How First Year Teachers Can Save For Travel

First year teachers can save for travel and we can show you how! We have some tips to help you, or a new teacher you know, save money for your travel fund. Let’s get started!

Do not run out and purchase everything immediately.

As tempting as it is to buy all the things for your new classroom, wait. There are ways to stock your classroom without breaking the bank.

What is available to you and what is your responsibility to purchase?

Talk to your administrators and team leads. Find out if there are resources to help you purchase things for your classroom. Sometimes it’s just a matter of asking.

If a veteran teacher offers you something take it!

Veteran teachers know which items you will need. If a colleague offers something for your classroom, graciously accept it. This can save you a lot of money. Pro tip – find the price of the item you received and put that money in your travel fund. 

Create an amazon wishlist.

A wishlist can be a great way to save money. Make sure that your district approves wishlists before you create one. If they do, go for it! Share your wishlist with family and friends. Most people will happily help a new teacher. Again, take the money you would have spent and stash it in your travel fund.

Comparison shop.

Put those weekly ads to work and compare prices before you buy. Take the difference and put it in your savings.

Check for teacher discounts.

You would be surprised at the places that offer teacher discounts. Michaels, Target (join their Circle for special coupons), Barnes and Noble, Books a Million, and many other businesses give teachers a discount. Just ask wherever you shop.

School supply sales don’t end in August!

Be on the lookout for clearance sales even after school has started. A lot of stores begin to clearance these things in September to make room for Halloween merchandise. Take advantage and stock up when things are marked down.

Pack your lunch!

Eating out, or even in the cafeteria, everyday can add up. Pack your lunch.  And, if you want to save even more, plan your lunches around the weekly grocery ad. If you want to know more about using the grocery ads to save for travel drop us a line in the comments below!

Do not purchase expensive clothing.

Yes, you want to dress nice, but consider purchasing nice clothes at discount stores such as Marshalls, TJMaxx, and Ross. Remember, you will be working with kids. Things get messy. Dress professionally, but do it on a budget.

Want to learn how to save on school supplies? Check out our video We Learned How to Save on School Supplies.

If you want to learn about budgeting for your trip read our blog post, Budgeting For Travel.

And, remember, break the monotony, not the bank.

–Marnie and Jeff