I was so proud of myself that I held onto last-years stupid plastic folders so we can re-use them! Nail-polish remover took the old labeling right off! I am like unto a god!!!
I second the shock at how many people show up at meetings without a pen and paper!
My kids used up a stash of “the good stickers (ie vinyl)” from a birthday party by decorating and hiding the scuffs on last year’s plastic folders. At least they’ll get to enjoy them for a good while this way.
My kids’ preschool gave them LL Bean backpacks as a graduation present, and in 4th and 2nd grade they still look presentable and work fine. They haven’t asked for new ones either, thank goodness.
Here in New York City schools, I’m happy to pitch in with the usual tissues and classroom supplies, but I don’t feel the same about sending in the reams of copy paper. That one feels tinged with sadness that society doesn’t resource the school properly.
Whatever I do buy new (notebooks, markers, etc) I buy in bulk and then we share the extras with the neighbor kids.
My son has no ego about his backpack and has been carrying the same one for five years. I didn't even ask if he wanted a new one yet. He's the only one in school right now, but I'm hoping it's setting a precedent with his younger brothers.
We only buy one type of water bottle, and, while we do have a bunch of them, we also buy the replacement straw parts for them a couple times a year. Water bottle storage is a repurposed over the door shoe holder (never used for shoes-- I thought it might have worked for rolled T-shirts, but alas no) on the pantry door. The extra pockets are good for other lunch necessities.
I'm lucky that my son's school does not have an extensive supply list. We've managed to reuse a lot of supplies. And extra pens always go to work with me! It's amazing how many adults need something to write with.
Can we talk about school supplies? I did not buy any new clothes for my kids (because I never do. I abhor the consumerism of back-to-school shopping. I just do. No offense if you like it). However, I did have a school supply list - everything goes to the classroom, not the individual student. I spent $90+ dollars on each kid!!! Almost $300 just on the beginning of school, school supplies! This doesn't include the snacks and tissues we will have to buy throughout the year. Thank god we can afford this expense, but so many parents can't. Why isn't the government paying for this?
ugh: best way for sweat/stretch that i've found is to mend with like material, but honestly...i wouldn't call it easy or especially durable. for the tote: i made a narrow tote of an old wide-legged pant and it's the perfect size to fit three water bottles fairly snugly so it hangs neat and trim from a hook in the kitchen. recommend!
My kids knew a new backpack was a hard no so didn’t push it, but my journal loving 3rd grader (and Kindergartener by extension) was desperate for a new notebook and pens. Earlier in the summer we had cleaned out our arts and craft drawers and I had created a separate bin with all of the various notebooks, pads, pens, erasers, etc that had accumulated from birthday parties, etc throughout the year but that had not been used yet. Honestly, I had done this to eventually re-home it all, but I had not gotten around to it. Instead, as my daughter was begging to go to Target, I said that we had a store in our home and set it up in our living room for them to “shop” for new supplies. It worked and they were thrilled!
This happens almost never so I was particularly pleased with my earlier self and that the kids took to it. :) Sharing here in case it helps as these things start accumulating again for all of us.
I just want to chime in and say: Putting the soft lunchboxes in the washing machine. The first couple years of parenting I was afraid to do this, but now I toss it in with the cold wash regularly and what a difference it makes. I also just wash the backpack in the washing machine too. Throwing caution to the wind.
Every summer I try to remember to bring our backpacks to my parents' for easy washing in a home machine, but back here in BK, we just bathtub them! Either way, works well enough for me!
I couldn’t believe how spiffy our well used stroller looked after taking off all the fabric pieces from the frame and running ‘em through the wash. I’m also still living off the thrill of learning how to Swiss darn…I almost want to find new moth holes in favorite wool sweaters (almost, not quite)
Oh my gosh, yes. The satisfaction of washing a grody stroller is first-rate. Swiss-darned two holes in a vintage sweatshirt this summer and 10/10 it made me love it even more.
