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Whether you need new supplies or you just need some new systems — it’s time to make back-to-school much less of a headache.

I am a contributor who has been writing for BuzzFeed Shopping for two years, with a focus on products that make parenting just a bit easier — and hopefully more fun — home decor, kitchen gadgets, and whatever deals I can scope out.

Each bundle includes a plastic pencil box, a 10-pack of markers, a 24-pack of crayons, a 12-pack of colored pencils, three glue sticks, a pack of #2 pencils, five pencil top erasers, a rubber eraser, a pencil sharpener, a pair of blunt-tip scissors, two pencil grips, a 12-inch ruler, a wide-rule spiral notebook, a wide ruled composition book, and a two-pocket folder with metal prongs.

Promising review: "As a busy working mother, I find that this was a lifesaver! The kit had everything my third-grader needed to start his new school year, and I didn't have to fight the crowds at the stores!!! I give 5 stars!!!" —Carolyn Jackson

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in two other sizes).

Promising review: "Love this design that looks like the popular brand name. We love how custom this can be." —Katy

Get it from Target for $5 (also available in pink).

Promising review: "I've had these name labels for a while, and they're absolutely amazing. I can stick them on clothes, wash them, and they're still good. They've been an absolute lifesaver when it comes to school — teachers know when it's my child's, and it prevents it from being lost. I've stuck it on sippies, clothes, shoes, the outside of backpacks, it is RESILIENT and honestly, super underpriced for how high quality and the quantity you get. I'd only ever buy from this seller." —Z.S.

Get a 130-pack from Amazon for $7.95 (available in 34 designs).

Promising review: "This clock is a lifesaver! I bought one each for my three kids so they can get up on time for school, and it works perfectly! They love the ease of use and customization — and they are actually excited about getting up on time!" —Kavina

Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in seven colors).

Promising review: "This has been an absolute lifesaver! My kids put all of their clothes for the week in their 'pockets' on Sunday and there's no digging in the mornings anymore!" —CrystalW

Promising review: "Good sock and underwear dividers for teenage boys." —Great value

Get it from Target for $16.99+ (also available in a four-pack).

I recently switched my fine-haired daughter over to this leave-in conditioner, and we both love it! The citrus vanilla scent is SO good, and it actually works. I can spray this on wet hair after a shower or on a knot in dry hair, and it's equally great. 

Promising review: "I bought this for my 5-year-old's hair. It’s the most effective hair detangler we’ve ever used. It dries nicely and leaves the hair looking fresh and clean ( NOT at all greasy). And the smell is absolutely divine. I find myself spraying it in my hair from time to time. I also love that the scent is all natural. It is a zero-synthetic fragrance. I hope The Honest Company never stops making this product because I’ll probably never stop buying it!! 💛" —Amazon Customer

Promising review: "This gets the tangles and knots out of my daughter’s hair!! It’s like magic. Some conditioner and this brush can do magic. No tears! This brush is heavenly! My 4-year-old loves the way the bristles feel on her scalp." —Destiny

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in 12 colors and in a three-pack).

Promising review: "This heatless curling set is amazing and so easy for tweens to do independently! It’s a large curling tool that is safe for my young daughter to use. She has been growing her hair long all year long so that she can get that VS curl look.

It took a few times to get it in tight and get it to stay where it needed to, but after a few modifications it was in tight. Best advice is to brush your hair out first and wrap it tight all around. My daughter also used a silk bonnet to keep everything in place and to keep herself from tugging at it. Tugging at it, and just being interested in playing with it, and checking on it was half the battle lol.

The curls were amazing and they stayed triple plus longer than curls in the curling iron. It took five minutes to put them in versus fifteen to twenty to curl her hair, and the outcome with the overnight curling was way better.

I recommend this heatless curling set! It also makes a great gift." —Abby

Get it from Amazon for $12.38+ (available in 11 colors).

Promising review: "If you have a busy household, this family calendar is a lifesaver. Now everyone can enter their appointments, work schedules, classes, etc, into their own Google calendar, and it syncs to the family calendar. Everyone is aware of what is happening, and it avoids double booking. App is easy to use, as is the actual device." —NH Customer

Get it from Amazon for $247.99+ (available in two versions and three colors).

Promising review: "The Yunbaoit Upgraded Black Visual Timer with Protective Case has been an absolute lifesaver for managing ADHD in our household. The visual countdown is intuitive and easy to understand, making it perfect for staying on task and managing transitions. The durable protective case adds peace of mind, ensuring it can withstand daily use. Whether it’s for homework, chores, or screen time, this timer has helped create structure and minimize distractions. It’s simple to use, highly effective, and has quickly become an essential tool in our routine. I can’t recommend it enough for anyone looking to improve time management!" —adudethatknows

Get it from Amazon for $15.19+ (available in 10 colors).

Promising review: "Lifesaver! Quick eggs and do not need to be prepped that much. Helps a lot when you are getting kids ready to go to school." —Deepak

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in six colors).

Promising review: "These keep my cereal fresh, my 6-year-old can use them on her own! It's truly a lifesaver!" —Allison Marie

Promising review: "Just got this all-in-one mop/vacuum and it's a game changer. Right out of the box, it was super easy to put together, took me maybe 5 min.

The best part is how it vacuums and mops at the same time. I have a cat and kid, so there's always something to clean up. This thing handle it all with strong suction, from spilled juice to muddy paw prints, in just one pass. It's been a lifesaver for quick spot cleans before the end of the day. It just rolls so easy across my hardwood floors, you don’t have to push hard at all. The head turns really smoothly, so getting around table legs and along the baseboards are easy. It really gets right up to the edge like the description says. The roller doesn’t tangle at all. See pic of the machine’s bottom after a whole house cleaning.

