Back to School Essentials I Buy Every Year (Mom of Four Edition)
Four kids, four different ages, four completely different lists. That’s my August.
And after doing this a few times, I’ve figured out what’s actually worth buying and what ends up at the bottom of a closet by October. So this is my real list — the back to school essentials I buy every single year, sorted by who they’re for.
Some of it is boring. Most of it is under $30. All of it gets used.
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What I buy for every kid, no matter the age
- Backpack elementary — They both wanted this one in different colors.
- Backpack middle school — It’s perfect for daily use. It’s lightweight, durable, and has plenty of space for essentials.
- Backpack high school — It’s on the pricy side but it will last for years and fits up to a 17-inch laptop perfectly!
- Lunchbox elementary + middle school — This is the functional pick, and it comes in every color.
- Water bottle elementary + middle school — Perfect for sports and school. They love the 24 oz for school and the 32 oz for sports.
- Water bottle high school — if you have an athlete this water jug is great! It’s simple and big.
- Bento boxes elementary — I love bento boxes for school lunches!
- Bento boxes middle school — these are a bigger and only ten dollars. I bought them last year and we loved them.
- Bento box high school — These are also great! minimal stylish bento boxes.
- Shoes — when they’re on sale. Nike has a 25% off for back to school right now. Use code DAYONE. Adidas has up to 40% off too!
Elementary
- Vinyl name decals — these are really cute for water bottles and bento boxes!
- Pencils — I’m a fan of these pastel pencils for little girls. They are so pretty!
- Glue Sticks 12 pack — these are perfect for teachers and back-to-school projects
Middle School
- Pencil case — This pencil case is so cute and super handy for kids! It comes in several colors too.
- Highlighter pens — These highlighters are so fun!
- Face and body wipes — These deodorant wipes are great for a quick freshen up after PE.
- Mini deodorant — These are great for after PE too and to throw in their sports bag.
- Hair ties — Great for ponytails and updos. I love that they’re gentle on hair too.
High School
- Portable charger — I love this portable charger. It gives me peace of mind knowing the kids have it. Charges phones fast!
- Mechanical pencils — these are great quality and refillable.
- Shower slides — these are great for the locker room.
- Dude wipes — for after practice, before class.
What I buy for me
- Meal planner and grocery list — this meal planner is cute!
- Water tumbler — I love this tumbler and the fact that you can throw it in your bag and go!
- Hand sanitizer — it comes in a pack of three and the scents smell good.
The things I always forget until week two
- Shoe protector spray — This spray will save your shoes from all weather and stains!
- Ice packs — You genuinely always need more and where do they go?
- Backup water bottle lids — why does the lid always break first?
What I’ve stopped buying
I used to spend so much money on water bottles, lunch boxes, backpacks — and then they’d get destroyed or lost by October. So now I buy one nice-enough version of each, and the backups are budget-friendly.
What I do instead: everyone has a color. Each kid gets theirs, and then we personalize with decals and stickers instead of price tags. It still feels like it’s theirs, which was the whole point of the expensive stuff anyway.
That money goes to clothes and sports gear instead — the things that actually get worn out rather than lost.
How I actually get it all done
Not in one trip. Never in one trip.
I do it in pieces — one store run for the basics, one online order for the rest, and I stop pretending it’s going to happen in a single perfect afternoon. Four kids means four lists, and spreading it out is the only reason it doesn’t wreck me.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most important back to school items?
A backpack that fits their body, a lunch box that’s easy for them to open themselves, and a water bottle that survives being dropped. Almost everything else can wait until you see what the teacher actually asks for.
When should I start back to school shopping?
Two to three weeks before the first day. Early enough for good selection, late enough that you have the supply list.
How do you shop for multiple kids?
Split it up. One list per kid, and buy in a few passes instead of one giant trip. Anything universal — socks, labels, water bottles — I buy in multiples at once.
Thank you for stopping by!
Also see: 15 Amazon Fall Finds I’m Actually Wearing This Season // Shop My Favorites
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