What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (Full Version)

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PrincessDonna -> What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/16/2008 6:39:17 AM)

Now that Noah is done with school, I'm trying to get an idea of what we'll need to buy for next year. I remember as a kid getting EVERYthing brand new every year, but looking through his stuff, I don't think that's necessary.

So what do you do? What is usually new and what gets reused from year to year?



JuliaHop -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/16/2008 7:14:48 AM)

The things that I usually buy new are:

crayons, a few new pencils, glue sticks, (I bought multi packs and there was usually an extra stick or two by the end of the year), pens, erasers, and the supplies that are grade specific.

We've re-used:

backpacks (if they are in good shape), lunch boxes, rulers, compasses, Bibles, scissors...basically any non-consumables that are still in good condition.



garsyt -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/16/2008 9:28:39 AM)

NEW each year: Crayons, markers, colored pencils (Except for Aryn because she has a plethora of them) glue sticks, pencils, folders, index cards, and erasers.

Keep and reuse from year to year til they wear out or fall apart: Backpacks (we use these til they are falling apart and not every kid gets a new one just because one kid needs a new one), scissors, rulers, calculators, 3 ring binders (if they are still in decent shape), folders (if they are still in good shape), and for the eldest three, their organization binders/files(again used til they fall apart), highlighter, white board markers(if still good), sharpies, pens, pencil boxes, some erasers and some pencils.

Another thing we keep from year to year is their recorders that we buy in 3rd grade and the music book that goes with them. It's part of their school fees that year and they use them 3rd through 5th grades. IF we didn't keep them we'd have to buy a new one each year. We already have 3 in this house - do ya think they'll give me a break and not make me buy one for Zoe?

That said: Ethan has used the same bottle of glue for 2 years and will be using it again next year, if we don't finish it off this summer.

I try to stock up at the back to school sales. I mean really- I can't pass up buying crayons at ten cents a box or markers at anything less then a $1! That way if we need to replenish during the school year I already have stuff in my stash. I especially stock up on crayons, markers, index cards and whiteboard markers, loose leaf paper and folders. I KNOW those items will be used regardless.

Blessings,

Garsy



Kath -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/16/2008 1:15:51 PM)

Donna, as with Julia and Garsy we replaced everything that was consumable. Crayons, pencils, notebook paper, etc. The school sales are around the first part of August here which is when we bought all of our stuff.

I usually ended up buying scissors too since they'd get lost. [8|]



MrsTracy72 -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/16/2008 3:10:51 PM)

I usually check over the supplies the kids bring home and replace the things like glue sticks and markers if they were used alot and anything else that is running low, but this year, neither of my kids brought anything home. So I have to start over. I don't know why, but they didn't. I know in my daughters 1st grade class, they put alot of things into a "community" area and kids just took things as they ran out, but the problem with that was alot of kids just never brought supplies. I think that next year I am only going to send her one thing at a time when they ask. There is no reason for her to have 10 gluesticks right off the bat. Especially if other parents are going to rely on the ones who do fill the supply list.



thisistheday -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/16/2008 3:25:01 PM)

Like the others, I reuse as much of the stuff as I can.

If stuff was barely used, like the glue bottle, or pencils, I'll send it back the next year.

I'll throw the bookbags in the laundry, and they often look almost new after I do that. I'll also pick them up at yard sales.

I was going to throw away my son's lunch box, but I ran it through the dishwasher and it looks great now. I also picked one up at a yard sale and threw it in the dishwasher so he is set. Sometimes he'll forget one at school, so an extra is good.

I also try to get lunchboxes, bookbags and other supplies on 75 percent off clearance at Target when I can, although with gas prices that's getting harder.

Anyway, I reuse as much as I can, and I stock up, so I don't necessarily have to buy a lot in the fall. I'll replenish supplies as needed even if I don't need something right then.

Dee



Kath -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/16/2008 3:28:15 PM)

quote:

I know in my daughters 1st grade class, they put alot of things into a "community" area and kids just took things as they ran out, but the problem with that was alot of kids just never brought supplies.


I don't like "community property" at school for that very reason.



garsyt -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/16/2008 4:56:26 PM)

the only problem I had with community property is when I had sent a really nice pair of scissors and they never came back. I sent them with Ethan in kindergarten - so the next year I KNEW Zoe would have the same teacher so I never sent any in with her. At the end of the school year Zoe came home with the pair of scissors that Ethan took the year before. [:D][:D] Other then that I really don't care if they come home with crayons or markers or folders, I'm going to buy those anyway, and always have a stash at home that they use here anyway. After 1st grade here there's not much that is used for community property anymore, except pencils and I always seem to get a lot of those back!

