Those who have children at home, already know: just arrive in January to start via crucis through the city's stationers in search of the best prices for the list of school supplies.
Some things are indispensable, others not so much, while others can be considered abusive, if they have been requested by the school.
So, in addition to worrying about offering something of quality to their children, parents still need to keep an eye on prices, the crowd squeezed inside the stores and, of course, the absurd demands made by some schools.
The question that remains is: how can we not have a nervous breakdown? Calm! We help you. We made this post to show you that it is possible to reconcile price and quality without suffering a collapse. Come and see:
Tips for saving with the purchase of school supplies
Reuse
Before going to the store to buy the materials, make an overview of everything left over from the last year.
Pencils, erasers, pens, rulers, glue, scissors and cases are just some of the school items that can be easily reused by the child.
Even the backpack itself can be passed from one year to the next. If you notice a defect, such as a broken zipper, for example, consider fixing it, rather than buying a new one.
Just remember to check the expiration date of some items, especially paints, since after expiration they can pose risks to children's health.
Do not let last minute
Many parents leave to buy school supplies within 45 of the second half. With this it is clear that they will suffer from crowded stores and above average prices, because with the end of last year's stock, stores readjust prices for the materials that have just arrived.
So the big tip here is: be on your guard.
Compare prices
The golden rule for parents who want to save money on school supplies is called research.
Take a day just to do this. Go to at least three different stationery stores and compare prices. You will see that it is possible to save up to 50% on some items.
In addition to research, it is also worth haggling. Ask the seller for a discount, especially if you intend to buy the material in cash.
And use the internet as an ally. It is possible to make a large price comparison using the network.
Leave the kids at home
It seems a joke, but it is not. Taking children to help buy school supplies can be a shot in the foot for those who want to save money.
That's because there are many commercial appeals to delight children and, consequently, force parents to buy one item instead of another.
So, leave the kids at home, it's better, believe me!
Forget the characters
If you want to save on the list of school supplies then write down this other tip: forget the idea of buying licensed items from famous brands, such as Disney, Cartoon and DC, for example.
A simple notebook, for example, can cost twice the price just because it has Mickey's face printed on it.
Customize
Following the previous idea, the tip now is that you invite your child to personalize the school material.
Thus, you do not need to buy that expensive notebook or backpack and the child still gets exclusive and original material.
On sites like Youtube you can find hundreds of tutorials teaching how to cover notebooks, for example.
Collective Buying
Gather the parents of your child's school and propose to them the possibility of a collective purchase. Materials such as pencils, erasers, sharpeners, rulers, scissors, glue and sulfite sheets, for example, can be purchased wholesale and you can save a lot of money.
Visit used bookstores
Instead of buying new books, what do you think about looking for the titles requested by the school in used bookstores?
In these places it is possible to find works for half the price of a new book.
What Procon has to say
Procon, the main consumer law body, has very clear and defined rules of what can and what cannot happen when purchasing school supplies.
The first of these concerns what schools cannot ask parents for. It is common that at the beginning of the year, schools, especially private ones, send the request for material to those responsible. So far, so good.
What they cannot do is demand excess material, that is, that the student will not use throughout the year, for example, 10 rubbers or 1000 sheets of sulfite.
Federal Law No. 12,886, in force since 2013, also prohibits schools from asking parents for materials for collective use, cleaning or administrative use such as chalk and blackboard pens, printer ink, toilet paper, alcohol, soap and toilet rolls. adhesive tape, for example.
