With the current school year’s end rapidly approaching, it’s hard to believe that at the end of August, I will be shopping for my last haul of school supplies. Between the clever marketing of items such as erasable pens and scented erasers, it can be hard to decipher what you will actually use, and which should be saved for the elementary school book fair. However, with multiple years of experience, I believe I can finally separate needs from wants.
Pencil Cases
As someone who will have absolutely no writing utensils if not for my pencil case, a new one is always a necessity for me. Because back-to-school can be expensive, I have attempted to go without one in past years, and I have found myself at Target a week after school has been back in session, examining the bare shelves for a pencil case. Pencils, of course, are a main necessity in school, and I have found that without a pencil case, I can never find one in my backpack. While a new one each year may seem excessive, I have found that my pencil cases frequently get discolored and even end up without a zipper by the end of the year. In addition, it is always fun to pick out a new color, size, or pattern. Oftentimes, there is even a matching set of a pencil case, lunchbox, and backpack in the same print, making it fun for anyone to go shopping for a new one.
Folders
Similar to a pencil case, I have used these almost every single year of school. I have tried binders in place of folders; however, I found that combining all of my subjects into one binder adds extra weight to my backpack and can make finding specific documents difficult. Paper folders can often tear, so I have found plastic ones to be the most efficient. It can even be fun to pick out which color correlates with what subject, a topic that has sparked frequent debate. In my opinion, math is red, science is green, social studies is purple, and English is blue. In addition to solid colors, folders often come in many different patterns and designs, making it enjoyable to shop for new ones for both young kids and teenagers alike.
Hygiene kits
This item, while often deemed “unnecessary,” has been one of my most-used items in my backpack (aside from school supplies). Filling toiletry bags with mini deodorant, lint rollers, makeup, hair ties, a stain remover, perfume, or anything else desired can be both fun and also come in handy. My Tide To-Go stain remover stick has saved me more times than I can even count, and has been amazing to have on hand in case of emergency.
Because marketing from many companies can convince you that you “need” certain items that you won’t end up using, differentiate what is a requirement for the school year, versus simply a want. However, these three items have never done me wrong and are well worth the money. I have replaced them with new ones almost every single year, and will definitely be continuing the trend for the last time this coming school year.