300 Plus for a school starter kit is currently worth PLN 210 in real terms

A new school year is approaching for 4,5 million children. The cost of preparing children for school has increased by about 8% this year in Poland. The real value of 300 Plus is also falling, which currently amounts to PLN 210. However, the real cost of sending a child to school is at least PLN 700-800.

Parents feel the inflation strongly

Children will return to school on September 1. This year, approximately 4,5 million students will start their education in primary and secondary schools. This is, of course, an important event for the children themselves, but also a source of significant additional expenses for the parents. The sale of textbooks, school supplies, clothes, shoes and electronics is also a major source of income for the business. All the more important in a period of lower consumer spending and weaker economic data.

It is not surprising that the cost of a school starter kit for a child will be higher this year than in 2022. Over the last year, prices in Poland increased by an average of 10,8 percent. If we look at individual categories of costs incurred by parents in connection with sending children to school, some of them increased more than CPI inflation. And so, according to the Central Statistical Office, products and services in the education category are more expensive today by 13,6 percent, home furnishings increased by 10,6 percent during the year, clothing and footwear - by 6,9 percent, and books - 4,8 percent. .0,4 percent Only slightly, by 13,9 percent. prices of IT equipment, including computers, have increased. On the other hand, the costs of transporting children to school in their own car decreased, because the price of petrol fell by 8 percent during the year. However, it should be noted that children usually use public transport free of charge. It can therefore be estimated that the cost of sending a child to school this year will be about XNUMX percent. higher than in September last year.

Meanwhile, the benefit from the Dobry Start program, popularly known as "300 Plus", has a lower and lower real value. It is paid annually for each child under 20 in education, regardless of the parents' income. It is PLN 300 and its value has not changed since the launch of the program in June 2018. Despite the fact that politicians recently decided to increasing the 500 Plus benefit to 800 Plus from the new year. Currently, the real value of 300 Plus is PLN 210 (70% of the original value) in June 2018 prices, while a year ago it was PLN 233.

300 Plus is not even enough for textbooks

The real, wider costs of sending a child to school are several times higher and amount to at least PLN 700-800. A set of school books alone costs from PLN 500 to PLN 800. It can be reduced by buying used textbooks for PLN 200-400 per set, but due to the frequently changing core curriculum, this solution will not always work. It is also important to wear a sports outfit and shoes for PE, and it is a minimum of PLN 200. The cost of notebooks, a backpack and a pencil case is another expense that often exceeds PLN 300. Many parents on the occasion of the new school year also buy a desk (and sometimes all the equipment of the child's room) and a computer or tablet.

Increased parents' expenses mean additional revenues and profits for trading companies and producers. According to data from American market (National Retail Federation) back-to-school period is the second, after Christmas, time of increased consumer spending. The average US student's family declares that this year they will spend an average of USD 890 (approx. We will see how these spending will actually develop, and their level will be a test for American consumers and the economy. Which still has a period of slowdown ahead of it.

About the author

Pawel Majtkowski - analyst eToro on the Polish market, which shares its weekly commentary on the latest stock market information. Paweł is a recognized expert on financial markets with extensive experience as an analyst in financial institutions. He is also one of the most cited experts in the field of economy and financial markets in Poland. He graduated from law studies at the University of Warsaw. He is also the author of many publications in the field of investing, personal finance and economy.