Teachers often have to manage their finances carefully, as teaching can be a rewarding but financially challenging profession. If you are struggling to balance finances, remember to reach out to a trusted colleague or line manager.

Here are 15 teacher money saving tips:

1. Finance health check: Start by checking your income and expenses. This will help you keep track of your finances and identify areas where you can cut back. Check especially those sneaky app subscriptions and direct debits. Put reminders on your phone to cancel before you are charged annually for something you no longer use. Make sure you check these on your Apple and Paypal accounts as well as they are not as obvious as bank direct debits.
2. Take Advantage of Educator Discounts: Many retailers and businesses offer discounts to teachers. Always ask if there’s an educator discount when making purchases, whether it’s for classroom supplies, clothing, or dining out. your union membership will give you money off various establishments.
3. Use Free or Low-Cost Teaching Resources: Utilise free or low-cost teaching resources available online or through your school. Don’t buy something you can print and laminate. Buy second hand where possible and claim back from school.
4. Check your eligibility: Look for grants, scholarships, and funding opportunities that can help you cover professional development costs. Some of you may even be eligible for universal credit, especially if you are a part-time single parent.
5. Take Advantage of Tax Deductions: Union and professional fees are tax-deductible. They will also backdate payments.
6. Use Public Transportation (if cheaper) or share lifts: If possible, use public transportation or share with colleagues to save on commuting costs
7. Pack Your Lunch: Packing your lunch instead of buying it can save you a significant amount of money over time. Plan your meals and snacks for the week to avoid impulse purchases.
8. Be creative: Check out Pinterest for amazing upcycling ideas for classrooms (although don’t compare yourselves to these classrooms – Pinterest teachers clearly have no life!). My favourite is using fabric as backing paper as it doesn’t get staple holes and lasts for ages! Etsy can also be cheaper than conventional outlets.
9. Clothes: I have a designer wardrobe and a shoe problem and I bought it all second-hand for a fraction of the cost (rather than save money I just bought 3 times as much though…). Haven’t looked at Vinted yet as it won’t help save me money, but apparently, it’s great!
10. Explore Summer Employment or Side Gigs: Many teachers take on part-time summer jobs or side gigs during school breaks to supplement their income. This extra income can help you save or cover expenses. Not that you’ll have much energy for this! A fun side hustle may turn into a full-time job though (like my company!) so you can build it up on the side while you are working (who needs sleep anyway…).
11. Shop Smart for Personal Expenses: Look for sales, use coupons, and comparison shop for personal items like groceries, clothing, and household goods. On online shops such as Amazon, filter search results from lowest to highest cost rather than simply choosing what they suggest! Consider joining loyalty programs for extra discounts.
12. Explore Professional Development Opportunities: Seek out free or low-cost professional development opportunities, such as webinars, workshops, and online courses, to improve your skills without a hefty price tag.
13. Refinance Loans: If you have loans, explore options for refinancing to potentially lower your interest rates and monthly payments. Be sure to research the terms and conditions before making any changes. Check to see if you can balance transfer credit cards. If you are in debt you can seek proper advice from the Citizen’s Advice Bureau.
14. Build an Emergency Fund: Start building an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses. Having a financial safety net can help you avoid going into debt when unexpected costs arise. Even £25 a month adds up! You may also want to start an extra pension plan to help you escape at 55…
15. Set Financial Goals: Establish clear financial goals, whether it’s saving for a holiday, paying off debt, or saving for retirement. Having goals can motivate you to make smarter financial choices.

Finally, if you are a headteacher, it might be worth finding out about the financial hardship some of your staff face, Is there something the school can do short term? Perhaps offer a lunch if staff eat with pupils or similar initiatives. Let staff know that you would like to know if they are struggling.

Financial stability takes time and with the cost of living, a constant uphill battle. If you are experiencing issues, Education Support may be able to help as well.

Start by implementing a few of these teacher money-saving tips, considering if you really need the thing and gradually incorporate more of these ideas as you become more adept at sniffing out bargains!