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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that €80 for school books for a FOUR year old is a bit much.

137 replies

BarbieLovesKen · 25/06/2010 22:15

Just a rant really, I know we're all in the same boat but for God's sake!!. DD is starting school in September, got her book list yesterday. Got all her books (exactly €79) and further €65 for her uniform today.

Havent got school bag, school shoes etc yet.

€20 for photocopying to school for the year and €20 for arts and crafts for the year.

Probably the norm for most of you and well used to this, but forgive my being so naive - shes my first to start school so I never realised before.

Feeling really sorry for all of those with more than one to send to school this year - not to mention the older children. Bit shocked really!!! blah..

OP posts:
MrsHarkness · 25/06/2010 22:22

No offence but glad I dont live where you live, we dont pay for the books, the photocopying or the arts and crafts, just pay for the uniform the bag, pencils etc and shoes. poor you, I'd have a moan too, YANBU

Reallytired · 25/06/2010 22:23

Is this a private school. My son's school never charged for books.

I don't think that £65 is unreasonable for uniform if it includes everything. You would have to buy clothes for your daughter if seh wasn't at school.

Wait until they start asking you to pay for outings and "voluntary" contributions to X,Y and Z.

Original poster
BarbieLovesKen · 25/06/2010 22:23

Thank you MrsHarkness . Im in Ireland - you dont pay for school books??? are you? its hardly the UK?

OP posts:
Meglet · 25/06/2010 22:24

A book list for 4 year olds [thud]

Original poster
BarbieLovesKen · 25/06/2010 22:25

Reallytired - yeah, the outings etc are what Im dreading!! (thats sounds very mean actually)

No, no not a private school - actually I dont even know if there are private national schools over here. Didnt think uniform was bad actually - it was 3 for 2 which was great, its just when all added up...

Again, I cant imagine having to send 3...

OP posts:
lilllysa · 25/06/2010 22:27

Holy CRAP thats expensive!!

DD is 4 and we got uniform and all that but havent had to pay for any books!

Nightmare!

pooka · 25/06/2010 22:29

What happens if you can't afford to buy the books on the book list?

I could see that being a problem at dd's school. Thankfully books are provided at dd's english state school (thought was the norm). Also photocopying, arts and crafts. Book bags are given to each new starter by the PTA. We don't have to send them with pencils or pens or stationary.

So just the uniform and shoes to buy.

MrsHarkness · 25/06/2010 22:33

Yes Im in the UK, (Scotland) so only over the water to you, my daughter in now in High School and I have never had to pay for any of her school books.

Original poster
BarbieLovesKen · 25/06/2010 22:33

You see now Im amazed cos I honestly thought this was the norm for everyone - that I was completely ignorant as shes my first to send..

Where do the books come from then? (confused) are they provided by the school?

Now that I think of it, last year at work I had heard a guy I work with complaining that it had cost him 500 to send his 6 year old to school and 1000 for his 16 year old, he had lived in the UK for about 10 years and said it wasnt done like this - I thought it was urban myth really. Just cant imagine it.

Also was shocked when I seen documentary on NHS!! We have to pay €50 for every doctors visit for each of us and up to €1000s, God forbid if one of us needed hospital or consultant care, because of this we pay €80 per month health insurance for myself and 2 dc (but only get half of GP visits back at end of year).

God, I need to move, dont I?

OP posts:
MrsHarkness · 25/06/2010 22:38

Yes all my daughters books are provided by the school, Its funny because I always envied one of my old school friends when she moved to Ireland, she now has 4 kids, after hearing this I dont envy her as much!

Original poster
BarbieLovesKen · 25/06/2010 22:38

Pooka - I am so amazed by that!!!! unbelievable!.

I dont know what would happen to be honest, suppose you'd just have to find a way. My mother was a lone parent and times were tough, I remember my secondary school at the time ran a book scheme, where you could rent books for the year and give them back for about 70 quid (as opposed to about 250 to buy them all), also 40 for photocopying. We didnt have it and teachers just kept badgering me til they received it. Was so embarrased. She had to borrow from a family member.

I think there is a back to school allowance that some families if really struggling, but since my mother didnt get it I really dont know what the criteria is.

OP posts:
Original poster
BarbieLovesKen · 25/06/2010 22:39

definately dont envy her. I know everyones suffering at the minute but wages are coming down at a shocking rate over here (us, down 920 a month and definately not high earners) but obviously cost of living not...

OP posts:
dmo · 25/06/2010 22:40

you pay for all that???????????
in the primary school my children went to all you had to pay for was milk £5 per term and parents moaned over that

Original poster
BarbieLovesKen · 25/06/2010 22:43

Just looking at her list.

Shes doing English -

3 different reading books and
2 English workbooks
1 phonics book

1 maths book

1 Gaelige (Irish) book

1 SPHE book

1 Religion book

1 Music book

(3 project copies, pencil case, pencils etc, crayons..)

School bag and lunch box.

OP posts:
Original poster
BarbieLovesKen · 25/06/2010 22:44

dmo.... yep! again - I thought all parents were paying this and was just having a moan.. now Im quite annoyed actually!!!.

Oh God... milk... forgot about that.. groan..

OP posts:
NeverPushWhenItSaysPull · 25/06/2010 22:45

Am also in Ireland. I was when I got DS's bill for books too. €75 including some books that are rented. I'm afraid to price his uniform! Am waiting for a hospital bill for him for 2 nights: €150, I think.

YANBU

Original poster
BarbieLovesKen · 25/06/2010 22:47

Your poor thing Neverpush. What age is your DS?

OP posts:
NeverPushWhenItSaysPull · 25/06/2010 22:50

Also four, also starting school in September. Free education my arse

Original poster
BarbieLovesKen · 25/06/2010 22:55

Its laughable isnt it....

FOUR year olds...cant imagine having teens now and I wanted a big family...

OP posts:
Ingles2 · 25/06/2010 22:55

Christ Alive! I had no idea you had to pay for all this stuff in Ireland... This is Southern Ireland right?

Original poster
BarbieLovesKen · 25/06/2010 22:57

Yeah it is!

OP posts:
Meglet · 25/06/2010 23:01

you pay for the doctors? .

Original poster
BarbieLovesKen · 25/06/2010 23:07

Meglet, I cant believe you dont!! funny too.. just across the water..

OP posts:
NeverPushWhenItSaysPull · 25/06/2010 23:07

€55 to visit GP at his surgery, extra for whatever medication he prescribes. €75 per night for hospital stay (don't want to frighten you with private fees) up to a maximum of €750.

montmartre · 25/06/2010 23:08

There was another discussion about this on a thread recently- for secondary it was about €350... and the consensus was that if your parents couldn't afford it then you went without, and probably struggled, then dropped out

They were also talking about the fact that in some areas the tap water isn't drinkable so you have to buy bottled... I was astonished that this was Ireland they were talking about.