Venezuelan families face significant financial strain as they prepare for the new school year, grappling with soaring inflation and the ongoing repercussions of a recent earthquake. Purchasing school supplies is now a piecemeal process, requiring families to seek discounts and prioritize essential items. The economic crisis exacerbates the challenges, impacting household budgets already burdened by the disaster’s aftermath. Families are forced to make difficult choices about what they can afford as prices continue to rise at an accelerated rate. The situation highlights the enduring economic difficulties faced by many in Venezuela. This year's return to school is less about excitement and more about careful financial calculation for struggling families. The article suggests a bleak outlook for access to education for some due to economic hardship.