Blessings,

Garsy



thisistheday -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/16/2008 6:08:20 PM)

In middle school they do some community property stuff here; red pens and notecards come to mind.

Sometimes I wish they'd tell us what was going to be community property and what wasn't. In second grade the white board markers were, in fourth the kids kept them. I could label accordingly. In fourth grade apparently the notecards were given to the teacher, but my son brought his home because I'd labeled them.

This was the first year the teacher sent extra supplies home. At one point the teacher told the kids if they'd bring in a box of kleenex they'd get to take home a container of hand sanitizer. Then my son brought home another bottle of it at the end of the year.

Pencils aren't community property here; I kind of wish they were.

But yes, not getting certain things back and having to bring in a bunch extra would be annoying.

Dee



PrincessDonna -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/16/2008 8:29:26 PM)

Thanks! It's good to know I'm not alone in not replacing everything.

Things I don't need to replace...
-lunch pail
-ruler
-pencils (he has more than he went with!)

Things I do (so far)...
-scissors (missing...but that's okay...)
-backpack (zipper broke the second to last day of school, but he has had that backpack for 2 years now anyway)
-erasers and lots of them!
-markers
-colored pencils
-crayons
-folders
-loose leaf paper
-glue

Things for community property...
-construction paper
-Kleenex
-chalk

Clothes...
-sneakers (because he needs them, not just because)
-socks
-clothes as needed, but I won't buy a bunch of new stuff before school

Back to school sales start the second week of July here. I always stock up on whatever stuff I think we'll use over the year and just keep a box of extra stuff in the closet.



garsyt -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/16/2008 9:09:46 PM)

One thing I don't do is buy the number of boxes of kleenex the teacher asks for. I buy one box per child at the beginning of the school year and then if the teachers ask for more later in the year I'll buy more.

Blessings,

Garsy



PrincessDonna -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/16/2008 9:11:21 PM)

They only ask for one box per child at Noah's school.

I do not believe public school students should have to provide things for everyone's use. I don't think the teachers should have to buy that stuff either. Public schools WASTE so much money. But that's another issue entirely...[;)]



MrsTracy72 -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/16/2008 10:10:55 PM)

I also didn't like the idea of sending in two boxes of graham crackers and baby wipes. I know parents didn't send those things in because we got notes sent home twice through the year. And the graham crackers are just for the kids who forget snacks. So if everybody sent in their two boxes, then they went through 50 boxes of graham crackers in 180 days. That is alot of forgotten snacks for the class. But I do fell bad for the kids whose parents don't send their things. We had a few kids in my daughters class whose parents didn't speak English so they just didn't do alot of the things. One girl is even teaching her parents English as she learns.



2shaye -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/17/2008 1:01:52 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: PrincessDonna

Back to school sales start the second week of July here. I always stock up on whatever stuff I think we'll use over the year and just keep a box of extra stuff in the closet.[/color]

Holy cow! We're still in school this week! We don't start again until the second week of September!

We only buy Jansport backpacks, so dd is only on her second one. She had a hello kitty one in kindergarten, then a pink Jansport and now has a blue Jansport. She will likely not get another (she will be 8th grade next year).

She gets a new:
lunch box (if she wants one - this past year she preferred a brown bag so she didn't have to lug it home)
any necessary notebooks/binders/folders
book covers
pencils
erasers

Her desk at home is well stocked with ruler, paper, calculator, graph paper, pens, pencils, highlighters, stapler, scissors, tape, etc.

She rarely got new crayons because hers were rarely used - she hates to color! Felt tipped pens were the same. I've never seen glue on any supply list, so she's never had that. I used to buy glue sticks by the case, so I always had some on hand (I have a daycare, and am a girl scout leader, so those were often needed on a daily basis!). I used to buy her new pencil boxes each year as they would come home completely destroyed! But I can pick them up for under a buck, so that was no big deal.

I'm so glad I've got 3 months before I need to think of school supplies again!



Kath -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/17/2008 11:19:36 AM)

quote:

We don't start again until the second week of September!


That's the first time I've heard of someone going back so late! The latest I've heard of is right after Labor Day.

Linz goes back August 14. Not sure about Mike's schedule yet.



PrincessDonna -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/17/2008 11:23:30 AM)

School usually starts here the Wednesday or Thursday after Labor Day. I'm not sure this year, with Labor Day being the 1st.

So it's not normal for back to school sales to start the second week in July? I'm much appreciating that this year and plan to have everything he needs purchased by the end of July so I don't have to worry about it in the last month of pregnancy.



