Back-to-School is viewed as expensive time of year, but it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of ways to save money on school supplies. When we send our kids to school they are taught to reduce, reuse, recycle. Unfortunately, they forget all about that during back-to-school shopping and want all new stuff. Use this time to teach them how to save money on school supplies by reusing items that are still in good shape.
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Lessons learned when kids reuse their backpack
- Kids learn to be thrifty. Reusing a perfectly good backpack teaches kids that they don’t need to spend money on new things all the time. Show them the back-to-school budget. Show them the things that they actually need, maybe it will be new shoes or new clothes. Have them help shop for the things they need.
- Kids learn that they don’t always get everything they want. This is an important lesson for kids. I always offered my kids the option to put a new backpack on their birthday or Christmas wish list if they were really sad about using their old backpack, but it never made the list. Sadly, because backpacks are so cheap in November. I could have saved big on those Christmas items.
- Kid’s learn to reuse! This is a great lesson in being a good steward of our Earth. What happens to all of those discarded backpacks? You can hardly even give them away. Even charities want new backpacks. They probably end up in a landfill. Prevent that by reusing those backpacks!
When is it time for a new backpack?
The backpack is too small
You can’t buy an adult size backpack for a four-year-old. A pre-school backpack can be used through first grade, maybe second grade. Eventually the kid will be too big for the bag, or the stuff they need to carry will not fit in the bag. This is a reason for a new backpack.
The zipper broke
This is a big problem for the licensed character backpacks you will find in many of the big box stores every year. I never bought these backpacks for this reason. We did receive a free brand new Nemo backpack from a friend. Of course we used it, but it only lasted a year and a half. Much less time than the quality pre-school backpacks my other kids used. My advise, buy quality!
The pattern is too babyish
This need is avoidable. Once again, do not choose character backpacks. Not only will they wear out faster, but the kids will outgrow the fascination with the character on their backpack. Of course, I’m not suggesting that you send your kid to school to get bullied for their baby backpack. I’m suggesting that you use your judgement and buy something with a design they will not out grow right away. Tie dye instead of My Little Pony. Stripes instead of Sonic. Save the fun characters for items that will not last, like shoes, T-shits, pencils or notebooks.
The straps broke
This is the most common breaking point on a backpack. In my experience the straps or top handle were the first thing to go. The next most common wear point is the side “water bottle pocket”. Look for strength in these areas.
The backpack was lost or stolen
Things happen, kids are human and humans are not perfect. It is possible to lose things. This is somewhat preventable if you teach responsibility, but even responsible kids make mistakes. I do not recommend highly desirable brand names for backpacks because they do increase the chance of theft. I really love Under Armor and North Face products, but choose not to buy backpacks from them because of the increased chance of theft. It’s fine to buy T-shirts, sweatshirts and other items, but if your backpack is stolen, everything inside is also stolen. It’s just not worth it. Better to choose a less “cool” brand name for a backpack.
How many backpacks do kids need form Pre-K-12th grade?
Four or five backpacks should be plenty. One back pack every 3-4 years, should be enough. Hopefully the last bag will stick with them through college and beyond if you buy quality. It’s best to start out with reusing backpacks as early as possible because that way reusing will be the expectation.
What to look for in a quality backpack
First choose the right size for your child:
4-6 years: ~15 L or 900 cubic inches – Skysper Kids Backpack or Pottery Barn Kids size small
7-12 years: ~24 L or 1500 cubic inches –JanSport Superbreak
13+ years: ~32 L or 2000+ cubic inches – JanSport Double Break
Look for a water bottle pocket that does not have mesh. Mesh will wear out. It’s also nice to have 2 water bottle pockets, incase one wears out. This is hard to find. JanSport has a great one. Find it here. I have found the JanSport brand to hold up for several years. They also have a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects. They only problem with JanSport is that they do not make a backpack small enough for a 4 year-old.
Shop luggage brands and hiking brands for quality backpacks. I found that once my kids were adult size, there were many backpack options that were high quality in luggage and hiking brands. My son liked to carry his backpack by the top handle. This is a feature that is made stronger in some luggage brands. Samsonite has a very strong handle on the top of the bag. It has held up to this way of carrying for several years.
Osprey is a hiking brand that makes a laptop backpack. This is a brand we have a lot of experience with. They make a quality bag that holds up well.
Take an inventory of the school supplies you have
Don’t feel like you need to buy your child a whole new wardrobe just because they are starting a new school year. Go though their backpacks and their closets. Determine what still fits, and what still works. For example, if their backpack is still in good shape, they can use it again. If their pants are too short add them to the shopping list.
Next Compare what you have to what you need
Obtain a school supply list from your child’s school, if available. The most expensive school supplies are often reusable. Here are some things that you can often reuse for several years:
Save money on Reusable School Supplies
Save money on reusable school supplies by reusing them, handing them down from one kid to the next, or if needed these item tend to have huge price drops after school starts. Try to hold off if possible and buy these items in October or November.
- Scissors
- Pencil box
- Backpack, if you buy quality
- Lunchboxes, if you buy quality – Find some great bento box lunch ideas here.
- Folders, especially if you buy plastic ones
- 3-ring binders
- Dividers, especially plastic dividers
- Earbuds or headphones
- Calculators, although they often need to be upgraded in later years
- Protractors, compasses and rulers
- Notebooks, sometimes only a few pages are used
Save money on School supplies, you will need every year
Most of these consumable items are on mega sale at most big box retailers every year. These items should not break the bank, especially if you shop early, and shop around. For the best savings on consumable school supplies shop early and shop around.
- Pencils
- Pens
- Markers, only in younger grades
- Glue sticks, only in younger grades
- Colored pencils
- Notebooks
- Filler paper
- Graph paper
- Erasers
- Composition Notebooks, wait to buy these until you know which one your child’s teacher wants them to have.
- Classroom supplies: Clorox wipes, paper towels, etc…
- Shoes
- Clothing, especially for growing kids – Find out how to save on clothing here.
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