Yearly school costs escalate: What amount will parents dish out in the current year?
In the upcoming school year, parents in Russia are gearing up for back-to-school expenses. However, there is no publicly available detailed figure for the expected spending or the largest expenditure categories for 2025.
Given the substantial investment by the Russian government in education, particularly in secondary education, and global trends that suggest back-to-school expenses typically include items like school supplies, uniforms or clothing, and electronics, it's likely that major anticipated expenses by parents will cover similar categories.
These might include school supplies, uniforms/clothing, and possibly educational materials or services, though exact costs and proportions in Russia remain unreported in these sources.
According to the "Orange" loyalty service, parents might spend an average of 17,925 rubles on back-to-school expenses. Last year, the average cost for clothing and footwear alone was 24,919 rubles. Other expenses can include teacher's flowers, voluntary sponsorship contributions, workbooks, etc. For first-graders, the cost can be particularly high due to the need for a full set of new items.
The Federal Antimonopoly Service had already called on sellers not to raise prices during the traditional peak demand period before the start of the school year. Despite this, expenses have increased by an average of 7% compared to last summer due to the increase in prices for almost all school goods.
Nina Ostаniна, the head of the State Duma committee on family protection, has sent a request to the vice-premier regarding the reasons for the price increase and measures to ensure the affordability of school supplies. The "Check Index" analytical center reported a similar average cost of 16,219 rubles for a basic set of school supplies in June-July.
As children grow older, parents become more experienced and shop more selectively and economically. In high school, 44% prioritise purchasing gadgets (laptops, phones, and tablets) and sportswear (67%).
For those looking for tips on how to choose a quality school uniform and avoid being fooled, several articles offer advice. VCIOM monitors, published closer to September 1st, provide a more realistic estimate of back-to-school expenses.
Approximately 48% of Russians have children or grandchildren of school age, and 28% of survey participants plan to spend 25,000 rubles or more on back-to-school expenses. Stationery can add up quickly, with individual items being relatively inexpensive but the total cost being significant.
As the new school year approaches, parents in Russia are advised to budget carefully and keep an eye on prices to ensure they get the best value for their money.
Persons responsible for personal-finance in Russia may find themselves allocating a significant portion of their budgets towards education-and-self-development, given the increasing back-to-school expenses. These might include school supplies, uniforms/clothing, educational materials or services, and possibly electronics, although exact costs and proportions remain unreported.
