Among the very young also of the Campania This year, school supplies signed by YouTubers, influencers, celebrities and football teams are all the rage. These are highly sought-after products that set the trends for the 2022/2023 school year in Italy and are sold online at sky-high prices: a latest-edition designer backpack can set you back over 200 euros; a complete “designer” pencil case, complete with pens, markers, pencils, erasers, etc., costs up to 60 euros, while a branded diary reaches the 30-euro mark this year.
This is what Codacons states, which releases data on the high cost of school in the region. Even in our region we have recorded significant price increases compared to last year for all school supplies: contrary to the data provided yesterday by a small and secondary association that released partial and incorrect estimates, this year for notebooks, diaries, pencil cases, diaries, and all school-related materials there have been average increases in price lists of +7%, with peaks of +10% for “designer” products.
The price increases – explains Codacons – are due to the higher production costs for companies in the sector caused by the high cost of energy, and the crisis in raw materials which has significantly increased the prices of some products such as paper or textiles.
The cost of a complete school kit for the entire year can thus reach 588 euros per student if only designer products are chosen – analyses Codacons – to which must be added the cost of textbooks (which varies between 300 and 600 euros per student depending on the school and the level of education) and that of technical material (compasses, rulers and set squares, protractors, dictionaries, etc.) with the overall cost that this year can reach 1.300 euros per student.
Saving, however, is possible. Codacons is today distributing some practical advice for families that can reduce the cost of school supplies by up to 40%:
• Don't chase trends and influencers. These days all televisions are bombarding your children with advertisements aimed at school purchases. Keep them away from the TV and don't let the advertising market influence you.
Without chasing trends, you could spend 40% less on your trousseau, buying products of the same quality. Just don't buy items related to cartoon characters or famous dolls.
• Supermarket? In supermarkets you can save up to 30% compared to the stationery store. Bring a detailed shopping list and force yourself to stick to it. In this period some supermarket chains are even selling school products at rock-bottom prices: these are the so-called “decoy” products.
Goods are even sold below cost, counting on the fact that you will end up buying everything else anyway. Take advantage of this by buying only the decoy products! Then you can change supermarkets!
• Postpone purchases. We have the bad habit of buying everything we need during the year right away. You can also buy supplies of notebooks and pens at a later time. Often, waiting helps you save money.
• Wait for the professors. For more technical things (from compasses to dictionaries), then, it is best to wait for the professors' instructions, in order to avoid unnecessary or deficient purchases.
• Promotional offers and fixed-price kits. Welcome! They can be convenient. If they are not the result of an agreement with consumer associations, which act as guarantors, compare prices anyway and check the quality of the product, especially for the backpack (for which we advise against purchasing in any case, giving preference to the trolley).
• Digital books: choosing books to read and study on e-readers, PCs and tablets allows for significant savings on textbook spending.
• Used books: using used books sold at markets, in bookstores or directly among students allows savings of up to 50% on the cover price.
• E-commerce: on the web it is possible to find school books at prices discounted up to 20% compared to traditional shops.
•Last but not least, reopen last year's backpacks and recover everything usable, starting with the backpack, the guaranteed saving is a further 30%.
Article published on 29 August 2022 - 15:15
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