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A family with two schoolchildren is already counting this August not individual purchases, but how much will be left for the rest of the month. This year's basic set of necessary items for a schoolchild will cost more than 4,000 hryvnias, and that's just notebooks, pens and other stationery — without clothes, shoes or tech. In some regions, the cost of preparing for school can take away almost a quarter of earnings. When you add a backpack, sports uniform and a pair of new shoes to the list, the amount grows to tens of thousands of hryvnias per child. The question is no longer "buy or not," but "how to stretch the budget so that September doesn't start with debt."
The state partially closes this gap for the most vulnerable families: the state has already transferred over 308 million hryvnias to almost 61,000 families, each receiving 5,000 hryvnias per child to prepare for first grade. But for most parents and students, this is a matter of personal planning, not a one-time payment.
Step 1: A list and budget, not a wish list
The main mistake is going to the store without a plan. Divide your purchases into three categories: what you need now, what you can buy later, and what you can realistically do without for another year.
- Need now — items for work or study without which the first week will be uncomfortable. Set a maximum budget and add about 10% reserve for delivery or miscellaneous expenses.
- Can buy later — last-generation tech or clothing that's worth buying after the seasonal rush, when prices drop.
- Can do without — gadgets and accessories that are more of a want than a need this month.
For a workspace, the rule is simple: one quality item that truly improves comfort — a chair or lamp — is more important than a dozen small gadgets bought "just in case." For clothes and shoes, first check what you already have from last year — this is the fastest way to cut your list in half.
Step 2: Seasonal offers — but calculated carefully
On the eve of September 1st, stores and financial services traditionally launch campaigns designed specifically for this spending surge. The online lending service Moneyveo is running the "School Cashback from Moneyveo" promotion this year: under the conditions, clients can take out a Smart loan from 1,500 hryvnias for a term from 10 days and participate in a draw where 5 winners will receive cashback for confirmed purchases — up to 20,000 hryvnias each.
A loan can meet a one-time need — for example, buy tech for learning right away, rather than saving for months. But the same rule applies as with any purchase: before signing the terms, calculate whether the future payment fits into the budget you just created in step 1.
Step 3: Compare, don't just look for a discount
A "-30%" label doesn't guarantee the best price — it only guarantees that the price was reduced from the original, which could have been inflated even before the sale. Check the price at several stores and add delivery to your final calculation. For tech, it makes sense to look at previous-generation models: after new releases come out, they usually get cheaper, and the difference in specs is rarely critical for learning or work.
The short version
- Should you buy everything at once? No — get what's necessary first, secondary items can wait until the rush dies down.
- Is a sale price always beneficial? No — compare final costs at several stores rather than focusing on the discount percentage.
- Should you get last year's tech model? Yes, if the specs match your actual needs, not marketing promises.
- Can you cover seasonal expenses with a loan? Yes, but only after calculating the full cost of the loan and being sure you can repay it on time.
Budget preparation for the new season doesn't start with discounts, but with a plan: a list, a limit, price comparison, and only then — seasonal offers where they truly save money, not create the illusion of savings.
Terms of the Trend credit product
Annual Percentage Rate — up to 769.30% per annum. Loan amount — up to 52,000.00 hryvnias. Term — up to 6 months. Material characteristics of the product and warnings about the consequences of using the product are available on the website moneyveo.ua/uk#loan-types.
LLC "MONEYVEO FAST FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE". NBU License dated 08.03.2024 for the provision of funds and banking metals on credit, indefinite.
If this September you use at least one of these three steps — make a clear list, compare prices at several stores, or wait for the rush to die down — how much of those tens of thousands of hryvnias will you actually be able to keep for the rest of autumn?
