Back to school shopping

[onkey89]

School is right around the corner. So back to school shopping is on my mind. And it got me thinking, how does this work? Do families actually throw everything out and start brand new? Do you go through their clothes and get rid of clothes that don't fit and just supplement the difference? Last year I just reused my kid's backpack from the year before.

Anything too small but in good condition goes back to the school for their pre loved sale.

Anything too scruffy or damaged goes to fabric recycling.

I check coats and backpacks and pencil cases and replace what needs to be replaced. That's it.

Ds he has finished school. The only time I got everything new was starting school nursery and secondary school. The rest of the time I just replaced as needed throughout the year.

Uniform is so easily available now all year around it seems daft to replace just because!

I replace what has worn out/become too small/is stained. Anything that still fits is reused. Anything too small but in good condition gets handed down or passed on.

DS1 used the same backpack for years 7-11 - an Under Armour one from Sports Direct - seemingly indestructible!

I hope people don’t just throw out everything!!
I reuse whatever I can, which is usually most things (it’s only been 3 months like!) yes I reuse the school bag too!

Do families actually throw everything out and start brand new?
Wtf surely no one does this.
Just replace what is outgrown or trashed (e.g. stained shirts) and hand down outgrown stuff in good condition to a younger sibling or friends kid.

New polo shirts every year because they are disgusting by the end of the year. New jumpers & trousers/skirts when needed, new bag when it looks completely knackered, otherwise reused for the next year or dropped off at the second hand rail at school if it's too small.

Only time I bought loads of stuff was when they first started primary and secondary. Otherwise, if they outgrow a skirt, I buy a new one. Same with shoes. But it’s not in the summer.

Other than shoes, which we go through at least once a year or more, I’ve bought my primary age one a pair of trousers and a pair of shorts during this past school year. Maybe a year ago, I bought him a new jumper. All same polo shirts for past 2 years and same PE kit. I don’t know how long he’s had his backpack, since the last one broke, whenever that was a year or two ago. I don’t anticipate buying him anything new for next year.

My secondary school one is in all the same uniform from when she started Y7 and she’s going into Y9. She has outgrown her jumpers, so will need to order new ones, but that’s it.

This is pretty much what we do, with the added step of giving younger child anything still serviceable which older child has grown out of. I only buy new if it’s needed. I buy and replace throughout the year rather than all at once as well.

I do get almost everything new as by the end of of the school year it's either too small or looking a bit ropey. Of course it it fits and is still in good condition it is kept.

DS1 got new school shoes in April, so he won't get new for August this year. But he's been using the same bag for 3yr now so he'll get a new one. Some things if outgrown but good condition get handed down to his brother, but tbh not much.

But shirts and trousers always need replaced by the end of summer term. I really enjoy that last week of term where I don't need to do a school uniform wash and can just bin most things!

I always had a couple of next size up things in readiness all year round. But I only brought them into use when they were needed. The only things that got thrown away were worn out stuff. I don't think all new for the new school year applies unless they have grown out of the old stuff or the backpack has fallen apart. School shoes never lasted us a whole school year. DS went up 3 sizes one year.

My sis is law does this. Brand new everything every year, sometimes at Christmas too. She is an incredibly wasteful person however. I buy new as needed throughout the year, donating good condition but outgrown clothes to friends with you get children. We all do within my kids' friendship groups.

I used to with my daughter as she always needed the next size up by a September. But second still fits into all her clothes. So I’m just getting stuff for her that may need replacing and has worn.