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Original poster

New school bag and lunchbox every September?

590 replies

AvocadoHo · 14/08/2021 18:06

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?

OP posts:
Thislittlefinger123 · 14/08/2021 19:02

This thread is really depressing. No wonder the planet is f*cked. I have three DCs, eldest's bag is 3 years so far, middle one's is 2 years (but eldest used it for a year before that). Youngest has a book bag for a year and it'll last another two before they get a rucksack.

I put them through the wash once a term. They're not expensive ones. I won't replace them unless they break.

pollylocketpickedapocket · 14/08/2021 19:02

@Parker231

If it’s still good enough to give to a charity shop why would you not continue to use it?
They’re themed and my child doesn’t want that theme anymore?
Parttimemostofthetime · 14/08/2021 19:03

My dds will get new ones if they want them. My mum didnt buy me new ones and I always felt embarrassed and left out.

Foxglovesandlilacs86 · 14/08/2021 19:03

I buy all of my kids brand new everything (uniform related) every September. My my did the same, I thought everyone did that unless they can’t afford to. I have 5 at school and 3 too small to go to school yet so it costs a lot but I like them to look smart and fresh Smile

pollylocketpickedapocket · 14/08/2021 19:03

@Thislittlefinger123

This thread is really depressing. No wonder the planet is f*cked. I have three DCs, eldest's bag is 3 years so far, middle one's is 2 years (but eldest used it for a year before that). Youngest has a book bag for a year and it'll last another two before they get a rucksack.

I put them through the wash once a term. They're not expensive ones. I won't replace them unless they break.

Honestly, the reasons the planet is fucked are a bit more complex than that.
pollylocketpickedapocket · 14/08/2021 19:04

@Parttimemostofthetime

My dds will get new ones if they want them. My mum didnt buy me new ones and I always felt embarrassed and left out.
Exactly.
Antinerak · 14/08/2021 19:04

I would get a new one and use the old one for activities where it could get muddy/damaged e.g. bike ride, park, school trip. And it's always good to have a spare lunchbox and bag. When she gets older she'll keep them neat for a bit longer, but if you can afford it why not?

Sj595 · 14/08/2021 19:04

@burritofan

Monday: IPCC issues code red for humanity and the climate emergency. Tue-Fri: heatwaves, floods, disasters. Saturday: lol, lighthearted debate but should we buy a reusable item annually because sentiment?

I’d say “burn the world” but we already are. (Sorrynotsorry not feeling very lighthearted tbqh)

Agreed, what a truly depressing thread.
Vroomed · 14/08/2021 19:05

My DS has to use the school issued school bag at high school. It was £30 and expecting it to last until he finishes. He is reusing his pencil case from last year. I gave away his old Star Wars lunchbox from primary school on Facebook and gave two old school bags in great condition to charity shop. We have two old pencil cases at home which store felt tip pens etc. It felt wrong to bin these things.

Thislittlefinger123 · 14/08/2021 19:05

I can see they might not last as long at secondary if they're carrying heavy books, using public transport etc. But my DC are primary age and there's no reason theirs can't last years.

nevernotstruggling · 14/08/2021 19:05

Don't really have a policy but I'll replace them if they are scruffy. I wouldn't buy something that won't go in the machine so I do try and prolong their life!

BuckarooWithBruceGrobelaar · 14/08/2021 19:05

I would usually buy new everything every year, but I've decided against this year. DS (going into year 9) needs stationary because he's autistic and loses everything. I'm going to throw his bag and pencil case in the washing machine though. PE kit still fits and looks fine. Shirts are still in good conditon because I wash them at a high temperature and use vanish in every wash to keep them white.

The only clothes I'm actually replacing are his jumpers (because they're wool and looking rather worn after two years) trousers, blazer and shoes because he's grown out of all.

Trying be less wasteful and save myself some cash

WeAllHaveWings · 14/08/2021 19:05

Ds had the same football shape lunch bag through the whole of primary, think we replaced it once or twice when he lost it. Still got it in the cupboard and use occasionally if I need to keep something cool.

Same with his school bags, replaced only when broken and same bag used for sleepovers etc, he got a new larger back pack for starting secondary and it lasted 5 years before it got caught under a chair leg and torn. Cant abide waste and now neither can ds, he asked if I could repair it but my sewing skills weren't up to it!!!

