KUALA LUMPUR: As schools in most states resume today, many parents scrambled to shop for school supplies at the last minute yesterday.
Checks by the New Straits Times at stores specialising in school uniforms and supplies here and in Petaling Jaya saw many parents looking for bargains.
A mother of two, Nurhazirah Abdul Halim, 46, said she could take her children to shop for their school supplies only yesterday as they were in their hometown of Raub, Pahang.
“They just came back yesterday. That’s why we could do this only today (yesterday). Also, this is the best time to look for bargain deals,” she said.
The housewife, who was accompanied by her husband, said she had two children, aged 9 and 11.
“The cost of school supplies is high and the children grow fast.”
She said she usually bought shoes for her children that were one size bigger so that they lasted longer.
“I usually buy two pairs of uniform for the first year. I will then by one new uniform the next year,” she said.
A father of four, Mohamad Azari Mahmuddin, 42, said he could shop for school supplies only yesterday as he had just received his salary.
“I got paid only today (yesterday), so I decided to take them out to buy their school supplies.
“I couldn’t do it earlier because school supplies for four children cost a lot,” he said, adding that he usually spent an average of RM300 for each child.
Another parent, Mohamad Munir Mohd Asri, 41, said he chose to do his shopping at the last minute as he could get better bargains.
“My wife would usually get the uniforms because she knows their sizes even without them being present. I usually buy the shoes and other supplies.”
He said black shoes for schoolchildren were cheaper than the white ones, with a wider selection to choose from.
Checks showed that a pair of black shoes cost between RM13 and RM16, while a pair of white shoes started from RM20.