I was curious if anyone knew of any places that offer "teacher discounts" that I should get hooked up w/. I think I remember during my student teaching seminar them mentioning this...is there such out there?
You need to just start asking every place that you spend money at, ask you cell phone provider, mine doesn't but I know of teachers who get a discount. Also check with your insurance company some of them do. You might check with your principal/district when school starts back up, we get a flyer that has a list of different companies every year.
Bookstores!!!! They will be the best bet. hey I even got a discount on my wedding chapel for being an educator!!! (10%) The family that operates it are retired teachers mixed w/ military vets, so can you guess who else got discounts!!!!
Cingular does discounts for some districts... It can't hurt to ask any service provider you use! If you're a member of NEA or your state's chapter, they might have a list as well.
I know Cingular does at least a 10% discount. We already get the military discount though and it's 19%. I need to remember to start asking about discounts whenever I go shopping.
Wow, my husband is in the military--and we always forget to ask about discounts...I need to start doing that w/ my career and the military...Thanks for the advice!
Also apartment complexes often give discounts. I have found 6-10% is common! The also often waive deposits and other expenses.
Does it cost the district money to set up the discount or do they just need to contact the cell companies?
I get a discount at Barnes and Noble (only on items used in the classroom) and at Jo-Ann's craft superstore. I love that stores! They let you use the discount on anything. Also, they give discounts at some school supply stores to teachers.
Wow! I am so glad I looked at this thread!!! I know about Staples and Office Depot, but never would have thought to ask Jo-Ann's!!! How exciting!!
ALong with discounts, do you have to prove you are a teacher? My school took our ID's right before vacation, and now I'm scared to ask for discounts. My sister said they might accept a copy of your pay stub?? But i don't know... what would you all say?
Diddam's (party store) also gives 10% off to teachers. I am only a student teacher and they Insist on giving me the discount
Cell phone companies give "government employee discounts", Verizon is 18%. If you work at a public school, you qualify. I actually got it a few years ago when I was subbing, and that still qualifies you. Call your cell company and ask about it, I just had to fax over a paystub. Also, some hotels discount with your union card, I remember hearing somewhere.
If your county has a website, there's usually a list of local and national stores that offer discounts to teachers in your area. You'd be amazed at how many local businesses are willing to help teachers. I know where I teach, even car dealerships offer discounts to teachers...so search and ask all you can...its worth it!
Koocat008-I was wondering that too! How do you prove you're a teacher? I'm a first year teacher so I don't have a school ID or paystub, or anything. Am I just out of luck?
Office Depot has a Star teacher program. 15% off plus bonus points added for your purchases every quarter, which gives you free gift cards for more purchases!! Go on line and find the nearest store. They will have a special Teacher Breakfast 2nd week in August! Free food, bags, goodies, and coupons, and special sale for teachers only 9-11 am. Staples also has teacher rewards, discount up front, and reward points for gift cards after you earn points. They also will have a special teacher day in August. Never been, don't then they have food! Office Max has Max Rewards, but doesn't give discount up front, you have to earn rewards. JoAnn's Fabric gives 15% and Barnes and Noble gives 20%, but not on textbooks. Borders also has educator discount. AAA auto club/insurance gives discount. Check with your current carrier. I heard GEICO gives good coverage too. Most local libraries will let you take out more than limit books on one topic, and give you more time to keep them. As soon as you start, or have an offer letter, show this to every store manager! Some places will ask for a checkstub or ID. If you talk to your principal or secretary, and ask if you may get their tax ID number, and as long as you are buying things for your class, you get them tax exempt, if you can get a copy of the tax exempt letter!
When I was student teaching I got discounts by showing my nea membership card. We didn't get id cards at my last school so I have shown a paystub and my barnes and noble teacher discount card. I've never had a problem getting a discount.
If you are a first-time home-buyer, you can get a very good interest rate on your mortgage through public school employees' credit union, as low as 5.125% - fixed for 30 years! At least, that's what we have here in California.
