To not buy new school stuff even though we could afford it

[MerryMarigold]

I was wondering today ...

DD seemed a bit down and I wasn't sure why. She's got nothing new for school this year (going to Y8) as she got a new bag during the year, her shoes still fit and aren't broken, I bought secondhand blazers from PTA, skirts and blouses and p.e kit still fit. I tend to buy new when things break or they grow out of them, and preferably secondhand when it comes to clothes as there is so much which already exists I don't like creating more manufacturing and buying new unless it's necessary.

So, AIBU? Is it nice to start the school year with new stuff? Like a new start. What do you guys get new? Is there a compromise and if so, what is it?

Both my teens needed new everything as we had to relocate - painful on the bank balance and I’m bloody glad my youngests primary has a very similar uniform that still fits so all she needed was a few new jumpers/cardigans. But I guarantee she will have a growth spurt at Christmas.

My dd12 has her own debit card. She goes out and buys her own stationary and school bag. I buy uniform when it's needed. Maybe give your dd a bit of extra freedom?

Why did you put a kiss at the end? 🤣🤣🤣🤣
What a twat!

DS3 is wearing uniform that used to belong to his older siblings. Second and third hand. I don't see anything wrong with it. Getting lots of wear out of it.

YANBU, I buy only what they need, not new everything, but usually it's quite a lot as they tend to limp through the last term with broken/missing things as I know it will be easier to replace over the summer (more in shops).
I've bought:
DD (Yr 8) new bag, lunchbox, water bottle, shoes and pencil case, few stationery bits. Plus underwear, no new uniform needed. Coat still fine.
DS2 (Yr 11) new trousers, some stationery, pencil case, headphones. Offered him shoes and bag but his are still fine. He has several decent coats.
DS1 (Yr 12) shoes bought a few months ago to do him for 6th form, plus a bag and a LOT of stationery/calculator/textbooks etc. He may need a coat as he only has a leather jacket.

I buy when they need it so for me I buy it all year round when they grow out of it or need replacing. Dd just needed a new pe kit , bought her a extra skirt , a new bag and stationary . Ds I just bought him new shoes.

Wow things are very different here then. I don't live in England but still UK and if a kid turned up with something from the previous year they'd be teased! It's not even a consideration to use anything from last year! DD is primary school so whole new uniform, school bag, lunch bag, bottle, stationary, the lot! DS, on the other hand is going into year 13 and asked me not to bother getting a new blazer or bag and I had to ask if he was sure that was ok as it's alien to me to not buy new every year. It's always been that way since I was a kid.

Yanbu , I bought a good bag (Jansport) a yumbox lunchbox and a Kleen Kanteen bottle and this is the 3rd Year she is using them. Pencil case is fine but I do buy new shoes and a couple of uniform bits.

I tend to have a class for two years and most reuse lunchboxes bags etc

Who you calling a test do you know who I am xx

@SayCheeseBoris maybe things will start to change going forwards, with the cost of living crisis?

*twat

Ah Touché. I like that reply. I take back my twat comment!

Maybe learn to read the thread title properly. X

(I'll give you a clue in case you miss it again: even though we could afford it).

If you can afford it no but you can. I personally loved getting my new stationary etc when I was going back to school and loved getting them for my kids, fair enough uniform etc if in good condition and fits but a few new pens and pencil case etc won't hurt.

I hope so! I do draw the line at buying overly priced things, everything is new, yes, but not as expensive as it could have been.

I don't know where that place is but I'm glad I don't live there. Are you all not bright enough to bring up children to not tease other children for the perfectly sensible act of not buying stuff for the sake of it?

You all sound a bit stupid tbh but somehow wealthy enough to waste money buying unnecessary things? Where is this weird land?

What a lovely post!

Perhaps develop some basic comprehension skills assuming your post is genuine.

This thread is a little bit like the ones just before the lockdowns.

What you may do now, and what is about to happen being two very different things.

Cost of living crisis, teens in particular will be aware of. No teen needs everything new when people are facing this, and none of the ones I know would want it. Are they not all extremely environmentally conscious and educated about this stuff, much more than I was 30 years ago.

Wow! You been waiting a while to say that? Honestly we all spell things wrong from time to time. Don't wprry about it. I don't find cunt offensive fyi.

DD going into Y10 needs nothing new this year which is pretty good. I have replaced her shoes though as they were getting small and looked worn. We ended getting the exact same style as last year.

Buying new when you don’t need to is just madness. My DD barely needed anything new this year which was a massive relief because older DD starts secondary so needed everything from scratch and it cost hundreds. I bought DD2 a new tracksuit for PE because hers was a bit worn but other than that, everything from last year still fits and she has DD1’s cast offs too. She also got a new backpack for her birthday because she’d used hers for a couple of years and it wasn’t in the best state.