Friday, September 10 2010

As the nation listened to the plans for the country by Minister of Finance Winston Dookeran yesterday, some parents are still reeling from the budget they planned for their children in preparation for the new academic year.

While back to school shopping can be fun and exciting for children, it has left some parents breathless and out of pocket in their attempt to keep their spending within budget.

The 2010-2011 school year began on Monday and students were ready to enter their schools in new gear and supplies. But the weekend before, parents scoured stores for the best deals.

Seema Seemungal from South Oropouche, whose daughter Chantal entered Form One, said she was not able to stay within the budget she had set for back-to-school shopping.

“I spent a lot of money preparing for Chantal to start school. I had budgeted $3,000 for everything but ended up spending approximately $5,000,” said Seemungal.

She said a lot of the items which she purchased “were very expensive.”

“She wanted all the brand names and I had no choice but to buy it for her because I promised her I would when she passed for her first-choice school,” said Seemungal.

She said she bought Jansport book and lunch bags, Puma shoes, as well as brand-named stationary items for her daughter.

“I did get some of her text books second hand, but most of her books are new,” said Seemugal.

Kristen and Steve Forde from Couva expressed similar sentiments while shopping for their children. They too tried to stick within their budget, but went over.

The Fordes have three children, two of whom attend secondary school while one attends primary school.

“It was hard for us to stay within out budget. We had budgeted $7,000 for back-to-school items for the three children but ended up spending about $8,000. Our youngest child, a boy, is in Standard Four while our two girls are in Forms Two and Four,” said Kristen.

Steve said although most of the text books were passed on, he found other items where more expensive than last year.

“Some of the things which we found more expensive this year were the brand name book bags and shoes. The Jansports and Airwalks were about $200 more than last year,” said Steve.

He said he and his wife decided to buy the brand-named items for their children because “those were what all the kids are wearing.”

The Fordes said they did not mind the extra expense this year because the items were more durable.

“When you think about it, we are spending less than when we buy the brand-names. Usually the shoes and bags do not last the entire school year, but with these items, which are made of better materials, would last the entire year,” said Steve.

Another parent was concerned over the way she went beyond the amount she budgeted for this year. Candice Melandor from Penal, who has two boys who attend secondary school said she had budgeted approximately $3,000.

“Which was approximately what I spent last year,” she noted.

But her actual expenditure at the end of the season was approximately $6,000 on back to school items.

“I found items were a lot more expensive this year. I bought a lot of brand-named stuff this year, which was really expensive.

“I bought things such as Airwalk shoes and Jansport bags, which I did not buy last year. They were really expensive,” said Melandor.

However, she said she was not really concerned about the extra expenses on her this year. “Because at their last end of term exams I promised them if they did well, I would buy them what they wanted. They did exceptional and I am really proud of them,” said Melandor.

Roshni Balkaran of San Fernando joined the other parents as well, by not being able to stay within her budget.

“It did not really surprise me that I was able to because I am hardly able to stay within budgets, but I have to admit that I spent a lot more than I bargained for,” said Balkaran.

Balkaran has three children who attend secondary school.

“My eldest son is going into Upper Six and he is an art student. I had to buy a lot of art supplies for him, which I found was really expensive. Most items have risen by $10 to $20 from what they were last year,” said Balkaran.

She said her only daughter, who entered Form Four, likes the brand names and she (Balkaran) spent a lot of money on those.

“The Jansport book bag and Puma shoes were expensive as well as a lot of the stationery,” said Balkaran.

She said she did not regret having the extra expenses the items she purchased “were what my children really wanted.”

Gabriella Marcasas of Claxton Bay said she was careless in her purchases this year and as a result spent a lot more than she had budgeted for.

“I just bought what my daughter wanted. Next year, I would not do that because from the experiences I had this year, I have leant to spend much more smartly,” said Marcasas.

She explained there were a number of text books which she could have purchased second-hand. “Which would have been a lot cheaper. With things how they are now, we have to be wiser in the way we spend money,” she said.

Although most parents were not able to stay within their budget, Roger Brances of Chaguanas, told Business Day that was not his experience.

“I have one daughter, Candice, who is in Form five. I did not have to buy a lot of things because she used some of her things from last year. Candice is not really into the brand names so that was really good for me,” he said

Brances said he spent about $2,500 and budgeted $3,000 for Candice’s back to school supplies.

“The majority of my expenditure this year was for text books and other additional materials for the CSEC exam. Generally I found things were more expensive this year,” said Brances.