Anticipate the 2025 school year: our tips for saving now

While summer vacation hasn't even begun yet, it's time to think about going back to school. Because going back to school is expensive: on average, €236 for an elementary school student, €324 for a middle school student. By buying supplies now, or at least before mid-July, you'll save money. The new collections haven't been released yet.

And since you have to sell as many products as possible before releasing new ones, you'll be able to find some great prices. Don't forget to shop around: especially when there are deals on bundles, check that it's really worth it by looking at the unit price, or the price based on the number of pages, for example. Sometimes there are big surprises.

A good way to save money is to reuse supplies. First, sort through your home to see what you can reuse. Instead of buying everything new, look at what's available secondhand. It's even possible to pay nothing at all by donating.

And now is the perfect time because at the end of the year, we get rid of what we no longer need, what hasn't been used. And so, now is the time when you'll have the most options for recovering what you'll need next year. The GEEV app notes a 15% increase in donations made in the school supplies category starting in June.

You can find everything from notebooks, packs of paper, and sets of pencils and markers. You won't have to spend anything, nor are you obligated to donate, but if you do, you'll earn "bananas" and get priority on certain listings.

If you want something new, group buying is a good option. At least one whole class needs the same supplies, so June is the time to talk to the parent representatives to see if it's possible to set up group purchases at the school level. You'll save a lot of money and time. Another advantage: everyone will have the same thing, and your child won't be able to make you buy the latest Pokémon binder for twice the price.