Under-Consumption and Back-to-School Season

While everyone is posting back-to-school hauls and “must-have” lists, it can be really overwhelming as a parent. Not only is it hard to find, shop for, and gather up everything you need for the beginning of a new school year, but it can be financially straining for families.

But what if it didn’t need to be? What if you wanted to intentionally choose less material items so that you could have the freedom for more in other areas? That was our goal this year!

Here are 5 ways I prioritized minimalism and under-consumption while getting ready to send my girl to kindergarten.

Our Schooling Set Up

Anytime I share anything school-related, I think it is important to give some context. We have a very unique schooling set up that we love so much. We are part of a homeschooling hybrid program. This means that my daughter is on campus half the week and at home the other half.

For school supplies, clothes, and all the “school things”, it is a bit of a double-edged sword. While her school day supplies only get half the use and can last quite a while, we also need supplies for her home days.

In this list, you will see that most of her uniforms, her backpack, and other school essentials are being reused from last year. That may not be possible for families that have kids in school 5 days a week. Those supplies are just naturally getting more wear and tear.

Our favorite Lalo stainless steel lunch box and snackbox, Pack it freezable lunchbox, and stainless steel water bottle— all things. we are reusing for a second year!

Conscious Consumerism and Back to School

Here are a few ways my family is practicing minimalism and intentional shopping for the new school year…

1. Quality > Quantity

   Over the last few years, my thoughts on quality have significantly changed. I used to be the ultimate bargain shopper, always hunting for a good deal. But unfortunately, I was often sacrificing quality.

   Now, I will happily spend a bit more initially for a product that is going to last quite a while.

   When I was school shopping for my daughter last year, that got a lot of focus. I bought her this backpack because her school requests rolling backpacks for the younger kids. While her pre-K obsession was Elsa and Frozen, I intentionally bought a more timeless pattern, knowing she would probably outgrow the Frozen phase.

   The same idea went for her lunchbox and water bottle, all things we are reusing this year.

2. Versatility

   My daughter’s school requires uniforms. She is only on campus 2 days per week so we really do not need that many uniform sets. I chose a couple of versatile options that can mix and match and work together, regardless of weather.

   If you are buying a school wardrobe, try to incorporate versatile pieces that can be used in multiple ways. I’ve found that this also helps to get the most use out of children’s clothes before they grow out of them.

3. Shopping our house

   The minute I got our school supply list, my kids and I went on a scavenger hunt around the house. What do we have that is still in good condition and can be used again this year, what actually needs to be replaced, what can we source second-hand?

   Things like pencils, glue sticks, and a box of crayons were all found in our school closet, so I crossed them off the list! This helps keep duplicates from piling up or extra clutter from accumulating.

4. Sharing is Caring

   At the end of the school year, our school community does a homeschool swap. Families get to trade or sell any old curriculum, uniforms, or school supplies. I love this event so much!

   It really helps to reduce waste, save families money, and put a small dent in overconsumption.

5. Buy it when we need it

   I used to be an anticipatory purchaser. I would find something on sale and grab it because I knew I would one day need it. But then, by the time that day came around, it wasn’t the right thing, or I actually didn’t need it like I thought I would.

   Now, I try to wait until I really do need something. Sometimes this means I am spending a little bit more, or buying outside of a sale, but it also keeps me from storing unnecessary things.

6. Mend Before You Spend

   Something I have been trying to be better about around my home is fixing things. We live in such a disposable culture where most people automatically replace something when it is broken, stained, or torn. While there is definitely a time and place to replace a worn-out item, I often find I can give it new life with a little TLC.

   Here are a few ways I’m lengthening the life of items in my home:

   • Stain treating— I love the Messy Eater Stain Treater from Amazon for tough stains.

   • De-pilling— my daughter had a uniform sweater that still fit, but had some pilling in a couple of areas. I went over it with this fabric shaver, and it looks nearly brand new.

   • Small sewing repairs— when my husband and I first started dating, there was a jacket he liked that lost a button. I told him I would fix it for him and ended up sewing the button through the pocket…. So, I would say my seamstress skills are limited at best. But I am making an effort to repair small things when I can.

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What are some ways your family is intentionally choosing minimalism or conscious consumerism during this back-to-school season? I would love to hear!

Kaelyn

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