Despite the slowdown in inflation, the price of school supplies has been largely affected by the rise in prices. According to a survey by the Confédération syndicale des familles, for the start of the 2023 school year, the budget for an elementary school pupil will be 233 euros, compared with 190 euros in 2022 (+23%), 371 euros for a secondary school pupil (+3.5%) and 427 euros for a high school pupil (+3.1%). In this article, you ll find some tips on how to reduce this budget.

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1. take inventory

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If this isn t your child s first school year, you must already have some inventory at home. Don t forget to take inventory before rushing off to the stores. You may find nuggets hidden in the back of your cupboards: barely started notebooks, compasses, rulers, pencil cases, notebook protectors, sheets, binders...

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2. take advantage of promotions by stocking up

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September is a month full of promotions with lots at bargain prices. Take the opportunity to stock up on sheets, tubes of glue or even pens. You can also work with class parents to make group purchases.

Don t forget to compare the unit price with the lot price. Not all promotions are.

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3. think second-hand!

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School books are a big part of the school budget, so think about saving on them by picking them up second-hand. You can find them on online sites such as Leboncoin or in stores such as Cultura or Gilbert. Don t hesitate to resell them at the end of the year.

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4. return old schoolbags for vouchers

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For a few years now, some retailers have been offering vouchers in exchange for your child s old schoolbag. As well as saving money, you re also doing a good deed. In fact, the chains are committed to donating all the schoolbags collected to associations which then distribute them to schoolchildren in need.

Supermarkets such as Carrefour and Auchan offer this service, as do Top Office, Bureau Vallée, Monoprix and Géant Casino. Dates and details are available on the websites of each retailer. Good to know: these same chains also often offer discount vouchers for supplies to be downloaded online.

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5. find the best price

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To cut your expenses, you can turn to generic or "unbranded" products. They re generally cheaper for almost identical quality. Don t hesitate to store around for expensive supplies like calculators to find the best price.

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By applying these few tips, you should succeed in lowering your expenses for this new school year. Don t hesitate to ask about your eligibility for the back-to-school allowance (ARS), worth between €398.09 and €434.61 depending on the child s age. It is income-tested. For more information, click on the following link: L allocation de rentrée scolaire (Ars) | Welcome to Caf.fr

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