As the new school year approaches, families in Costa Rica are preparing to purchase school supplies and materials. Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) has released a set of recommendations to help parents and guardians manage their back-to-school shopping more efficiently.
The bank suggests that before making any purchases, families should review what items remain from the previous year, as some supplies such as geometry sets, calculators, or scissors may still be usable. BCR also advises against buying unnecessary items by checking official supply lists provided by the Ministry of Public Education and purchasing only what is required.
Another tip includes creating a detailed shopping list after reviewing needs and comparing prices at different stores. According to BCR, price differences for identical products can be significant between retailers. The bank also encourages shoppers to look for special offers or bundled packages that may be more cost-effective than buying items individually.
Once decisions have been made about where and what to buy, BCR recommends sticking strictly to the prepared list: “If it’s not on the list, do you really need it?”
BCR highlights the importance of planning ahead financially for these expenses. However, if saving in advance was not possible or if additional funds are needed, BCR offers its Plan BCR 0%. This plan allows customers to divide their purchases into installments ranging from three to twelve months.
Plan BCR 0% can be accessed in two ways: through participating merchants by informing them at checkout that the purchase should be applied to Plan BCR 0%, or via a self-managed conversion after making a purchase at any physical or online store—nationally or internationally—by requesting the conversion online for a chosen repayment period.
According to BCR: “The Plan BCR 0% is available through any BCR credit card. Don’t have one and want to get one in minutes without visiting the bank? Apply here.” The plan’s fees are determined according to BCR’s Tariff Regulation conditions. For self-managed conversions, an administrative fee will be charged as a transaction on the first statement following conversion. Purchases transferred through affiliated merchants have no minimum amount requirement; self-managed conversions must be equal to or greater than ¢100,000 or its equivalent in dollars.
Further details about Plan BCR 0% can be found on the bank’s website.