Wow! The benefits of the profession keep growing in my opinion! I'm so glad I checked out this thread because I never knew about any of these discounts!
Yes, sign up for more professional organizations, because you will get more discounts. (plus you can deduct membership from your taxes!) Your union dues will definitely give you a nice package of discounts (movies, hotels, entertainment, etc.) As a member of NAEYC, I get a discount to their conferences, and a good discount on their books. I am also a member of Assoc. for Childhood Education Int'l., which provided me with a real good disability insurance plan. So memberships=discounts too! And memberships look good in your personnel file. Let your principal know, when it is review time., and he/she says "Anything you want to add?", pull out all those membership cards and show them you are busy being an advocate for children!
Yes--I am a former university employee (turned student-turned teacher) and we got Verizon discounts for being state employees. Never know until you ask!
I was just looking for some things for my college bound son and found that Big Lots offers a teachers-only discount, contests, and giveaways. Go to www.biglots.com, register (it's free) and be sure and clik the I"m a teacher box. See if one's in your area. I'm going over to check out one in my area this week. Didn't even know it was there!
thanks, I see they also have a teacher's day 8/4! You know Office Depot and Staples will have one also. Check the Office Depot Star Teacher site for your local store dates.
OOOh! I didn't see that. This is our no-sales tax w/e in Missouri for back-to-school, so I'm ready to hit the stores.
the military can get a LOT of discounts (my boyfriend literally asks everywhere we go! haha) you would be surprised..Lowes, Home Depot, Dicks Sporting goods, certain vacation spots, cruises, amusement parks, etc. It doesn't hurt to ask!
I'm glad someone mentioned vacations! A lot of museums and points of interest, like zoos give discounts!
I know Apple (like iPods and such) give discounts to educators! (as for the military discounts...to those who apply...car dealerships give discounts too! We got a $500 rebate! I wonder if they do this for teachers...)
Yeah, you will be the guys standing in line, with two shopping carts! the way we used to do when we were little! Mom had everyone of us standing in line, buying school supply stuff at Walgreens!
Learning Palace (Oregon only?) gives a 10% discount with a $25+ purchase. I watch for Borders Educators Savings Days, which is off your entire purchase, even for personal use (my favorite day!). To show proof, I have found that my insurance card has been good enough. Pay stubs and ID cards are also good enough.
Lakeshore Learning Store... they are spread out all over...Sign up for teacher discount card! They also have teacher workshops, good for CPU's (continuing education units!) No charge!!!
Here are some others: Staples Office Max AC Moore Borders Barnes and Noble Teacher Stores (Lakeshore, The Teaching Room, Educational Warehouse) Check with your Teacher's Union. They shoud provide you with a website address. In NJ, it is www.njea.org. You need to be a member and log in. Then I went to My Member Benefits. Then searched for discounts. Hope this helps!!
My new school district has some connect with Wachovia (bank) that allowed us to get extra perks in our checking/savings accounts when we set it up. Gold's Gym also gave us a great deal (waived the enrollment fee $199) and locked us in at their lower rate. I've never had to show proof of being a teacher - just gave them the name of the district and school. If they do require proof - a pay stub, photo id/name badge, or union membership card should be plenty. Since I moved we just drop the fact that we're teachers everywhere we go - and people usually go "oh, we have a discount for teachers". It's great!
Check out your local teacher stores! I know that when I visited today, I got a flyer for a lot of upcoming promotions and discount days. They have 20% off all Carson Delrosa products on one day, etc.
Teacher Discounts I just posted a question about teacher discounts in another forum. I have since found the "My Education Discount" web site which is a directory of teacher discounts! (myeducationdiscount.com) It looks like all the teacher discounts listed there are for online purchases only...
My apartment complex does this. I didn' thave to pay any of the application and administrative fees and I only had to pay half the deposit.
Books a Million offers teachers 20% off ANYTHING not just stuff for school. Because of this, its my favorite book store. Half Price Books offers teachers and librarians 10% off, which is neat because its already 50% off.
