Carnival became 15.5% more expensive in 12 months. See prop options to save

After two years without blocks officially parading in Rio because of the pandemic, revelers return to the streets this year with an animation saved for many months. But the Carnival is more expensive: in the last twelve months alone, items related to revelry accumulate a 15.5% increaseabove the 4.62% inflation registered in the period, according to calculations by the Brazilian Institute of Economics of the FGV (Ibre).

For those who are going to enjoy the weekend away from home, the weight in their pockets is greater. The increase in airline tickets is 58.83%, the highest among the 26 items surveyed. Long-distance bus trips are also more expensive (6.44%), as well as hotel reservations (9.85%). For those who are going to face the revelry in the streets, eating out went up 7.71%. Revelers who can’t do without beer to cool off in the blocks will pay more: 7.54%. Mineral water and soft drinks rose 8.17%.

And it doesn’t stop there: those who intend to opt for alcoholic beverages in processions will also find higher prices for gastroprotectors (6.77%), which include liver remedies, allies in hangovers. Already contraceptives, such as condoms, rose 11.57% in the last 12 months.

Ibre economist and responsible for the study, Matheus Peçanha assesses that the return of suppressed demand in the last three years helps to explain the increase in prices of items related to Carnival, with an increase above the general average inflation.

– Throughout 2022, this growing demand increased pressure on service prices, such as food in bars and restaurants, which during the pandemic could not be readjusted. Greater price pressure is natural. We came with very pressured costs in 2020 and 2021 and last year a growing, heated demand, even with the average population having a very weak income – he analyzes.

With the most expensive revelry, creativity is needed not only to think about the costumes, but also to plan the Carnival budget. To save money, the solution found by students Mariana and Luiza Dorneles, aged 18 and 19, and Maria Manuela, aged 18, was to make a “crowdfunding” to assemble a shared wardrobe of costumes, used in rotation by the three during the revelry .

Each of them gave R$60 and, together, they bought the props to parade in blocks in Rio dressed as a pirate, policeman, sun, cupid and fairy.

“That way it’s not so expensive for any of us and we wear costumes every day,” explained Luiza.

The trio went to Sahara to buy the accessories. The commercial center in downtown Rio has most of the stores dedicated to the sale of carnival products, from confetti, serpentine, glitter and complete costumes to separate accessories for each person to make the costume the way they prefer.

But some items are preference. Thematic bows, such as the sun or the unicorn, are highly sought after, but those that send messages break sales records: there are options from those with the names of hits, such as the song “Malvadão”, by the rapper Xamã, to the more direct ones. , with the “alert” of “Solteira”, “Married” and “I love beer”. The props cost, on average, R$ 4 to R$ 6, depending on the store.

An essential item to keep your cell phone, wallet and other belongings during the procession, the fanny packs and moneybags are also very popular, costing from R$ 15 to R$ 25. There are more discreet options, in a single color, and also more colorful ones and shiny, which already serve as part of the costume.

In a store that normally sells underwear, the prominent mannequins are now displaying hotpants (high-waisted bikinis) and crop tops. Smooth, shiny, metallic and different colors, the sets cost from R$ 30 to R$ 80, and are an option for those who want to enjoy the revelry without feeling too hot.

– The whole crowd is looking for the set, in various colors. We replace it and then it runs out – says saleswoman Walkíria Farias.

Fan to withstand the heat

Another cheap option is to use sheets of rubberized paper, EVA, to make props such as bows and plaques with a fantasy theme. It was the way out found by student Daphne Andrade, 21 years old.

– I’m going out dressed in matte with lemon, with the EVA plaque and the orange and green hotpant and cropped set, but I’m still looking – she said.

There are still those who choose just a themed swimsuit: for R$ 19.90, there are options that play with brands of candies, chocolates and drinks.

“My boyfriend and I are leaving Kinder Ovo and Biscoito Globo,” said 36-year-old lawyer Diogo Elias.

To withstand the strong sun and the heat of the processions, sunscreen cannot be left out and visors are also good allies. In Saara, models range from R$15 to R$30, depending on the material.

Retired Mari Rosa, 61 years old, does not leave aside her fan to face the intense schedule of parades during Carnival:

– I’m going to go out dressed as an odalisque in the Alegria da República parade in the Centre, and I have to take the fan to alleviate the heat – says Marli, who, despite being Portelense, will also parade for Unidos da Tijuca in Sapucaí.

To enjoy without headache

On the streets, revelers need to be careful not to become victims of common scams at this time of year. The Brazilian Federation of Banks (Febraban) warned that the crowding and distraction when paying for drinks or food, for example, make it easier for bandits to apply the card exchange scam. In the crime, the scammer pretends to be a street vendor and takes advantage of a moment of distraction by the buyer and pays attention to the password being typed, and returns a different card.

The entity recommends that the person insert the card in the machine and check if the returned card is really yours. Also, it’s important to ask for the receipt to check the value. And if the seller informs you that he needs to swipe the card again, be suspicious and check in the bank app if there was any charge.

Another very common problem in the blocks is the theft of cell phones. Therefore, it is better to avoid writing down access passwords in notepads or WhatsApp messages, for example, which can be accessed by thieves if the device is stolen or stolen unlocked.