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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

You have to have a new school bag for the new school year, it is apparently the rules

42 replies

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 18/08/2009 19:43

Or at least so my DH thinks. Got to have a new bag for the new year.

I think that with everything else we need to buy, DS's rucksack bought last year and still like new, is absolutely fine.

So. new bag or old bag?

OP posts:

PeedOffWithNits · 19/08/2009 08:17

crikey, i can't believe you lot replacing stuff just because its a new year, not because the old is worn out/broken/very shabby. Or are your kids mistreating their stuff because they know/expect new so they do not bother to care for it so it lasts longer.

What the heck is that teaching our kids about the value of stuff and the importance of being environmentally friendly!

What do you all do with last years stuff? bin/ebay/charity shop it?

and another thing, what would/do you spend on school bag/lunch box? - some of them are ridiculous

sockmonkey · 19/08/2009 08:39

I used to love the new school year. New bag, new pencil case, pens, pencils folders etc. I have a bit of a thing for stationary though.
But if your DS isn't bothered, then the old bag is fine.

OhYouBadBadDailyMail · 19/08/2009 08:47

I have to say, sometimes I do hanker after a new folder

abra1d · 19/08/2009 08:54

We won't buy new anything unless the old anything is worn out or too small.

hocuspontas · 19/08/2009 09:18

The thought of all those lunchboxes going into landfill every year.....

LIZS · 19/08/2009 09:20

nope , unless there is a good reason.

HolidaysQueen · 19/08/2009 09:25

It has been the rule for at least 25 years We always had a new bag for new school year, together with new pencil case and pens etc. It was the only way mum could get us excited about the end of the school holidays. Although, I do think her willingness to buy new was because the old one was so trashed that she couldn't bear the shame of sending us off to school with filthy broken bags!

I do remember having the same bag for 3 years in senior school, but it was because it was the only school bag I ever really loved so took really good care of it

HolidaysQueen · 19/08/2009 09:26

In mum's defence though, our lunchbox was the same old unbranded tupperware for about 10 years

GrinnyPig · 19/08/2009 09:26

DD1 is going into school in September with the same back pack as she had last year - and the year before. I have offered to replace it - it does really need replaced but she says it's fine...

TsarChasm · 19/08/2009 09:28

Hm I used to think that about lunch bags but they're so expensive (buying x3) that I soon stopped that idea. The novelty wears off anyway and because the old ones are still ok I hang onto them too and the kitchen is cluttered up with lunch bags now.

Why not review it again at Christmas? Buy yourself a new bag instead

TsarChasm · 19/08/2009 09:31

Tell dh that ds mysteriously insisted on this lovely expensive new handbag and says you can borrow it all the time

gagamama · 19/08/2009 09:47

I am a complete stationary and bag fetishist and reading this thread I've realised it probably stems from the immense excitement of getting a new school bag and pencil case at the end of each school summer holiday!

I don't think it's really wasteful though, after a year they are generally on the way out, if not completely ruined/lost. And I don't think it teaches disrespect for belongings really. I'd rather my DCs used their bags as goal posts and broke the straps from too much jumping and running and wore their pencils down from so much colouring in, than always being cautious and anxious in case something gets broken, worn out or ruined. They're just 'things', they can be replaced. Better to waste an object than a childhood, IMO!

Having said that, it the rucksack is like new and holds everything it needs to hold, YANBU.

diddl · 19/08/2009 09:48

A newbag because it´s a new school year?
Never heard anything so stupid!
Both of mine had the same bags all through primary school, which were then donated to their "partner" school in Africa.
They have had a new bag each for secondary school, which barring any disasters they are expected to use until they leave.

Iklboo · 19/08/2009 09:57

Good heavens. Rule? It was practically the law when I was at school! Woe betide anyone who turned up with the same bag as last year

arolf · 19/08/2009 10:02

how odd - when we were at school (10 years ago now, waah!), we only got a new bag if the old one had kicked the bucket. I certainly didn't get any grief for it! (for other things, yes, but not bags!). Once we were old enough to have part time jobs, we got our own bags.

BlehdyDM · 19/08/2009 10:05

sockmonkey I'm with you on that. It makes me quite miserable that I may never again have the excitement of the new school year, the new pencils, pens and writing paper, the new books, the good intentions gone to hell in two weeks ... sigh

dizzydixies · 19/08/2009 18:33

am delighted to report ladies that DD1 has returned from starting Primary 2 using last year's school & lunch bag unscathed and having not being socially cast out!!!!!

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