Back-to-School 2026: What I'm Actually Buying

The school supply list has arrived.

You know what that means.

Open Amazon. Open Target. Start adding to cart.

Because are we actually walking into three different stores trying to find a specific folder with pockets AND prongs?

Absolutely not.

This year's back-to-school shopping mission is simple: get what we need, skip what we don't, and make my life as easy as possible.

Here are the things making my cart this year.

🎒 First Up: The Backpack

This is one place I'm willing to spend a little more.

I want something that can survive being dropped, overstuffed, thrown in the car, and carried around all year without the zipper giving up by October.

My checklist:

• Padded straps

• Laptop/device compartment

• Side pocket for a water bottle

• Plenty of room without being ridiculously huge

• Strong zippers

🛒 MY PICK: https://amzn.to/4gdJAAo

🥤 The Water Bottle

My requirements are very sophisticated:

Doesn't leak. Doesn't break. Doesn't require 14 pieces to wash.

That's it.

Bonus points if it's easy to identify because apparently every kid owns the exact same water bottle.

🛒 MY PICK: https://amzn.to/3Ujz5E9

✏️ What We Actually Keep Stocked at Home

Nowadays, a lot of the basic supplies are provided at school, so I'm not buying an entire mini Office Depot for the house.

But there are a few things I absolutely keep stocked for homework and projects.

Erasable pens. These are a favorite in our house. You get the convenience of a pen without having to stare at a page covered in crossed-out mistakes.

• Black & Blue Pens: https://amzn.to/4gbtwiy

• Colorful Pens: https://amzn.to/4wVsUo9

Mechanical pencils. Because seriously... do schools even have pencil sharpeners anymore?

Mechanical pencils eliminate the broken-pencil-and-no-sharpener situation completely. Keep extra lead and erasers nearby and you're set.

https://amzn.to/4x1yQMo

A few other things I like having around:

• Highlighters: https://amzn.to/4fY4kNB

  
  

• Notebook paper

  • Wide Ruled: https://www.target.com/p/subject-spiral-notebook-wide-ruled-green-dealworthy-8482/-/A-91530232?preselect=91530232

  • College Ruled: https://www.target.com/p/subject-spiral-notebook-college-ruled-purple-dealworthy-8482/-/A-91530235?preselect=91530228

    
    

• Lined Paper:

  • Wide Ruled: https://www.target.com/p/filler-paper-wide-ruled-dealworthy-8482/-/A-91530223#lnk=sametab

  • College Ruled: https://www.target.com/p/filler-paper-college-ruled-dealworthy-8482/-/A-91530234#lnk=sametab

    
    

• Pencil Pouch: https://www.target.com/p/single-zip-mesh-binder-pencil-pouch-light-blue-up-38-up-8482/-/A-94881642?preselect=94881642

  
  

• Glue sticks (We use double sided tape because glue is to messy) https://amzn.to/4zyt1YK

• Scissors (we buy a muli pack because some how they go missing)

  https://amzn.to/4xBqECr

  
  

  🔌 Portable Charger

  This one may not be on the official school list, but it's on mine.

  Phones, school devices, long days, practices after school—having a small portable charger in the backpack can come in handy.

  And yes, I have multiple of them too. I will had it comes with a 1 year warranty and their customer service is AMAZING!

  🛒 MY PICK: https://amzn.to/4619N09

  
  

Nothing excessive. Just enough that when something is needed for homework at 8:30 p.m., I'm not placing an emergency Target pickup order.