Character items are best avoided as they go out of favour quickly.

My heart sinks thinking of the hundreds of thousands of new items bought just for the sake of it each school year and end up in landfill. We need to start doing better and model good habits to our dc..

RobinPenguins · 14/08/2021 19:06

This thread is so depressing. Is my child going to be looked down on when she gets to school because I don’t want to send so much stuff to landfill and buy new everything every year? I can afford to, I don’t want to. There’s already a grotesque amount of waste involved in raising a child without replacing perfectly functional stuff every year.

Snoopsnoggysnog · 14/08/2021 19:06

Wow I am quite surprised by this thread. Had no idea this was a thing and find it really wasteful. I still have a couple of bags from my childhood hanging around - one was in great condition and my DS recently started using it.
My DD begged for a Smiggle lunch box one year - I found that pretty expensive so she used it throughout juniors. We are well off and so were my parents.

RaraRachael · 14/08/2021 19:07

LOL at our school we all have a laugh at the competition to "OutSmiggle" each other Grin

CoastalSwimmer · 14/08/2021 19:07

My daughter wanted a new bag, lunchbox, pencil case, pencil case contents, coat, uniform, everything, each year, so we always did the pre-school shop to kit her out with it all.

My sons couldn't think of anything worse than dragging around the shops to replace old but okay stuff so for them only essential replacements were made.

ElephantOfRisk · 14/08/2021 19:07

DSs had one bought for nursery that they then used for first couple of years in primary, then a bigger one for rest of primary. New one for High School and then a new one for Uni. Lunch bags/boxes bought as needed.

As long as it's not broken/too small or very young looking for them then just pop it through a wash and re-use.

It's generally easier for girls to get away with very few high school blazers as they tend to hit puberty and have a growth spurt at an earlier age. It's not an exact science of course, but boys tend to have bigger growth spurts during their high school years. Mine had three in the first 5 years and then their final year one was a different colour so needed a fourth.

beigebrownblue · 14/08/2021 19:07

If uniform still fits and lunchbox okay would send them in with the same one.

Then get a feel for what everyone else is wearing (bags are funny things especially at secondary). Then buy new ones a few weeks after term has started.

You never know, with all the talk of climate change and plastic free schools they might even want to get a plastic free one which would last them for the rest of school. Theoretically.

In real terms, you will probably find it will get lost. Together with coats etc.

Good coat strategy is once you find one, at a good price, buy two, the next one bigger size (preferably in the sale)

That way if they lose one they have a replacement.

Yes, I know you put their names in and schools have lost property box

but don't know what they do with them sometimes.. phones are frustrating too,... be prepared for that one...

BuckarooWithBruceGrobelaar · 14/08/2021 19:08

@AntiMaskersAreTwats

My children have to have the school bag which isn’t cheap at £50!! Everyone makes sure it lasts from Reception to Year 6 no matter what! By Year 6 they are often hanging by a thread Grin
That's extortionate! No wonder parents will only buy one!
Thislittlefinger123 · 14/08/2021 19:08

Honestly, the reasons the planet is fucked are a bit more complex than that.

Actually I don't agree. That's a cop out. Endless consumerism and throw away society is definitely a factor. If you apply that logic there's no point individuals recycling, or walking instead of using the car, or insulating their house. Of course the planet being screwed is complicated, but to use that as a cop out is why the planet will continue to be screwed.

daisydaisy11 · 14/08/2021 19:08

How wasteful to buy new every year for the sake of it. Please don't. We need to think.of the environment.

Steelesauce · 14/08/2021 19:09

I'm not binning the old ones BTW, they will go in the cupboard as 'spares' for picnics/if someone loses one as a back up. Theyre just tatty looking after daily use! When they need new school bags, I will just use the old ones as swimming/muddy activity bags until they fall about. All old uniform gets passed on to friends with younger kids. You can buy new and not just send usable things to landfill.

kowari · 14/08/2021 19:10

Can't you wash them if they are grubby? Nothing wrong with battered as long as they are functional, they are only for school. What are you doing with the old ones every year?

DS got his backpack in year 5, he's now going into year 11 with the same one.

olidora63 · 14/08/2021 19:11

TBH my children were at primary school over 10 years ago but new bag ,pencil case and lunch box was so exciting for them and part of the new school year!