I fancy mended (embroidery thread and linen fabric patches from and old shirt) some jeans and a couple t-shirts my husband thought I should toss, and I love them so much more! Fun fact, I ran across some store bought similar, faux-mended jeans, and they were $500-eek!
It's still pretty warm where I am, but yesterday I realized I'm downright giddy to pull out and wash my fall toque and sweaters soon. Thinking I might start working my way through some of my incense stash too.
We registered at a new school/new format in our district last year (smaller, hybrid format for younger and alt HS for oldest, in our case) and after many years in the neighborhood schools I’m thrilled with the modest supply lists for these programs! Very short lists, a few donated to supply pool, and done! We do still need to replace one teenager’s water bottle lids…she shall remain unnamed.😅
My eldest is in high school and I had no idea new backpacks were expected every year until I read about it here - a tiny upside to being a cultural transplant, and my kid never mentioned it. Is it a kid thing, or an adult thing? I also sent to school a motley collection of sharpened “old” pencils and cleaned up folders, but spruce the pencils up with new rubber erasers which hide the yucky chewed off ends very nicely:-)
I think it’s more that retailers WISH for backpacks to be new every year and that many folks bend to that pressure long before they need replacement (and or the backpack is so terribly made it needs replacing after 6 months). A no-win cycle for anyone but the manufacturer.
My sister in law didn't know you COULD opt out of a new one every year. She was genuinely astonished when I said we were still using the kindergarten bag.
I put the backpacks in the washing machine on cold (after emptying them of all the crap) and air dried them! I kinda can't believe that back to school ads make us think kids need whole new bags each year.
I was so proud of myself that I held onto last-years stupid plastic folders so we can re-use them! Nail-polish remover took the old labeling right off! I am like unto a god!!!
I second the shock at how many people show up at meetings without a pen and paper!
My kids used up a stash of “the good stickers (ie vinyl)” from a birthday party by decorating and hiding the scuffs on last year’s plastic folders. At least they’ll get to enjoy them for a good while this way.
My kids’ preschool gave them LL Bean backpacks as a graduation present, and in 4th and 2nd grade they still look presentable and work fine. They haven’t asked for new ones either, thank goodness.
Here in New York City schools, I’m happy to pitch in with the usual tissues and classroom supplies, but I don’t feel the same about sending in the reams of copy paper. That one feels tinged with sadness that society doesn’t resource the school properly.
Whatever I do buy new (notebooks, markers, etc) I buy in bulk and then we share the extras with the neighbor kids.
My son has no ego about his backpack and has been carrying the same one for five years. I didn't even ask if he wanted a new one yet. He's the only one in school right now, but I'm hoping it's setting a precedent with his younger brothers.
We only buy one type of water bottle, and, while we do have a bunch of them, we also buy the replacement straw parts for them a couple times a year. Water bottle storage is a repurposed over the door shoe holder (never used for shoes-- I thought it might have worked for rolled T-shirts, but alas no) on the pantry door. The extra pockets are good for other lunch necessities.
I'm lucky that my son's school does not have an extensive supply list. We've managed to reuse a lot of supplies. And extra pens always go to work with me! It's amazing how many adults need something to write with.
Can we talk about school supplies? I did not buy any new clothes for my kids (because I never do. I abhor the consumerism of back-to-school shopping. I just do. No offense if you like it). However, I did have a school supply list - everything goes to the classroom, not the individual student. I spent $90+ dollars on each kid!!! Almost $300 just on the beginning of school, school supplies! This doesn't include the snacks and tissues we will have to buy throughout the year. Thank god we can afford this expense, but so many parents can't. Why isn't the government paying for this?
The water bottle tote bag idea is about to change my life. (I was refusing to buy the plastic stacking apparatus.)
How about best way to mend knees on stretchy track pants? Thank you in advance to anyone who has an easy and durable solution.
ugh: best way for sweat/stretch that i've found is to mend with like material, but honestly...i wouldn't call it easy or especially durable. for the tote: i made a narrow tote of an old wide-legged pant and it's the perfect size to fit three water bottles fairly snugly so it hangs neat and trim from a hook in the kitchen. recommend!