Below is the complete list of items that are considered abusive and cannot be required by schools:
What schools can't ask for
- Hydrogenated alcohol;
- Alcohol gel;
- Cotton;
- School agenda of the educational institution;
- Blowing balls;
- Balloons;
- Whiteboard pens;
- Magnetic board pens;
- Clips;
- Disposable cups, plates, cutlery and tissues;
- Elastex;
- Sponge for dishes;
- Printer ribbon;
- White chalk;
- Colored chalk;
- Stapler;
- Bobby pins;
- Over there;
- Overhead projector marker;
- Medicines or first aid materials;
- Cleaning supplies in general;
- Toilet paper;
- Invitation paper;
- Craft paper;
- Copier paper;
- Candy wrapping paper;
- Paper for printers;
- Flipchart paper;
- Classifying folders;
- Toothpaste;
- Atomic pencil;
- Clothespin;
- Plastic for classifier;
- Roll of kraft adhesive tape;
- Double-sided tape roll;
- Roll of durex tape;
- Large colored durex tape roll;
- Gummed tape roll;
- Roll of scolt tape;
- Soap;
- Soap dish;
- Gift bags;
- Plastic bags;
- Shampoo;
- Printer ink;
- Tonner.
Schools also cannot demand the purchase of specific brand materials, let alone indicate stationers and stores where the materials are to be purchased.
Just like educational institutions, stores and stationery stores also need to comply with Procon rules. According to the agency, it is not allowed to charge abusive prices at this time of year.
If you notice any abuse from either the school or the stores, the advice is to call Procon in your city and make the report.
And Inmetro?
Parents also need to be on the lookout for products that have Inmetro security seals (National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology).
Currently, 25 stationery items are approved for use and safety by the agency. Are they:
- Sharpener;
- Rubber and rubber tip;
- Ballpoint pen / roller / gel;
- Hydrographic pen (marker);
- Crayons;
- Pencil (black or graphite);
- Colored pencils;
- Automatic pencil;
- Text marker;
- Glue (liquid or solid);
- Adhesive broker;
- Corrector in ink;
- Compass;
- French curve;
- Square;
- Normograph;
- Ruler;
- Protractor;
- Case;
- Modeling clay;
- Plastic mass;
- Lunch box / lunch box with or without its accessories;
- Folder with elastic tab;
- Round-tip scissors;
- Ink (gouache, ink, plastic finger painting, watercolor)
Inmetro's seal guarantees the quality of the material, in addition to certifying that it is also safe for the child's use, for example, without containing toxic substances that may cause allergies or materials with sharp or sharp points capable of causing injuries and accidents.
Inmetro also recommends that parents avoid buying material of dubious origin or from the informal market.
How To Make School Supplies List
The list of school supplies will never be the same for all students. That's because everything will depend on the year and grade that the child is attending, the school where he is enrolled and what you can reuse from one year to the next.
But even so, it is possible to plan a list of standard school supplies, taking into account the most used materials for each phase of school life. See the suggestions:
Suggested list of children's school supplies
- brush;
- modeling clay;
- crayons;
- bond paper;
- Glue tube;
- box of colored pencils;
- children's story book;
- Gouache paint;
- Brush
- Assorted papers (crepe, EVA, card)
- Wooden letter game or other educational toy
Suggested list of elementary school supplies
- pencil
- sharpener;
- hydrographic pen;
- pointless scissors;
- gouache paint;
- brush;
- booklet notebooks;
- drawing notebook;
- handwritting book;
- dictionary;
- folders with and without elastic;
- bond paper;
- magazines for clipping;
- case;
- ruler;
- pens;
- books according to the child's age;
- crayons;
- Glue tube;
- box of colored pencils;
- Assorted papers (crepe, EVA, card)
- Wooden letter game or other educational toy
Suggested list of high school supplies
As children grow, the need for materials decreases considerably. Therefore, in high school, it is common for schools to ask only:
- notebooks;
- ruler;
- pencil;
- ballpoint pen;
- case;
- Glue tube;
- box of colored pencils;
- bond paper
It is always recommended that the school hold a parent meeting to deliver the material list. Thus, parents have the opportunity to answer questions, in addition to clarifying and questioning the need for some items.
Parents who feel hurt or notice abuse by the school should turn to Procon immediately.
And then, after everything is properly purchased, just accompany your child in another stage of school life.
