Teacher discounts – how to save money
Saving money as a teacher can be a difficult task. With wavering school budgets, you sometimes have to take matters into your own hands. To prepare for your classes and save money, follow our tips and advice.
Plan ahead and save money
As creative professionals, it’s easy to get carried away; we might see some great arts and crafts materials at a great price and buy them without considering what we’ll use them for or whether we actually need them.
With careful planning ahead of time, we can source out the materials we need for the lessons we’ve planned – and only those materials – saving a little money on things we just come across that seem to be a good deal.
If you are fortunate enough to have a class budget, you will also need to consider what will need to be purchased throughout the school year. Examine your long-term plan for subjects such as Textiles, Design and Technology, Food Technology and Art, that are likely to require specific attention.
Be creative and resourceful
Reusing materials and resources in creative ways really does save money.
Some top tips include:
- Reusing backing paper
- Using decorated flowerpots to store pens and pencils.
- Covering Pringle tubes in paper to contain rulers.
- Keeping a scrap paper tray to reduce paper wastage.
- Crafting an old bookcase, using children’s books picked up at a charity shop.
- Using a clothes-drying rack and pegs for drying artwork.
- Using natural objects for maths activities, such as pebbles, conkers and shells.
- Making whiteboards from the paper inside plastic wallets – you can pop number lines or cloze texts inside the wallets, too.
Share ideas
Never be embarrassed to request classroom donations. This could come from family, friends, or the parents of students at your school. You never know where you might find people with useful contacts or access to various materials, such as fabrics, stationery, or even furniture, unless you ask.
Post notices in the staff room as well to advertise any items you require. Colleagues (particularly those teaching older year groups) may have old toys, books, or dressing up costumes that their own children have outgrown. They may not have considered how useful they could be to children in other year groups.
Supermarkets and other businesses may also be able to assist with specific projects. They may even offer food, a store tour, or a free workshop at the school.
Not to mention the good old-fashioned library. Because you can borrow multiple books on one card, you may be able to get a selection for a specific topic and keep them in your reading corner for a few weeks.
When it comes to ideas, it can be tempting, especially as a new teacher, to buy multiple books, schemes, and online subscriptions in search of all the resources you’ll ever need for your year group
Find a great site that is constantly updating and adding to its resources and has all of the resources you require and subscribe to it. Take inspiration from social media, blogs, television shows, and co-workers.
Involving the pupils
Children enjoy a bit of business and involving them in a fundraiser for project supplies gives them a sense of purpose while teaching them about the value of money, how to plan and organise an event, and teamwork skills.
When it is their child’s birthday, some parents get into the habit of sending sweets or treats in with them to share with the class. Encourage children and parents to reconsider this “tradition,” and suggest that when a child’s birthday arrives, they donate a book to the class. Before the class sings “Happy Birthday,” they can explain why they chose this book for the classroom.
Involving the parents
Inspiring talks, guests for assemblies and specialists to run workshops all cost a lot of money and can be a huge drain on the class budget. So, it’s always worth asking parents at the start of the school year whether they might have skills they’d like to share or issues, beliefs, hobbies or jobs they could talk about. If they would be willing to come in for free, you’ve made a great saving.
Purchase wisely
Cheap shops with items for a pound, charity shops, boot fairs and markets all offer an array of affordable treasures. You and a colleague could go together and have a bit of fun.
Online stores also offer used products in great condition; buying used books can be of excellent value.
Better deals are also found when you buy in bulk. Are there items that colleagues may also need, or are there items that you will end up buying again next year (such as little gifts for the Christmas party or end of the school year)? Buying more in one go could save money in the long run.
Saving with teacher discounts
From stationery supplies and mobile phones to gym membership and dining out, from white goods and home insurance to hotels and train tickets, there is money to be saved as a reward for being a teacher.
Union memberships and some local education authorities offer deals, including health care, legal services, mortgage offers and life insurance discounts. Take advantage of these whenever possible.
Use these tips to help save you money. It may be difficult for a teacher to save; however, following these simple tips and advice can help your money go a long way.
For more information on how to save your school money, read our blog here.
