bought her a new one just a few weeks ago, because she needed a good and reliable laptop for sixth form and uni. My sister couldn't afford to get her one. My laptop is fine for my use.

I bought a child a new scooter, there had got stolen from a park. I could have given him DSs old one, but I didn't.

But you don't believe me I'm sure.

I didn’t actually say that, again you’ve got a prepared speech you want to post
Make a difference, like everyone I do what I can what’s achievable for me
I don’t drive, i walk or use public transportation to work and school
Am vegetarian have been since 16year old
Re-sell items on eBay etc or donate onward if not in resalable condition
Don’t routinely use single use water or coffee. Have had a flask and water bottle for years in work and at home
Take lunch to work in a box, try limit my single use plastics

I don’t however buy anyone a new pencil case to prove how naice I am

...good for you...?

You bought your niece a uni student, an essential item. Believable she’s family after all @00100001
Most people would if they could afford it

Not believable is the suggestion that one routinely buys items for random others.

Not good for me in the least, simply an answer to the oh idea that nothing we do makes a difference, so we might as well just consume.