My kids knew a new backpack was a hard no so didn’t push it, but my journal loving 3rd grader (and Kindergartener by extension) was desperate for a new notebook and pens. Earlier in the summer we had cleaned out our arts and craft drawers and I had created a separate bin with all of the various notebooks, pads, pens, erasers, etc that had accumulated from birthday parties, etc throughout the year but that had not been used yet. Honestly, I had done this to eventually re-home it all, but I had not gotten around to it. Instead, as my daughter was begging to go to Target, I said that we had a store in our home and set it up in our living room for them to “shop” for new supplies. It worked and they were thrilled!
This happens almost never so I was particularly pleased with my earlier self and that the kids took to it. :) Sharing here in case it helps as these things start accumulating again for all of us.
love it!
I just want to chime in and say: Putting the soft lunchboxes in the washing machine. The first couple years of parenting I was afraid to do this, but now I toss it in with the cold wash regularly and what a difference it makes. I also just wash the backpack in the washing machine too. Throwing caution to the wind.
Every summer I try to remember to bring our backpacks to my parents' for easy washing in a home machine, but back here in BK, we just bathtub them! Either way, works well enough for me!
Yup! I've done that for years and no issues, better than smelly or buying new...
Great list, but in lieu of hemming pants I prefer to wait a few weeks and find that the kids’ legs are longer! (Doesn’t work on adults, though)
Ah, the oven. I’m glad you made note of that because I do tend to conveniently forget about cleaning it, but now’s the time, before the holidays!
I couldn’t believe how spiffy our well used stroller looked after taking off all the fabric pieces from the frame and running ‘em through the wash. I’m also still living off the thrill of learning how to Swiss darn…I almost want to find new moth holes in favorite wool sweaters (almost, not quite)
Oh my gosh, yes. The satisfaction of washing a grody stroller is first-rate. Swiss-darned two holes in a vintage sweatshirt this summer and 10/10 it made me love it even more.
I fancy mended (embroidery thread and linen fabric patches from and old shirt) some jeans and a couple t-shirts my husband thought I should toss, and I love them so much more! Fun fact, I ran across some store bought similar, faux-mended jeans, and they were $500-eek!
The greatest list as we ready for fall, Erin! Truly wonderful.
It's still pretty warm where I am, but yesterday I realized I'm downright giddy to pull out and wash my fall toque and sweaters soon. Thinking I might start working my way through some of my incense stash too.
Already told James he needs to make more candles, STAT!
We registered at a new school/new format in our district last year (smaller, hybrid format for younger and alt HS for oldest, in our case) and after many years in the neighborhood schools I’m thrilled with the modest supply lists for these programs! Very short lists, a few donated to supply pool, and done! We do still need to replace one teenager’s water bottle lids…she shall remain unnamed.😅
Easy thing to do and add: trim sad/dead leaves from houseplants (feels like easy weeding), bonus if you replace the soil.
My eldest is in high school and I had no idea new backpacks were expected every year until I read about it here - a tiny upside to being a cultural transplant, and my kid never mentioned it. Is it a kid thing, or an adult thing? I also sent to school a motley collection of sharpened “old” pencils and cleaned up folders, but spruce the pencils up with new rubber erasers which hide the yucky chewed off ends very nicely:-)
I think it’s more that retailers WISH for backpacks to be new every year and that many folks bend to that pressure long before they need replacement (and or the backpack is so terribly made it needs replacing after 6 months). A no-win cycle for anyone but the manufacturer.
My sister in law didn't know you COULD opt out of a new one every year. She was genuinely astonished when I said we were still using the kindergarten bag.
I put the backpacks in the washing machine on cold (after emptying them of all the crap) and air dried them! I kinda can't believe that back to school ads make us think kids need whole new bags each year.
Totally bonkers.