Packing a Lunch…or….Pennies Add Up to Dollars

 
There are several ways I save money by taking my lunch that don’t end up costing me too much time.  The last thing I need is one more thing to add to my to-do list!
 
On Sunday, I brew a large pot of coffee. Since I’m the only one who drinks it, I have my first [...]

Academic Quiz Bowl Frugal Alternatives

Let’s face it, teachers are competitive people and as such, we want our students to do their best when competing in academic quiz bowls.
 
But who has a budget that will allow for a $400 buzzer system like the Geosafari Quiz Bowl?
 
Part of training kids to be part of an academic quiz bowl game is helping [...]

Educational Video on the Cheap

Let’s face it. Not all our schools have a budget that allows for high-dollar membership in great online teaching resources like United streaming.  What are the rest of us to do?
Well, your school may look at an extremely stripped down version such as learn360 It doesn’t have the lesson plans or full-length videos, but at [...]

How I Started My Intensively Planted, Organic, No-Till Garden on Hard Clay Soil With Weeds (or “Diary-of-Someone-Who- Saves-Tons-of-Money-by-Growing-Their-Own-Food”)

 
I started by laying cardboard down on top of the grass where I wanted my garden.  Then I threw all kinds of leaves, grass clippings etc. on top.  After a few months, I cut holes in the cardboard, dug a hole and planted a plant with some good compost (spread the poor soil over the [...]

Cleaning White boards

Speaking of whiteboards, how about cleaning them cheaply?  I like to either use a 100% water spray (recycled spray bottle) with paper towels, or, I mix a small amount of alcohol in with the water for extra oomph. The alcohol helps dry the board.
 
If you are really interested in tested methods of cleaning whiteboards, read [...]

Small Whiteboards for playing Games

Classroom games are fun ways to learn and review, but often purchasing the materials can add up.  Each year I try to add to my arsenal so that student interest is constantly being stimulated. There are old standbys we always play, but I add new games that are specifically related to one area or another.
While [...]

Classroom Set-up and Design

     I think the classroom environment is very important to learning. One aspect of it, classroom design/decoration, can be handled frugally if you utilize many resources.
 
     Use craigslist and freecycle to ask for items for your classroom.  Teachers (and parents) everywhere have things shoved in closets that they would love to get rid of.
 
    I [...]

Eliminate debt

Today’s post is about saving money at home–a good thing whether or not you are a teacher!  Because teachers are used to researching things, they tend to have great ideas about stretching a dollar! I’ve learned a lot by watching my coworkers.
Personally, I believe that you should eliminate debt from your financial picture.  That way, [...]

Free Starbucks Coffee during the Month of September

Starbucks is offering teachers free coffee until September 28.  Take proof that you are a teacher (badge, certified teacher information) with you and get a tall size (12 fl. oz.) cup of coffee every Monday throughout the month of September.
 
     It’s nice that businesses like Starbucks recognize how important teachers are and how hard their [...]

Gift from the Printer

     Recently I was at a local printers making and enlarging a copy from an old photograph I have of our town. (note frugal tip for another post….)
 
     When the store clerks learned I was a teacher, they gifted me with a box of paper scraps that they had accumulated.      They said that the store [...]