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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:
ineedaholidaynow · 14/08/2021 19:11

Because our parents did it, doesn’t mean we should. We should be more environmentally aware, as should older children. So only replace when needed.

SamMil · 14/08/2021 19:11

Wow, buying a new one every year is very wasteful. I didn't know this was a thing. I don't think it matters if a bag of lunchbox looks a bit tatty..?

beigebrownblue · 14/08/2021 19:12

With blazers, it is tricky to know how much they are going to grow.

They don't tend to lose those we got away with three in total I think in secondary school.

If you find you have one extra and its too big/too small, communicate with the other mums as swaps may be possible or if it is still in good nick, hand it in to school reception. They will be grateful as there will always be kids who lose theirs or can't afford one, at the time.

topcat2014 · 14/08/2021 19:12

I start a new job in a school - so went to WHSmith today to buy pens and a pencil case..

Just the 32 years since I last started a school year :)

beigebrownblue · 14/08/2021 19:13

Also I managed to get a back up blazer with the schools old logo on, (they changed it) you can hardly tell the difference and it was a useful back up.

user1471539385 · 14/08/2021 19:13

DD is at a ‘big name’ private school (ie one that people have heard of nationally) and had the same school bag and overcoat for years 7-9. She has just had a new bag, because the other one was thinning and she didn’t want to risk everything dropping out of it, but will continue in the coat. Her classmates are the same. There’s nothing cool about not caring about the planet, and today’s kids know better than to replace things ‘just because’.

mommathatwearspink · 14/08/2021 19:13

Mine have everything new at the start of the September term… uniform, socks, shoes, trainers, coat, bags, etc etc. It’s just what feels normal to me.

MrsPear · 14/08/2021 19:14

Buy one for that you can wash. And don’t bother with fashion ones.

ShinyMe · 14/08/2021 19:16

@Attictroll

No only of need replacing and so far for my 8 year old never. I am with Your OH and also the people who pointed out the environmental effect so true I hadn't thought of that!
Seriously, there are people who don't even consider this? I'm.... learning every day. Wow.
kowari · 14/08/2021 19:16

@beigebrownblue

With blazers, it is tricky to know how much they are going to grow.

They don't tend to lose those we got away with three in total I think in secondary school.

If you find you have one extra and its too big/too small, communicate with the other mums as swaps may be possible or if it is still in good nick, hand it in to school reception. They will be grateful as there will always be kids who lose theirs or can't afford one, at the time.

DS is onto his second, bought at the start of year 10 a year ago after the first lasted three years. I don't think I bought big enough this time but if it gets too small this year I will take it to the second hand pool and pick up a bigger one there for about £8.
pussycatlickinglollyices · 14/08/2021 19:16

Just buy her new ones. You don't want her to be picked on, being the only one with tatty stuff.

Those going on about the planet being fucked, yes it probably is.
Try telling that to the teens that chuck their empty plastic water bottles, crisp packets and Caffe Nero, Costa and Starbucks cups in the hedge near me on their way home from the bus they could walk to a closer school 🤷🏻‍♀️ and yes it is them - I see them do it every.single.day.

Thislittlefinger123 · 14/08/2021 19:16

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.

Not in my experience. The majority of parents at my DC's school pass down uniform etc through multiple DC and then pass it on through the fb uniform group. It's not a money thing (I'd say the intake is average affluency). I don't not buy new uniform and bags etc because we can't afford it, more why would I buy things we don't need, and be wasteful, when we could reuse and have the money in the bank? I'll happily spend £60 on school shoes as good fitting, quality shoes are important and their feet change size, but why get them a bag they don't need?

bridgetreilly · 14/08/2021 19:16

It’s such a waste. If it’s useable and she likes it, why get new ones?

icedcoffees · 14/08/2021 19:17

They’re themed and my child doesn’t want that theme anymore?

So just buy plain ones? Hmm

I don't have DC but I had the same lunchbox throughout primary school - then I went on to school dinners, but my mum still uses it 20 years later!

CecilyP · 14/08/2021 19:18

I can beat that on blazers! Mine lasted throughout secondary, including sixth form, as did my skirt, tie, boater, felt hat.. i have a feeling they must have been quite large on little eleven year old me.

Yeah I had one blazer for the whole of secondary- bought in the summer term of what’s now year 7. However, I didn’t wear it all that much as it was just what I wore it to school when it was too warm for a coat, too cold for nothing. I donated it to the school when I left (along with the hockey boots id warn about 6 times) as there was still years of wear in it. I’m surprised you only had one skirt - mine wore through quite regularly!

HungryHippo11 · 14/08/2021 19:18

Waste of money and resources

ancientgran · 14/08/2021 19:19

My leather satchel was expected to last all through grammar school and it did. I think we had a sort of pride in a well worn satchel, poor little first years (year 7 now) had shiny new bags. How embarrassing was that.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 14/08/2021 19:20

Brown paper and string. That's all we 'ad and we thought we was lucky.

Brown paper replaced every two years, string when you went to Big School.

And we were 'appy, well you got clip round t' ear if you weren't.

5zeds · 14/08/2021 19:20

Nope. They get new pants and socks thoughGrin

Luckyelephant1 · 14/08/2021 19:21

I get the point about the environment etc but some of my best school memories as a kid was getting a new lunchbox, pencil case, stationery and school shoes. Don't really remember how often I got a new bag but that wasn't as exciting. But nothing beat the thrill of opening a pristine new pencil case full of scented gel pens and novelty sharpeners etc. My child isn't school age yet but I can't wait to do this every September with them.

Didiplanthis · 14/08/2021 19:22

Just bought DD a decent quality back pack for start of secondary in the hope it lasts a good few years... its dark grey and boring.. she likes boring.. so I'm hoping it is less likely to fall out of favour than a more specific one. If it does I will use it for work ! She also wants a new lunch box and pencil case in matching dark grey and boring... DS x2 will keep last years as they are fine until they are broken. Im currently slightly grumpy DS has had the audacity to grow out his winter coat after 3 years.

JeffVaderneedsatray · 14/08/2021 19:22

I will confess that. as a child, I LOVED the back to school shopping experience.
Since having my own children and 'wising up' to the environmental issues I have bought only as needed.
DS has had the same backpack since Year 8 - He used his primary school backpack in Year 7 but needed a bigger one so he could fit his PE kit in (Has an ASC and organisational skills mean 2 bags to keep track of was too much) He's just finished Year 11 and will have a new bag for 6th form as he won't need to lug about PE kit and will have fewer books.
DD is using a backpack I bought before she was born. She's 13. I used it as a work bag and then a changing bag. She likes the colour and number of pockets.
Stationery wise we buy what is needed as needed.
(I may have a stationery addiction...... we may not need any stationery for a while -forever--)

kowari · 14/08/2021 19:23

I don't actually get the September thing at all. I buy every second size in uniform, I buy it when it's commonly available. That doesn't mean I get rid of the old then, only when outgrown or out worn. So I might buy in July and that uniform may be used from January if that's when it's needed.

DariaMorgendorffer · 14/08/2021 19:23

We keep the same school bag year after year,
until it falls apart. It was the same for me as a child. I was brought up to mend things and reuse. My mother was always environmentally conscious, and it has stuck with me! She hates waste.

MorganHunt · 14/08/2021 19:23

Once a year my Mum took us out for a new schoolbag and lunchbox. It was a nice day and we ended up on a cafe having lunch. Wasteful? Some people buy cigarettes and destroy the planet that way. We got new annual bags. I follow my Mum's example with a good conscience. There is such a thing as being too uptight.