Steemit Engagement Challenge - S7W1 | The Diary Game, 03/01/2023, Back to school, back to reality!
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Hi there!
Spending! That is indeed what I did on this glorious day and although I planned for this day I was shocked at the amount I spend.
The experts say you can divide spending into three groups, interest, mandatory, and discretionary.
My dearest diary I invite you to determine if I’ve ticked all the boxes today.
RISE AND SHINE
Waking up in the early hours of the day is always pleasant. I can understand why Benjamin Franklin, an American polymath, wrote in his autobiography why he get up early and ask himself, "What good shall I do this day?"
Not only is it the time of the day to enjoy the beauty and stillness of a new day unfolding around you but the perfect time to do your planning.
Looking down on my to-do list I had one item that stood out like, “’n seer tand”, as we would say in Afrikaans, a sore tooth.
Back to school, back to reality! Registration and purchasing school uniforms and stationeries, are a nightmare for many moms.
It was clear what I will be doing today.
EARLY MORNING
After a cup of tea, a rusk, and a peak at Steemit I was ready for the task ahead.
Oh yes, I’m not sure if I told you before about rusks or “beskuit” as we call them. It is a traditional South African breakfast meal or a snack. It is a form of preserving bread and started in the 1600s when the settlers packed their wagons and started to explore the inland.
Bread dough is rolled into balls, packed closely together in a baking pan, and then it is baked in the oven. Once baked you break the pieces apart and then slowly bake them for the second time to dry them out. They are delicious when dunked in a cup of coffee or tea.
It was time to order that school uniform.
My son is starting at a new school this year. With our move to Ballito, we could not find him a place in a school that teaches in our home language, Afrikaans, therefore for the last six months of 2022, he attended a small English school. His father is adamant that he must attend school at a bigger school where he can participate in extra curriculum activities and sports.
Ballito is mainly English-speaking with result that there are only two schools where we could enroll him. We choose Curro Salt Rock. Believe it or not, they are only 5 kids in the Afrikaans class.
The school uniform can only be ordered online from one specific supplier. You have to take the measurements yourself and then according to that, you order the size the closest. What a nightmare!
In the end, I decided to only order one set school uniforms and one set of sports clothing just in case the sizes ordered were not correct.
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWHdgXefae4fQdHefms4kvVHfxFoGCpSZujyLiCGgjDcZ/image.png)
STEEM price: 796,959
It was clear that I was one of those parents who had to spend thousands of Rands, (South Africa’s currency) on school uniforms which the Competition Commission is looking into. When you can only order from one supplier they can ask whatever they want as there is no competition.
I was added to a WhatsApp group of moms from the school. As I took my phone to phone the supplier to confirm delivery a message came through that caught my attention.
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A mom was selling three brand-new school Bermuda shorts for R100 (33,052 STEEM) each.
There was no way I was going to leave this bargain even if it did not fit him now. They were one size bigger than the size I ordered from the wholesaler.
From the wholesaler, it would have cost R 319.33 (105,546 STEEM) for one. I bought all three for less than the price of one short.
As the move to our new home is happening in only a few days I had a couple of hours to do some packing while the electricity was down.
With the networks back functioning I received a second message that I was interested in, a mom advertising textbooks for Grade 7 in Afrikaans.
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZN7Jktju8DBQchdf1ZwgWViozDGWAGC6RoC1NQ31c6dD/books.png)
Just what I was looking for. To my surprise, I had to discover that she had the whole set of 7 textbooks and she is giving it away. I’ve just saved R 1,200 (396,628 STEEM).
I suppose I can tell you already, I bought some brownies to give to them to say thank you for the textbooks.
I immediately made arrangements to fetch them from her later in the afternoon.
There was time for an early and quick lunch, hotdogs!
MOM’S TAXI IS ON THE MOVE
Mom’s taxi did some driving to places never before this afternoon.
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As I was about to leave home to go fetch the textbooks and pants, another message came in.
This time from a mom who has three shirts and one pants on offer. She wanted R 500 (165,262 STEEM) for all four the items. Wow! I could not believe my luck. Third time lucky!
By now the stress of the school uniforms not being delivered by the wholesaler in time, before school starts next week, was gone! Some of the items might be a bit big but rather too big than too small.
It was time to get mom's taxi on the move as not only did I have to pick up the textbooks and the clothes but I also had to stop to buy the stationery.
Yip, believe it or not, we have to buy all the stationery. A list that consists of 82 items. The school doesn't supply a single item.
The two most expensive items when you stay in Ballito, are schooling and renting accommodation.
My dearest diary let me show you all the places I stopped at this afternoon.
FROM | ADDRESS | GOOGLE MAPS |
---|---|---|
Mom 1 | 14 San Zingaro, Seaward Estates | Google maps |
Mom 2 | 201 Kingfisher Boulevard, Brettenwood Coastal Estate | Google maps |
Mom 3 | 12 JACKAL BERRY LANE Simbithi Eco Estate | Google maps |
10/10 Stationers | 12 Garlicke Dr, Ballito | Google maps |
Dead tired!
