Cost of materials: How to budget for school resumption

End of year bonuses will be paid this week for some and next week for others. Before you start splashing this bonanza on treats, it would make sense to write down a budget. This will prove useful given that school resumption is behind the door.

At the beginning of the second week of January 2017, in a little over three weeks, schools will resume classes. Whether children are making the transition from primary to secondary education, or joining kindergarten or primary school, it goes without saying that parents will have to fork out hefty sums of money for school stuffs. From materials to uniforms and bags, a proper budgeting now and using a part of your bonus towards this end by buying early, will avoid crisis situations further down the line. News on Sunday has been shopping around for you and proposes a breakdown of the cost of the numerous items required for school next year. 

School Materials

School materials also are very high in demand in December and January. Parents need to buy school materials such as notebooks, pens, pencils, compact sets, sketch pad and various paintbrushes. A pack of copybooks can cost between Rs 100-Rs 250 depending on the number of pages. Paintbrushes price start as from Rs 15. Pencils price is as from Rs 2 and pen price starts as from Rs 10.

Shoes

The price of shoes depends on quality and brand. Simple shoes can cost around Rs 200 in markets and shops. Shoes that are a bit more comfortable can cost above Rs 400. Branded shoes like Nike, Adidas can cost over Rs 2,000. 

School bags 

The price of backpacks also differs depending on the size. Simple bags that are found in markets or small shops can cost around Rs 300 and above. Branded bags like Peace angel, Island Haze, Body and Soul can cost above Rs 1,000. Lunch bag are priced above Rs 100. Plastic lunch boxes can cost around Rs 100 while ceramic ones are above Rs 200. Water bottles start as from Rs 50. 

Uniforms

The price of school uniforms depends on the size of the child, the quality of the fabric and the design. Different uniforms shops have different prices. Some very popular shops around the island are: Jinchi Style, Petronic, and The Uniform Shop.