Kath -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/17/2008 11:31:11 AM)

quote:

So it's not normal for back to school sales to start the second week in July?


I guess it depends on when the schools in your area start back. I know the ads here use to run first of august but maybe now that school starts so soon it's earlier. We used to not start till end of August. I don't remember them being as soon as mid July but it sure is possible. I know the last few years I'm startled when I walk in walmart and see all the school stuff already out so I could be behind.



PrincessDonna -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/17/2008 11:37:07 AM)

I just know as soon as 4th of July is past, the summer aisle starts turning into the school supply aisle. Summer stuff also goes on clearance at that time. Probably the good sales don't start until August, but Walmart has pretty good prices as soon as the stuff is out anyway. And if you wait until August, everything is picked over.[>:]



Kath -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/17/2008 11:51:07 AM)

quote:

And if you wait until August, everything is picked over.


Yeah, you'd not want to do that.

The only thing I have to get is pens (black and red) and lots of one subject notebooks. I made the mistake of buying 5 subject last year because that is what Dan wanted but everyone of Linz's teachers wanted one subject so they could turn them in for grading. I was not happy. They don't tell you that till orientation, which is the night before school starts. By then the sales are long past. They don't give lists for high school since each teacher has their own requirements.



debilyn -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/17/2008 12:29:48 PM)

quote:

They don't give lists for high school since each teacher has their own requirements.


That's why we keep several one-subject notebooks and only two each of the 3-subject and 5-subject notebooks on hand. Pocket folders, 2-prong folders, index sheets, pencils, pens, and notebook paper are bought when there is a sale and we usually have quite a selection left by the end of the year. We then just replenish what we need during the school sales at Wal-Mart, Target, or office supply stores.

We reuse bookbags, binders, and anything that is still in pretty good condition.



thisistheday -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/17/2008 2:29:42 PM)

They probably start putting stuff out here by mid-July or earlier--I don't remember, but I'm not sure when the sales start. I'm thinking late July, but maybe that's because I'm not really looking much before then. But school starts August 19 here, and goes to May 22 if I remember right.

I usually have enough stuff for my high schooler, but sometimes we have to rush out and get stuff right after school starts when we find out what they need.

Dee



Karaboo2 -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/17/2008 4:56:02 PM)

School here starts day after Labour Day, and goes until the last Friday in June.

Can I say I LOVE being in a border city??? The lowest I've seen markers on sale here (back to school time) is around $3 for a package of 6 ... I hop on the bridge, scoot my tail to Target, and get a package of 12 for 40 cents ... and crayons at a dime per pack ... (BTW, I'm a back-to-school sales addict!!!) I end up stocking up for 2-3 years (or rather, the equivalent of) because I know that my sons are really hard on their things, and the littlest ones like to 'search and destroy' ...

We use and reuse everything, simply because we are homeschoolers, so other than field trips with the local support group, lunches don't need to be packed. Backpacks are used for when we take school to the park (or when the kids go see Nana and Papa)


**Oh ... here's a tip for anyone who has kids that bring home the broken pieces of crayon that can't really be used for anything ... grab a metal pie plate and dump all the crayons in there (after peeling off the wrappers) ... put them in the oven at the lowest setting until the melt together ... take it out and let it cool. Once cooled, break it into a few larger pieces ... voila, rainbow crayons for the summer!**



lexie -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/17/2008 5:11:33 PM)

Does anyone have problems with the lists that the teachers send home being very specific?

I ran into a mom on the bus once who was travelling pretty far because her child's 5th grade teacher wanted specific notebooks from Staples (I'm not sure what a comparable US store is, but it's basically where you get all of your office and school supplies from.) She was pretty upset, and rightly so, considering Staples is also more expensive than anywhere else.



Karaboo2 -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/17/2008 5:35:34 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: lexie

Does anyone have problems with the lists that the teachers send home being very specific?

I ran into a mom on the bus once who was travelling pretty far because her child's 5th grade teacher wanted specific notebooks from Staples (I'm not sure what a comparable US store is, but it's basically where you get all of your office and school supplies from.) She was pretty upset, and rightly so, considering Staples is also more expensive than anywhere else.


My dd's private school was like that, when we had her enrolled there. Drove me batty.

BTW, Staples here is Staples there ... with very similar prices!!! [>:]



PrincessDonna -> RE: What do you buy new, what do you reuse? (6/17/2008 5:43:18 PM)

Our lists are very non-specific, which I greatly appreciate. They are also all in the school handbook and the list doesn't change from year to year, so I already know what he needs for next year.



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