That was how I felt when I eventually returned home with all the goods I bought.
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I don't know if it was from the driving, the amount I spend, the standing for nearly an hour in the stationery shop, or the heat from the heatwave we are currently experiencing that got to me.
Never less, a quick swim cooled me down.
FROM DUSK TO DAWN
After supper, it was time to do a budget vs expenditure "reality check".
If you think that the days purchase cost a lot you will be stunned at the monthly school fees, R 7,200 (2379,773 STEEM).
All that I know is one thing, I am glad I don't have two kids attending school in Ballito.
Back to those three types of spending, do you think buying school clothes fit all three of these types, interest, mandatory, and discretionary?
Interest – Oh yeah! If you have not planned for this expense you will for sure found yourself paying more for the school uniform when you are paying with your credit card.
Mandatory – Wearing school uniforms are mandatory in South Africa except for some private schools leaving you with a budget item on your yearly budget.
Discretionary – If you stay in South Africa the answer is YES. It is an annual spending determined by our government as school uniforms are mandatory in government schools and forms part of education which we as parents can do without.
And now, now it is time to close your pages.
See you soon!
I invite:
@neukyan
@sumon247
@saintkelvin17
- Photos taken with my iPhone8
- Screenshots from my computer
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Greetings friend, I hope you are well 🙏
I am glad to be able to enjoy your content. The history of the cake that you have shared with us is very interesting. It's good to be able to meet her through your content. 👍
School expenses are a headache for all the expenses that we must make. I am very glad that you were able to make good purchases with the shorts and the books, I congratulate you.
During my daughters' school days, I tried to buy little by little some uniforms and I bought second-hand books and the expense was less.
I am very glad to be able to read you. I hope you have a great day ☀️🙏
Hello!
I am well thank you and I trust that you can say the same.
I am slowly but surely catching up with reality after the big move. Hopefully this will be the last move I had to do.
Thank you for engaging with my post and as usual, your great response.
Enjoy your weekend!
Me gusta mucho cuando haces las equivalencias de gastos a STEEMs (no se si te lo había dicho antes) porque así los lectores que no sabemos si la cantidad en moneda local es mucho o poco podemos hacernos una idea basandonos en STEEMs, además me hace soñar con el día que ralmente podamos pagar ese tipo de cosas con STEEM 🥰.
Respecto a los precios por un momento estuve a punto de irme corriendo pero luego recordé que no era yo quien hacía las compras sino usted 😂. En comparación a los precios de por acá están realmente costosos (aunque tal vez por allá sea más fácil conseguir esos montos que por aquí.)
También veo aburrido que no pueda ir a una tienda y escoger entre muchas opciones (lo cual explica por qué se hace trágico para una mujer el hacer las compras).
Por aquí también es obligatorio el uniforme desde que inicias hasta que ingresas a la universidad (ahí ya no lo es y si eres pobre extrañarás el uniforme 😅) pero es obligatorio desde que tengo uso de razón así que ya nadie lo nota, eso sí, puedes ir a una tienda y elegir variedad, mandar a fabricarlo en algún lugar o comprar la tela y hacerlo tu misma, por esa parte creo que estamos bien... por ahora.!!
Saludos estimada amiga, fue un gusto leer tu día ajetreado y acalorado, es bueno de vez en cuando este tipo de días exigentes. 😄
Demanding! You've captured the day in one word and with that you've put a big smile on my face.
Thank you!
What get me down is that there are so many parents that just cannot afford it and those kids are often bullied for wearing 2nd hand clothes. So sad!
It should be the same uniform for everybody but the blazer to be specific to a school.
That will help parents a lot.
Thank you for reading and for you engagement. You never fail in your comments.
At least your son was busy in a school in the past 6 months. Your husband has every right to be adamant because he also want the best for his son. Come on men! I can't be a school that doesn't have a basketball court, I won't learn well naaa. Your son deserves the best dear ma.
You spent alot on your son's head, children are the biggest investment for their parents, that's why we pray for them not to live a bad life and die prematurely, because once they die, our money has wasted. I know the amount my parents has spent on my head as the first son/child that's why am careful with the kind of life am living, even the barbing skill am learning my parents paid more than 120 Steem for me to enroll there.
Am wondering why your son is covering his face😠. Am also wondering why your daughter is not in steemit or is she here? Hmm you are using iPhone 8 ✍️ have noted this.
Resteemed
What a nice comment!
You got me all excited to read it. Thank you!
You are right, kids are our biggest investment in life. My son studied medicine and it cost me, which were 15 years ago, nearly half a million rand.
BUT, as long as the kids appreciate it and make the best of it, we don't mind.
I am sure your parents are feeling the same.
