The smallest expenses are now being counted in our miserable country. Who would have thought that a Lebanese person would one day have to budget for even the most trivial costs like paper and pencils? This is indeed what is happening, as there is no longer a place for the poor in the country, despite them being the majority. A clear example of this concern is the burden that every parent faces as the back-to-school season approaches. It's not just about the tuition fees, which have soared in fresh dollars beyond the capacity of many; it's also about much simpler items, which should be a given.
With the worsening economic crisis, parents are now thinking about "payments in advance" and preparing for them. This is confirmed by Sanaa, a mother of two, who shares that she has been preparing for the upcoming school year by gradually purchasing necessities so she can afford them all. She tells MTV: "Each month I pass by an item because all prices in dollars exceed our ability, while our salaries are still in Lebanese pounds. I don’t want to deprive my children, but even the least expensive item costs half my salary, and I’m forced to secure them."
This scene reflects the peculiarities of the crisis, so we inquire about prices, and here comes the shock: imagine that the price of a school bag reaches one million lira! This figure has become something we must get used to as a less-than-normal price for basic and everyday items.
One bookstore owner explains through our platform that prices remain the same as before but are now in dollars, and that's where the problem lies. According to him, the price of a bag ranges between $10 and $30, while a pencil case costs between $0.75 and $3, and notebooks, depending on the number of pages and size, range from $1 to $4 or $6. This is just a sample of what parents can expect in bookstores, knowing that prices are likely to rise as the school year approaches.
Additionally, the bookstore owner points out that consumption has decreased significantly, and many parents now resort to installment plans and buying "by the piece," compared to their previous bulk purchases, stating: "They are buying the simplest things possible for the kids just to manage."
With each passing day, the situation becomes more complex... Are we saying goodbye to school supplies as well?
