It is inevitable – we spend money that is never reimbursed picking up a few odds and ends here and there to supplement our curriculum. So how can we manage our finances in order to save a few dollars? One way is to take advantage of discounts for teachers. The new year is quickly approaching, and I am guessing you have a few things on your wish list for your classroom. Or maybe you are doing some personal shopping, and you didn’t realize that you could save some money just because you are an educator! I’ve done some snooping around and here is what I’ve found:

My Education Discount is a directory of retailers offering education discounts and teacher discounts to stores where you likely already shop! 1 800 Flowers, Banana Republic, Kmart, Barnes and Noble – you name it, and it is listed. Click on a listing to find what discounts you may receive as a teacher. Check back, because deals do change.

Discount School Supply is like a warehouse of supplies online, with some handy search options. Looking for special needs resources, allergen-free, multi-cultural, bilingual, or some fun summer activity ideas? You’ll find them here in an easy to navigate site.

Teacher Discount Store connects you to teacher supply discount stores in your state. This site is basically a quick link to over 100 Discount Teacher Catalogs.

Oriental Trading Company  is an old stand-by for party decorations and favors, but did you know they also have school supplies. Although not always the highest quality, you get a great deal on useful teaching supplies like pencils and stickers. You can also find curriculum projects and activities, as well as learning aids. If you prefer a hard copy, you can request a free catalog as well!

Happy Shopping!