Do parents need to buy new school bags for their children every session? - 'Frugal Mum' sparks conversation | EduCeleb
Abdussalam Amoo
7th September 2018
As school children prepare to resume for a new session next week, a Nigerian ‘Frugal Mum’ has opened a conversation around whether parents really need to buy new accessories for their children, especially if the old ones are in good shape.
The woman who goes by the name Saude Amina Atoyebi took to her Twitter page to express her opinion about this. She says parents don’t have to do something because everyone else does it.
Her tweet reads thus: “Call me a frugal mom but I don’t see the need to change my son’s school bag just because it’s a new school year. I’ll change it when it’s worn out or no longer serves it’s purpose. Besides, one of the things I keep telling him is don’t do something cos everyone else is🤷‍♀️”
Call me a frugal mom but I don’t see the need to change my son’s school bag just because it’s a new school year. I’ll change it when it’s worn out or no longer serves it’s purpose. Besides, one of the things I keep telling him is don’t do something cos everyone else is🤷‍♀️
— Saude Amina Atoyebi (@minibaby) August 29, 2018
The tweet has generated hundreds of reactions with some users agreeing with her just as others begged to disagree.
Magdalyn Aku is among those who quite agree with her. She tweeted thus:
I said the same thing this morning. The only things we are changing, the water bottle school shoes and lunch bag. The school bag is still great. Even the lunch bag sef when I get home I will see if after washing it looks manageable then manage we shall. ☺
— magdalyn Aku (@amoke7) August 30, 2018
A male Twitter user with the name Nur agrees with them too describing it as a case of ‘commonsense’.
Nah, it’s common sense. I bought a Miniso bag (It’s better made than those cheap Character bags) and we’re gonna use through Primary school. It’s blue so I may change the colour to a pink one and keep the blue for her bro. Don’t see why we need new everything every school year.
— Nur (@NorayLaLa) August 30, 2018
But Ene Gbenewei feels that it is a matter of whether one could afford it or not.
Get a new one if u can afford it. just give out the old one.
— Ene Gbenewei (@enegbenewei) August 30, 2018
In her response, the ‘Frugal Mum’ says that that is not a determinant on her part.
“I can afford it but won’t do it,” she responded.
Like Ene, Moyosore Akala sees the change as a necessity that gives room for parents to donate the old bags to the needy.
Tbh, it’s not lavishiness if you do. I don’t wait for my clothing to get worn out before changing them. I give the old ones to charity. Trust me, there are thousands of school children who need bags. So yeah, if you can afford, buy it. As long u know you’re not doing it for trend
— Moyosore Akala (@akalamoyo) August 30, 2018
A child whose parent brought up in such a way added her voice to the conversation. Chiko Akunyili revealed that she used a bag for three years because it was such a durable product.
Thank you….I had a school bag, this school bag was so strong I used it from pry 4 till pry 6 and when it was time to enter Sec Sch, mumsi suggested we change but I refused, used it for another 3yrs😂😂😂.
P.S the bag refused to spoil, we had to let go.😭
— Chiko_Akunyili (@chikoakunyili) August 30, 2018
Someone else known as Lawal Abubakar is quite surprise that parents change their children’s bag because it’s a new session. He felt that was strange.
People change school bag just cuz it’s a new session? 😳
— Ari Gold (@LawalAbubakar_) August 29, 2018
Would you change your child’s bags or lunch boxes because it’s a new session? What do you think should determine parents’ choices in such a situation? Share your views with us on this subject matter.