The self-cleaning dock is another great feature. After cleaning, it cleans the mop with hot water. It's a bit loud, kind of like my robot vacuum when it empties (see video), but I leave it in the bathroom with door closed for about 15–20 minutes, so it don't bother me. The roller feels completely dry at the end." —10086

Get it from Amazon for $269.99+ (available in three versions).

Promising review: "Great kitchen tool. Perfect for quickly slicing apples for baking, school lunches and snacking. It is the flap at the bottom that makes this so easy to use. No cutting your fingers or dulling the blades trying to dislodge the sliced apple. We are ordering a second one — it is that popular in our house." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon at $13.99+ (available in seven colors and with eight or 16 slices).

Promising review: "My daughter loves to bring a warm lunch to school every day. We have previously tried other bento lunchboxes, but none of them keep the food warm or fresh for very long. The OmieBox has been a lifesaver! This lunchbox has plenty of space and keeps the food warm and fresh all day. It is strong and has lasted despite all the times it has been bumped and banged up at school. It is easy to clean and does not leave food residue. I will be buying another one for my son this school year. Highly recommended!" —Jesus Castro

Get it from Amazon for $49.95 (available in seven colors and in a two-pack).

Promising review: "We love these! Every Sunday, we make homemade Lunchables. We put crackers in the rectangular cup, sliced cheese in the square, and salami or pepperoni on the round. They fit into an airtight container to go into the fridge until the kids pack their lunches each morning. It’s been a life- and time saver!!!" —Erin B. Legg

Get a 36-pack of assorted shapes from Amazon for $9.99 (available in various shapes and sizes).

Promising review: "I have an almost 2-year-old son and I rarely made sandwiches for him because it's so messy. He always takes them apart and before I know it, the pieces of sandwich are all over the kitchen! I decided to go for it and get this sandwich cutter and did it ever make a difference! Not only do the contents of the sandwich stay between the bread, but he doesn't fling it everywhere. He also loves to eat the little bits of crust, and so do my dogs. Great product, thank you!" —Alicia

This is the brand I use for both of my kids, and I absolutely love these bags. They're so easy to store, and there's ice on both sides — ensuring safe food no matter when their lunchtime is. It's nice to be able to send a string cheese without remembering the room-temperature, rubbery-by-mid-day cheese stick of my youth. 🤢

Promising review: "These are amazing. I was having to put ice packs in my kids' lunch and was looking for an alternative when I came across these. It has been over 100 for the last two weeks, not counting the heat index, and they have been a lifesaver. They go in the kids' backpacks in the am and come off the bus still cold. This never happened with an ice pack. It actually stays cold and helps my kids to have cold food during the day, I wish I had found these years ago!!!" —Bryan

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in 27 designs).

Promising review: "LOVE, LOVE this!! We previously had a different one similar to this, but did not have a toothpaste dispenser. I decided to try this one out because it matched and was more modern-looking. I am so happy with this! It fit on our wall exactly where the other one went, and we didn’t even have to use the sticker. I love the four cops and how hidden and easy they are to access. The toothpaste comes out perfectly every time and does not make a mess!!! My kids love to make messes, so this is a lifesaver. I have already recommended this to all of my friends and family." —Lindsay Snack

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in four colors).

Promising review: "Love this! It’s nice quality, easy to assemble and it was a nice height for my young kids to hang up their items" —Whitney

Get it from Wayfair for $229.99+ (available in five colors).

Promising review: "With three small kids and a husband with lots of shoes, this shoe cabinet has been a lifesaver. I built it on my own in just a few hours. I love it." —Katie

Get it from Amazon for $89.99+ (available with two, three, four, or six drawers and eight colors).

Promising review: "We purchased two of these, one for each car, and it has been great for dropping off our Kindergarten student at school. We are not allowed to get out of the car, so I was worried how to get him unbuckled from his car seat/harness, but this has been a lifesaver. It took him only two practices to get it, but he really picked it up quick and now he really enjoys unbuckling himself once we get in car line. We love this product!" —Alicia Rosenbauer

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in seven colors).

Promising review: "These are great. I use a regular Sharpie to write my kid's name on the label and put it on every article of clothing he can take off at school. I have washed them several times, and they still look brand new. These labels are a lifesaver for kids who cannot remember to bring home their jacket, hat, and gloves." —Kaitlyn Swoape

Get two packs of 54 from Amazon for $12.38.

The storage cubs are sold separately and you can complete the look with a desk chair. 

Promising review: "My daughter absolutely love this desk! It was quick to assemble. The four storage cubes are super convenient for keeping things neat and accessible. It is on the smaller side. My daughter is 9 and this should last her until high school. If you're on a budget but still want a functional, attractive desk, this is a fantastic choice." —Tiffany

Get it from Walmart for $75 (available in four colors).

Promising review: "This binder was a lifesaver for my middle schooler. The first binder we tried was NOT one of these. It was impossible to carry around, and papers were frequently lost. Then I found this.

This binder changed everything and even eased my students' anxiety because it's so much easier to stay organized. The ring itself is sturdy and easy to open and close. There's room in here for work from different classes, and storage for pencils and pens, etc. There is a bonus section of accordion storage, which is excellent for take-home papers or other loose items. Then, it zips closed! This zipper is tough, and it seems to move with ease no matter what.

And the icing on the cake is the handle on the spine. This makes it easy to grab the binder and stuff it in a backpack or walk between classes without having to cradle the binder in your arms. We never used the optional shoulder strap, but options are nice. This binder gets an A+." —Rachel W

Get it from Amazon for $20.24+ (available in 12 designs and in multipacks).

Promising review: "Helps me and my kids clear out our noses nicely. We use it in cold and warm weather." —ONeil Smith

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BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.