Subject to inflation, school supplies are expensive for parents. A trip to five stores to buy the same 11 basic items for a child attending elementary school demonstrates the wide variation in prices: the same school bag costs $0.99 here and $12.29 there.
“We can go from a correct price to its quadruple for several items on the list of school supplies,” says Olga Cherezova, budget advisor at the Cooperative Association of Family Economics (ACEF) in the east of Montreal. It’s important to shop around and compare, so you can watch the prices and get an idea of how much it really costs. »
The rigid plastic satchel (one inch thick) is a stunning example of the price difference: for an identical product, it is advertised at $0.99 at Jean Coutu and at $12.29 at Bureau en gros. Another striking example? The same pack of four Sharpie brand highlighters is sold at a random price of $1.98 at Walmart and $4.98 at the neighborhood stationery store (in this case, at Papeterie Léo, in eastern Montreal) .
For the number of items, eleven in all, bought at five different places, the bill goes from $21.66 (at Dollarama) to double, or $43.20 (at Bureau en gros).
The problem? It changes from week to week, store to store – and the fluctuation can be big.
“This week, such and such an item may be less expensive in pharmacies and the following week, it is sold at a lower price in a supermarket, underlines Mr.me Cherezova. It is necessary to be informed and to know what is, in fact, the “right” price. »
Sort and reuse
Mother of five children and mother-in-law of three children, aged 6 to 15, Andrée-Ann Pinard applies herself from June, at the end of the school year, to prepare for the next school year. “I start by consulting the social networks of the schools attended by my children to take a look at lost objects and identify if certain things belong to them,” she says. This saves me unnecessary future expenses. »
Helped by her children, the 41-year-old manager then empties the school bags and sorts the equipment: everything that can be reused is kept. “We do an inventory, she notes, and I start my shopping early enough in the summer to run the specials in several stores. I take this opportunity to make reservations. »
According to the organization Regroupement Parte, the total amount paid for school supplies for an elementary child in Greater Montreal is on average $130, or 30% more than two years ago. Mme Pinard, for her part, estimates that she only has “a third of the list to buy” for each of her children; it still costs him $110 per child.
“I try to be organized, she confides, and it remains a pleasant moment for me and for the children. »
Make a budget and buy in bulk
This is not the case for everyone: for many families, who must take into account the prices of rents and foodstuffs which have exploded, back-to-school purchases are the straw that breaks the camel’s back. “It’s a time of great financial concern for families,” says Johanne Le Blanc, budget advisor at Option consommateurs. It’s already difficult to make ends meet. »
PHOTO MARTIN ALARIE, PROVIDED BY OPTION CONSOMMATEURS
Johanne Le Blanc, from Option consommateurs
His best advice is to prepare your budget well to meet these expenses. “They are predictable, she says, so I suggest collecting money in September for the following school year. »
Mme Pinard has developed an infallible trick to save: she makes group purchases with friends who have children of the same age as hers. This allows him to buy large quantities at lower costs.
“I often buy a lot of colored pencils, lead pencils, markers, erasers, glue sticks and writing books,” she says. I go with a friend to do all the shopping and we divide the items as well as the amounts of the bills. We manage to save a lot of money. »
Nearby resources
Jessica Laflamme, owner of Do more with less, which offers home economics workshops and planning tools, points out how the family counters are invaluable resources.
“We have to deconstruct the image that it is associated with poverty,” explains the mother of three children aged 7, 9 and 12. Organizations like Centraide, Renaissance or family crossroads hold real treasures! These are bazaars where you can find everything. »
PHOTO PROVIDED BY JESSICA LAFLAMME
Jessica Laflamme, from Doing More with Less
She points out that there are also items related to lunches – dishes and thermoses, for example. She also likes to stock up on snacks (granola bars, crackers, etc.) when they’re on sale at the grocery store.
“I think you have to use your money consciously, she slips, and at the same time, we inform and educate our children. There is a reflection to be done upstream: what is necessary, what is mandatory and what is superfluous? »
Provide financial education
Mme Le Blanc, of Option consommateurs, agrees. According to her, regardless of our income and our budget, we must learn to make choices. “To say ‘no’ to the little extras requested by children is to begin their financial education. The trap is to go beyond the list. »
Because after the bill for school supplies, there is that of the daycare service to come, just like that of extracurricular activities, the cafeteria or the uniform…
“Use your common sense,” concludes Olga Cherezova, of the ACEF de l’est de Montréal. If a brand is more expensive, even if it is listed on the school list, there is a substitute that does the trick. If the budget does not allow it, why would we pay more? »
How to reduce back-to-school costs?
Here are tips and advice from the experts.
- Apply the 3 R rule (reduce, reuse, recycle)
- View flyers and compare prices
- Browse sharing and support groups (on Facebook, for example)
- Visit family organizations in your neighborhood or municipality
- Stock up when the deals are good
- Make group purchases (with friends who have children of the same age, for example)
- Limit yourself to the list of required equipment
- Opt for quality for the main items (backpack, lunch box, etc.)
- Properly label the material
- Cover books and schoolbags
- Involve children and encourage them to take care of their equipment
Sources: Olga Cherezova, from ACEF de l’est de Montréal, Johanne Le Blanc, from Option consommateurs, Jessica Laflamme, from Doing more with less, and Andrée-Ann Pinard
2023-08-13 10:09:22
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