10 Tricks to overcome the “September slope”. From the Organization of Consumers, OCU, practical advice is given to help families with school-age children in order or them to know how to absorb all the extra expenses related to the beginning of the new course. As we know that the return to school is a difficult period for a family´s economy, we would like to share those advices to you hoping that they will be helpful
1. Recycling the material.
Kids go crazy about buying brand new bags. However before buying them you could have a look at last´s year bag and check if they still are in good conditions and what is really missing in order to purchase only what is really necessary.
2. Little by little.
It is not necessary to buy all the material on the first day, it can be spread out according to the real need of your child at each moment of the course.
3. Blessed discounts.
The law allows for discounts on the sale of primary and secondary books. Therefore, f we compare prices, you can see a big difference between some shops and others.
4. Second hand and recycled.
Another very valid option is to go to the second-hand book market. More and more parents are organizing themselves on teaching material exchanges platforms. Of course, it is very advisable to reuse and recycle clothes and shoes as well.
5. Pay for the brand?
It is very appropriate for parents to consider, if the brand is an essential requisite for the use of some chosen material. In some cases, it can be profitable but in others not so much. The syndrome of “Marquismo”, in other words being posh, on average costs us 30% more than white labels products.
6. Low cost uniforms.
You have to take advantage of the offers when buying more than one unit. Some shops apply a “get the third for free” “buy one and get one free” or any other bundles purchase so that you can get a better price for a pack of socks, shirts, etc … than if you buy them individually.
7. The seam returns.
In order for the garments to have a longer life, it is advisable to incorporate knee pads or to put hems. This way clothes can be reused for next year, adjusting the clothe to your child´s growth instead of buy a new one.
8. Forecasting better instead of making a credit.
If you forecast you costs and you save a little bit throughout the year in order to face the return to school, you will avoid falling into the fast credits and interest on you credit cards, which only ends up increasing the final cost of your purchases.
9. Be cautious.
Keeping you invoices is necessary if you want to claim for an imperfection on your product or if we need a full refund. Also keep you receipt in case you can deduct those expenses.
10. Subsidies and tax relief.
For books and material, food or transportation … The administration can help you save a lot of money. Depending on each Autonomous Community, it is also possible to deduct some of these expenses in your Personal Income Tax. The benefit can be between 5% to 15%.
Madrid is one of the autonomous regions which allows to deduct this type of school expenses as well as the uniforms for children of early educational stages.
For Chapín the most important thing is the safety of the little ones.
You can request a quote for the rental of buses or coaches in the Community of Madrid at the link https://grupochapin.com/en/request-a-quote/