My son is currently on that teenager stage and he didn't want to show his face. Also, my hubby doesn't approve of us posting photos of ourselves.
iPhone8... Hubby bought me a iPhone12 not so long ago but I hated it. I want the navigation button at the bottom. That's one thing, I don't like changes. 🙈
Hence the reason that I sold it straight away. At least I tried it.
And now I have to say goodbye. It is time to get ready for church.
Enjoy your day!
You are the true definition of a mother. Divan must be very lucky to have you. School materials are very expressive even here. You have been able to order for him, but am yet to fulfill mine over here. Kudos to you. I so much love the section of 'mom's taxi on the move, haha! All I can say is, keep up the good work. Your investments in him will surely be repayed. Success
My friend a old lady once told me, "what you put into your children you will get out" and that is so true.
It is the day that we cannot do things for them anymore that we actually realize how fortunate we were.
I know that you are also a wonderful mommy!
First of all, thank you for inviting me to this contest through your post. I also agree with you, waking up early in the day is always pleasant. Early morning weather is very beneficial for our health but most people are sleeping in bed at that time. I came to know about Benjamin Franklin's autobiography through your post. Prayers and love for your child so that he can study happily in his new institution. I learned a lot of information from your post. At the beginning of the year, parents have to think about various things and move forward. You mention every cost along with the Steem price which is really admirable. After a long day after dinner, doing a "reality check" on budget vs. spending that many people may not do. I think you have excellent knowledge about MS Excel. Thanks again for sharing your activity with us @patjewell 😊❤️.
Awh such great response! Thank you!
Yah, budget vs expenditure. I must admit sometimes I get home and I realise that I’ve totally over spsnd.
Those shelfs at the end of the aisles and checkout points are extremely dangerous. :-)
Thanks for the visit and the engagement ☕️
It's my pleasure. Best wishes and loves to you.
How fortunate that you joined the WhatsApp group, it represented a great saving in time and money. The return to school always represents for those of us who are parents a great stress, unfortunately it is an insurmountable situation.
You had a very lucky day with the WhatsApps bargains, although you ended the day dead tired.
It seems that your son was surprised by the long and expensive list of school supplies to the point of covering his eyes, ha ha ha.
Greetings and blessings on this day.
Surprised... nope. Let's call it "teenager syndrome" (•ิ‿•ิ)
If my hair is not right I cannot show my face or...
What if the girls see me posting in my school clothes?..
Can you remember those days? I'm reliving it for the 4th time. 🙈
Ha ha ha ha! Fourth time's the charm.
Greetings.
One of these days I will be able to say.. I am done! (•ิ‿•ิ)
you've shared awesome experience of your economic activities from dawn to dusk. I like the way you've shared receipts of your spending. I would love it some of your selfies with it though its fine the way you've shared. Good luck for this contest dear! stay blessed!
Awh! Thanks for the visit and engagement. It is appreciated.
I must say that it is a shocker when you relook your economic activity for the day. Often we just buy without adding up what we’re spent.
As for that selfie, hubby doesn’t want me to publish photos of us :-(
I am not sure about the sense and nonsense of school uniforms... My children had to wear them in England. They didn't serve the purpose of creating more equality among pupils, irrespective of social status, etc. It was brand-name mobile phones, brand-name shoes or brand-name jewellery that created the visible differences or simply the material of the uniforms (cashmere vs. polyester...) They also did not noticeably create unity and cohesion. So I question the principle of cultivation, like any kind of uniform!
Ich bin mir nicht sicher über Sinn und Unsinn der Schuluniformen... Meine Kider mußten sie in England auch tragen. Den Zweck, für mehr Gleichheit unter den Schülern zu sorgen, unabhängig von sozialem Status etc. haben sie nicht erfüllt. Da waren es dann Marken-Handys, Marken-Schuhe oder Marken-Schmuck, die für die sichtbaren Unterschiede gesorgt haben oder schlicht das Material der Uniformen (Kaschmir vs. Polyester...) Für Einigkeit und Zusammenhalt sorgten sie auch nicht spürbar. Also ich zweifle das Prinzip gepflegt an, wie jede Art Uniformierung!
Best of all... they have one sport class and they come home with one shoe or without the blazer which is just never to be found.
Now, I didn't mentioned it in my post but laptops are now the in thing.
We were told on parents night that although the kids have textbooks they MUST have laptops for submitting tasks. Not just any laptop, it must be touch screen and have the latest Windows.
A 12 year old boy cannot even look after his mobile phone let alone a laptop.
So yah, here we go, another R 10,000 (3,000 STEEM)
Is there a way to get a stipend...? Two of my children had the luck. My daughter via HighQ and one of my sons for sports. I think without this I couldn't realize their educational career.
What counts against him is the 6 months he was in a small “home schooling” school.
He will have to build his reputation. He is also very gifted and hopefully reduction of school fees will be bestowed upon him at the end of the year.
Luckily our daughter at varsity is not costing us 1 cent. She received full sponsorship from the university.
Kids, our biggest investment.
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