[jaxn]

Do you think an expensive pencil performs better than a cheap pencil? What about folders, glue, notebooks, graph paper, etc?

When we get into electronics, the school list specifies which graphing calculator to buy. Will my kids find a used one on ebay? Probably. Will a used one perform worse?

It is an interesting concern, but we haven't had a situation where their frugality has gotten in the way of their education. One of my kids likes fancy mechanical pencils, another one uses wooden pencils until they are nubs. It's their choice :)

[icebraining]

Pencils, folders, and such, not that much (though the cheapest paper is usually to thin to withstand the treatment), but I've seen math compasses literally fall apart after a month or two of use, dented rulers, pens which would spill to clothes, etc.

It's not that you need to buy expensive stuff, but the cheapest of the cheapest is usually only good for occasional use, not daily school work.

[jaxn]

Fair enough.

We haven't run into those issues. They tend to order their supplies off Amazon, but I don't know much about what they choose or why.