Do you replace everything for a new school year?

[DocBunny]

Uniforms except maybe jumpers or p.e. shorts still in good nick I replace every year (I've already bought September's). School shoes always.

But what about rucksacks, lunchboxes, pencil cases, p.e. bags etc?

Do you replace these regardless of wear and tear? Is it unfair not to when their friends have all new? Is there a social norm? I should really know by now but it still baffles me. There doesn't seem to be any reliable logic to it.

[Mumonthesofa]

Polo shirts and shoes are replaced but I hang on to what has got life left in as long as possible! I have bought the new jumpers but they will start the year in old if they still fit after summer.

[splendide]

I used to get a new pencil case and pens and things every year. It was the only good thing about going back to school! Now I think about it it seems really unlike my mum though, I'll have to interrogate her about it.

I think if he wants it I will let DS have new pencil case things every year. Maybe I'll get granny to take him!

[Claraoswald36]

I buy everything once a year when the m and s 20% code is valid. Now I only have to buy school shoes for sept. Dd1 is a lanky giraffe and grows out of her gear every year.
Her school bag is quite grubby but she doesn't want another one. It's the paperchase unicorn bag which sold out so I can't even replace it with identical! I'm a bit obsessional about the kids going to school as smart as possible.

[Voteforpedr0]

Only replace school uniform if badly faded or torn or holes. We buy good quality school shoes that quite easily last the year (sporty active mud magnets too ) unless they have a growth spurt, i don't get how it's possible for a child to go through 5 pairs of shoes in the year or why you would replace something for the sake of it ? (As the saying goes) a fool and their money easily separated.

[deutschland83]

Yes but only because it's usually been needing replaced from Easter onwards and I've not replaced it

[deutschland83]

Yes but only because it's usually been needing replaced from Easter onwards and I've not replaced it

[irregularegular]

No of course not. I only replace what needs replacing. And I do it throughout the year, not just for the beginning of the school year - though there is a bit of a tendency to leave it until then. Apart from shoes and DS's shirts, everything else lasts more than a year. We do always go for a trip to replenish the pencil case, which the children enjoy, but even that doesn't mean replacing everything (the case itself lasts about 3 years)

[AtSea1979]

No I only replace things that need replacing. There must be a lot of tatty kids come Easter if people are replacing everything in September.

[Andbabymakesthree]

Ridiculous to replace unless necessary both from a financial and environmental point of view.

[BackforGood]

No.
Can't understand why anyone would.
I only replace things (incl uniform and shoes) as and when they need replacing.
You do realise you can go and buy a replacement at any time of year, if something wears out or they have a growth spurt ?

[AnneGables]

I buy as and when it is grown out of. Although ds has been wearing too small jumpers for a while now, the new bigger ones are being kept for September .

Polo shirts get replaced frequently, I just can't keep them white, despite washing separately and using whitener. Wish they were blue!

He has had the same shoes since Sept, still surprisingly look ok and feet haven't grown, so not sure what I'll do about them. Seems daft to replace when he is bound to grow soon.

[uhoh2016]

I tend to buy new uniform but If eldest dc uniform still has wear left in it I'll keep as back ups for dc2. Pe kits probably only changed every 2 years ( I buy bigger sizes). Lunch boxes and pe bags changed as an when needed whether it be 3 months or 2 years. I do buy new school shoes for September but often end up replacing throughout the year.

[DancingDinosaur]

Not unless it needs replacing.

[DrLockhart]

Dd is a summer baby but she grows out of her age range around January this year, so she had the next age range stuff in Feb which will do her until next year.

I always wait for the sales (20%off Tu, M&s) and I'll pick anything up from a charity shop too.

[drspouse]

No drspouse it's not awful if you can't afford to replace them then it's fine. If clothes are tatty and you are spending money getting your nails done etc it's not fine.

What if things are serviceable and showing signs of wear and I don't think things that can still be used should be thrown away because I think it's a waste and bad for the planet?
And what if I can afford to, but don't, and I do get my nails done and DH goes first class occasionally on the train but we actually have money left over and we still don't buy all new every September?
Is that awful?

[IAmAPaleontologist]

Only what needs replacing, though that is usually most of the uniform and shoes. Water bottles, bags etc keep going until they fall apart.

[Purplehonesty]

Usually get new shoes, trousers (to replace worn out ones)
Keep jumpers
Buy new polos
New indoor shoes

So mostly new but keep bag, coat, jumpers.

Dd won't get new nursery uniform tho as it all still fits and only gets covered in paint! She will get new indoor shoes and trainers tho

[AndNowItsSeven]

I see , well I replace things like bags and stationary that would be fine because I always had new as a child and my dc love the annual ritual.

[milkysmum]

rAndNowItsSeven- I wasn't questioning people replacing things when they needed too - of course I buy my children new uniform when they need the next size up- and if that is once a year that's fine. Op was asking about replacing 'everything' whether it needed replacing or not- and many said they did- that is what I find baffling

[AndNowItsSeven]

No drspouse it's not awful if you can't afford to replace them then it's fine. If clothes are tatty and you are spending money getting your nails done etc it's not fine.

[EyeRollChampion]

Drspouse (autocorrect tried to change that to despots ), I don't have a problem with it, I just worry about the kids getting picked on or feeling somehow 'less than'.

I almost always look a bit tatty

[drspouse]

Is it awful for children to wear things that have been repaired or look a bit tatty?

[Passthecake30]

Mine are getting new jumpers and shoes as have bust out of them. New bags as they are looking tatty and then skirts/trousers when they get too short!

[Goingtobeawesome]

Of course it's fair to replace stuff that needs replacing .