If you’re a newbie parent faced with the impending costs that December and January inevitably bring, take a little tip from the more experienced parents among us. Read on…
The festive season is, undoubtedly, the best time of the year. Think Silly Season parties with friends, the thrill of all things Christmas, relaxed summer holidays and, well, who can forget Christmas rumballs! However, this time of the year can also be expensive. There are Christmas presents to buy, holiday spending and then before you know it, the kids are heading back to school and there’s a pile of things to purchase to get them prepped for learning.
A clever tip from the more experienced (read: frugal) parents among us is to fill your children’s Christmas stockings with back-to-school requirements. Two birds, one stone. Trust us – your minis won’t mind that they are receiving a pencil case, school bag, sports bag or lunch bag for Christmas when they are super cool products. We’ve scoured the internet for some of the most coveted school requirements that will easily impress on December 25 (#yourewelcome):
Petit Monkey backpacks, from $62
Scandinavian style and retro coolness combine to create Petit Monkey, the Dutch brand changing the backpack game. With gorgeous colour combos and delicious designs, you’ll have a hard time choosing just one.
Shop block backpacks | Shop print backpacks
Neoprene lunch bags, $25
Perfect for packing all of the essentials (and keeping them cool throughout the day!), these neoprene lunch bags come in three whimsical designs: Boho Watercolour, Pastel Galaxy Sky and Tropical Holiday.
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Stainless steel water bottle, $40
When stainless steel water bottles first burst onto the scene, they were insanely expensive and, honestly, rather boring. Not anymore! The best part? This range of stainless steel water bottles perfectly matches the aforementioned neoprene lunch bags.
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Yumbox, $39.95
No lunchbox has amassed as much of a cult following as the Yumbox. One of the original bento-style lunchboxes to hit the market, the Yumbox revolutionised the way parents pack lunch, and children eat it. If there’s one lunchbox your child will be thrilled to find under the tree, it’s the Yumbox!
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Soccer Star set, prices vary
Got a soccer-mad son or daughter who would love to rep their favourite sport at school? Now they can! This range of soccer-themed school supplies – covering everything from lunchboxes to swim bags, and even book covers – ticks a tonne of items off your Christmas and Back to School shopping lists in one fell swoop.
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A stylish chair bag, $16.99
Say ‘goodbye’ to that scratchy, run-of-the-mill chair bag – now your kids can stay organised in style! This range of chair bags has something for everyone, and each design is so gorgeous your child won’t even realise they’re getting a chair bag from Santa.
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A cool lunchbox (literally), from $25
No one does luxe linen lunchboxes quite like SoYoung. While it’s hard to go past their range of backpacks and cooler bags, their insulated lunchbox designs in particular are absolutely beautiful. And, they keep food cool for ages.
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Precidio’s ‘In the Box’ products, from $16
Boring Tupperware be gone! There’s a new way to take snacks to school, and it’s the Snack in the Box. Unique design and fun colours make these food containers totally kid-friendly, and the matching ‘Drink in the Boxes’ help keep things organised.
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Matching book covers, $1.99
When you’re thinking about Christmas presents, book covers don’t seem like they’d make the cut. But these are no ordinary book covers! With a tonne of matching designs in A4, exercise and scrapbook sizes, this brand provides the perfect stocking stuffers.
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Swim bag, $20.99
Your child will be too cool for the pool with these awesome swim bag designs! With something for every boy and girl, you can buy them on their own or match the design to a range of other school supplies for the complete look.
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