Autumn is the beginning of a new academic year at school. Usually, in September, students in most European countries sit down at their desks again. However, such an event requires some preparation, including the purchase of school equipment. Find out in which European countries school supplies cost the most and how you can save on them

Getting your child to school is an important stage in preparing for the new school year, and one of its main parts is buying the necessary supplies. Also, such purchases can significantly affect the family budget of many families. To understand the prices, Euronews did an analysis and found the countries that pay the most for pens and notebooks.

In which European countries is school equipment the most expensive? Price comparison and tips on how to save in our new article.

In which European countries are the most expensive school supplies?

The analysis found that countries with lower wages, such as Italy and Spain, surprisingly pay more on average for basic school equipment, compared to citizens of countries with stronger economies such as France, Germany and the UK.

In general, in the European Union as a whole, the average price of stationery and drawing materials, as well as children's clothing and shoes, increased by 2.0% - 2.5% in 2024

What school supplies were taken for comparison?

20 basic school supplies such as pencils, pens, erasers, markers, felt-tip pens, pencil cases, notebooks, diaries, drawing pads, scissors, etc., were taken to evaluate the cost of school equipment.

All these products are sold either in supermarket chains or in school stores with the same price range.

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In which European country is the most expensive school equipment?

In 2024, Italy became the leader in terms of the cost of school equipment. To send a child to school, an Italian family must spend about 11% of their monthly income or 202.71 euros. And this is under the condition that they will buy a minimum of goods, not including textbooks.

Overall, prices for school supplies in Italy increased by 6.6% compared to 2023. Backpacks, pencil cases and diaries turned out to be the most expensive.

What other countries made it to the ranking of countries with the highest prices for school supplies?

In addition to Italy, which topped the top five European leaders in terms of the cost of school supplies, preparing for school will also be expensive in:

- Spain: 9.24% of the family budget or 190.32 euros.

- Germany: 7.1% or 185.78 euros.

- Great Britain: 5.65% or £162.68/€193.49.

- France: 4.84% or 140.34 euros.

The reason for the rise in prices for school equipment in Europe

The increase in costs in Spain can be justified by the high rate of inflation, in June the country became the second fastest growing country in the EU, but this cannot be said about Italy, which was on the bottom rungs of this rating. Federconsumatori, the national association of Italian consumers, condemned the significant increase in the prices of school necessities.

Textbook prices in Europe

Although the price of textbooks usually varies from school to school, they are also a significant part of the costs for schoolchildren's families: a set of books costs an average of €591.44 in Italy and €491.90 in Spain. Such prices are the highest in history. In general, compared to last year, the cost of textbooks increased by 42.67 euros.

What is the situation with prices for school supplies in other EU countries?

- In Germany, prices for school supplies increased by 5-13% from 2022 to 2023.

- In Great Britain, the basic school kit has generally become more affordable. However, unlike most countries, uniforms remain compulsory in all British schools. It costs extra, around £422 (€500) more.

- The best situation is in France, where the purchase of a basic school kit costs less than 5% of the average salary. In addition, the Confédération Syndicale des Familles (CSF) reported an overall decrease of 6.8% in French household education spending in 2024. The French Ministry of Education also urged schools to limit their requests.

How have the prices of children's shoes and clothes changed?

Compared to July last year, the price of children's shoes fell in several EU countries this July, while in Hungary it slightly increased by 1.9%, according to Eurostat. Luxembourg, Croatia and Romania are the countries where the price of children's shoes increased the most during the year.

The prices of clothing increased the most in Greece, Germany and Romania.

How can you save money when buying school equipment in Europe?

1. Take the time to shop for school supplies, including checking out both offline and online stores, comparing prices, and looking for stores that offer discounts. However, when choosing products in online stores, do not forget to add the cost of delivery to the price.

2. Ask the teachers which materials are needed immediately and which can be delayed. After the start of the new academic year, prices usually become lower, certain promotions and sales appear. Therefore, the purchase of a certain number of things will be possible later.

3. Look for brands that offer discounts, some may have a promotion before the start of the school year, and others throughout the year. This usually applies to the purchase of appliances, clothing, online subscriptions, etc.

4. Unite into several families, make bulk purchases, and divide the costs among everyone. In this way, you can significantly save on the purchase of school supplies.

Preparing for school is an important period in the life not only of the student, but also of the whole family, so it is worth learning more about the possible expenses and being ready for them so that the new school year brings only joy.

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