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.

It is costing the earth . Literally, through the environmental damage caused by the production of the new and disposal of the old.

DS is going into year 6 with existing bag - it's only his second since reception. It's quite a cool one so I think he'd be sad to see it go. They don't carry loads of stuff like I did. They aren't even allowed a pencil case. He has school dinners so no lunch box. Bottle gets changed as and when.

No. I don't want to think about the environment. I really don't. I want to go from A to B without being blamed for breathing because it's bad for the environment. I don't care. I live a healthy live that does not tax the planet and I refuse to feel guilty for buying a schoolbag. If the planet can't survive that, then who cares? I don't.

@LittleBearPad: That is nothing you need to concern yourself with. I stated that some of the happiest memories were each year going to buy a new bag with my Mum and I don't intend anyone to shame me into not continuing the tradition with my child just to adopt a holier than thou attitude like some people.

Dd has had the same one for years, neither she nor I considered replacing it whilst there is nothing wrong with it. I plan on getting her a new pencil case though as I noticed the one she's had for three years has gone brittle and flaky. When she was small lunch boxes and water bottles were replaced yearly though as the constant washing took its toll.

@RJnomore1

Oh hang on I get it!! It’s the new MN chicken - how many years can you make a school bag last.

It's really not comparable. Children have been out of school a lot during the last 2 years, it's really not difficult to make things last when they're not being used. Buying new just because it's September is ridiculous.

DD has had the same bag since P1 and is about to start P4. She will get a new one when either a)it rips and is unusable or b)she asks for one. So far it's going strong and she still likes unicorns.

New uniform has been bought this year because she has outgrown the previous lot, which was bought 2 years ago.

I don't see any point in having brand new if it's not needed.

I used to, but now I have 3 children, the environment is screwed so I do the sensible thing and only buy if the others are no good.

It’s extremely comparable, it’s a thread of people who can’t wait to tell everyone how worthy they are. See also : christmas presents.

No I only get one if DS asks for one or if it's falling apart. Neither of them have packed lunches and DD has to have the official logoed bag, which I'll replace when it falls apart.

Mine have new school shoes every September and that is because their old ones are always fit for the bin by the July of the previous year, plus their feet have always grown.

Other than that they only get new uniform if they have grown out of it. Mine haven't needed stationery so far, but they get a new bag/ lunch box if the old one has worn out and are much more likely to get it as a birthday/ christmas present.

I certainly don't think anyone looks down on us for this!

Does it not occur to those, who buy a new lunch bag every year to just put it through the washing machine?!

@Barkingdog

It's never crossed my mind to buy new things just because it's the start of the school year! I replace them as and when they need replacing.

This. Replacing just because it's September is incredibly wasteful and a bad example to set for your children.

@RJnomore1

It’s extremely comparable, it’s a thread of people who can’t wait to tell everyone how worthy they are. See also : christmas presents.

Worthy? Surely it's just common sense not to buying an identical item when the one you have is still in usable condition.

@MorganHunt

I don’t think it’s a big problem, you buying new school bags. It’s not for me because like I said I like to see my money’s worth out of expensive items but not for environmental reasons more for financial reasons. I doubt anyone is totally green, we are a two car family and (used to) enjoy going abroad, so you’re probably ahead of us in the Greenpeace queue even if you do buy new bags every year. So don’t feel shamed, everyone does things in their own different way.

I had the same leather satchel all through primary school (which was then passed on to my younger sibling) then a bigger briefcase all through secondary, also passed down to sibling in due course, but then this was before the days of greedy consumerism.

@onemouseplace school shoes/trainers are a completely different thing. They grow out of shoes. They have to be bought.

They don't grow out of bags though do they?

@RJnomore1

Oh hang on I get it!! It’s the new MN chicken - how many years can you make a school bag last.

Absolutely this!

I think kids change so much between say, 12 and 18. I went through about 4 different phases, I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to use my “emo” Vans bag in Upper Sixth . The bag in question is still used even though I’m an adult and school was many moons ago, but it’s usually a spare bag to put the kids stuff in when we’re going to the beach or somewhere kind of grubby.

It’s also a mindset thing. I always felt more motivated to study if I had nice new stationery and whatnot. I still used the “old” stuff but pens run out/get lost/stood on/lent and never returned. It’s good to have apparatus to supplement learning and it encourages them at the beginning of the term.

I’d feel like a hypocrite if I said no to my child having a new bag as when I get a new job, I spent money on new workwear.

Obviously if you can’t afford to then that’s an entirely different scenario but if you can and want to, that’s that.

@Whinge user name checks out 😂

I only replace if the old one is busted. When I was a kid, my bag was only replaced when broken too.

Pencil cases, I wouldn't automatically get a new one, but might if the old one was tatty and I really fancied it. Can't see the point in replacing stuff that I've only just used to/got worn in.

[quote RJnomore1]@Whinge user name checks out 😂[/quote]
Ah yes I disagree with you so I must be Whinging, God forbid you respond to the point I made.

Obviously if you can’t afford to then that’s an entirely different scenario but if you can and want to, that’s that.

I could definitely afford to buy new bags every year but I don't, it is wasteful I can think of better ways of spending/investing my money to be honest. So I can but I don't want to I suppose...

Agree with your OH.

Try washing the bag on a cool wash, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

It’s excessive.

WTAF

seriously?

Mine have had the same the last four years. Lunchboxes, bags everything.

No wonder the planet is fucked.

What is wrong with you??

In primary yes, in secondary no. We usually buy things when travelling, as souvenirs.
Primary - interests change. Shaun the Sheep gets outgrown. Minecraft takes place.
Secondary - they are more interested in gadgets than bags or lunchboxes.