Do HSers get teacher discounts?

[merpk]

My DH is a public school teacher and with his ID can get discounts at Barnes&Noble, various stationery & business supply stores like Staples, things like that.

Do homeschoolers have that possibility, too?

[Elphaba]

yes. i used to work at borders and we always gave homeshoolers the teacher discount. you have to have some kind of "proof" though. call the store and ask a MANAGER exactly what document(s) you need to bring in to get your teacher discount card. sometimes it's a membership card to a homeschooling group.

[SagMom]

Some places do. It depends on the store and the state you're in, as to what's needed as "proof."

I got a Border's card just by saying I was a homeschooling parent. (The cashier just noted "homeschool" on the card.) In our state, there is no legal documentation to identify a person as a homeschooler. Some stores are hip to that and take your word for it, others want "ID" so hsers just print up a card on their home computer and that satisfies the store.

Your best bet would be to call the store and ask how you go about getting a discount card.

[WendyLouWho]

I have a Borders, Barnes and Noble, Half-Price teacher discount cards.

Borders and Half-Price took my word for it, I had to bring in some curriculum for Barnes and Noble.

[Mom4tot]

We have discount cards for all the local bookstores, Joanne's, and Office Max. The suggestions to call ahead and speak to a manager are all good ones...sometimes an employee will not know what is required.

[WendyLouWho]

Originally posted by Mom4tot
Joanne's, and Office Max.

JoAnn's??? That could be dangerous :LOL

[Mom4tot]

:LOL I know! I assumed you already knew about it!

Yes, the JoAnnes...it is amazing how fabric and craft items can be implemented into homeschooling
They did ask for a "paystub"...but settled for a copy of my letter back from the school after a quarterly report.

Happy New Year!

[CAmomto1]

Originally posted by Mom4tot
:LOL I know! I assumed you already knew about it!

Yes, the JoAnnes...it is amazing how fabric and craft items can be implemented into homeschooling
They did ask for a "paystub"...but settled for a copy of my letter back from the school after a quarterly report.

Happy New Year!

Oh boy - yet another fringe benefit to hs'ing!!

[anythingelse]

I use my teacher id card, every year I make id cards for the kids also so they get the student discounts as well, the art store dick blicks gives a good student one and that is great for color pencils and good paper.
On the card --
We have our school name in italcs bold
with city and state next to that smaller font
the school year ie 2003-2004 our family crest (that is the shield logo)
a shoulders on up head shot pic of the person sized down on the home puter down and glued into lower corner gently
that persons name in a dif font
all in a traditional size id card printed out on the home computer

I get the 3-M things that plasic coat/laminate and seal them up for a couple bucks at the drugstore and that is our id for the year, that is all the id I have ever shown at any of the places mentioned above and I was given a discount no ? asked. also used at the movies and on the bus/metro, also presented at the library, used these in at least 15 states of the US while traveling, even at the national parks camping. Joanns you can do online and it is much easier plaus you get more coupons that way.


HTH

[Jennifer Z]

What is the minimum age a child can be considered a "student" for homeschooling. I plan on homeschooling, but I envision it is being more of a natural progression rather than a "today we start homeschool" type of thing. I don't want to abuse the system, but I honestly buy things, even at this age, with an educational intent (like art supplies, puzzles....pretty much all of his toys with a few exceptions). He just turned two, and I am curious as to how long I will need to wait to get some of these things.

Another question, are these supplies tax-deductable? I don't make enough right now to actually take any deductions, but if they might be, I will start keeping track since there is a vague possiblity of dh making enough in the later part of the year (should graduate with a BS in Computer Science after summer semester) that it might be worth it for next year...and hopefully thereafter. (Man, I hope so...I am SO tired of absolute poverty)

[anythingelse]

IME being cheap and trying to save some $$
a 'student' is someone attending school and over 12 usually. For example paying admission under 3 is free 3-12 child, then 12 and older pay adult fare unless they are a student or senior.
My older ds would pay as an adult except he has a student id thus can pay the discounted amount, we recently went to a museum and this was the same story. a college student - your dh-- can use their 'student id' to pay cheaper rates and get discounts on things.. Zainy Brainy gives me a teacher discount, so did Noodle Kadoodle for anything I bought for 'classroom' use. I got the discount even off clearance too.

Another question, are these supplies tax-deductable?

according to our tax guy, no. But it is a great idea to save receipts and try to keep track of your purchases because then you will have an idea of a workable budget for the next year

Many vendors of hs supplies discount also, just need to know who to ask and sometimes it depends on how you pay as well. If you attend a large hs conference many times vendors will discount by 10% curriculum, toys, supplies at the venue. HTH


PS I have a dh that majored in computer science also, and went back for economics lol I know how it goes

[applejuice]

I am glad to hear it!

I am a credentialed teacher; I teach in a private school and have run my own homeschool for seven years straight.

Los Angeles Public Library REFUSED to give me a teacher's library card when I could not find my identification once although I had my private school voucher from Los Angeles County and a letter from the Homeschooling Defense League and my Umbrella school.

I reported the clerk for her poor public relations skills.

It really would not cost her anything to give me a teacher's library card! All it entitles me to is checking out more books than usual for an additional week.

How rude!:

[Amy in NH]

Staples too.

[TigerTail]

be ready to buy your big ticket item when you go into joann's to show your 'proof'; that day you get 40% off one item (i'm goin' in for a sewing machine one day!)

suse

[lilyka]

Do you have a link for registering for joanns on line?

[teachinmaof3]

Office Depot also has a Teacher Card.


Oh dear..Joann's. That IS dangerous!!!!!!!!!

[grahamsmom98]

HELP!!

I emailed JoAnn's and asked about their hs discount. I received the following email from them today:

>>Hi Leslie:

Thank you for your email message. We do offer a teacher discount card to school teachers and to home schoolers. Please feel free to visit your local Jo-Ann location. The Store Team Leader can provide you with the card. You need to provide the store with some type of acknoweldgement or verification of teaching credentials.

If you need any further assistance, please advise.

Thank you
Guest Services
Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.<<

[[[You need to provide the store with some type of acknoweldgement or verification of teaching credentials.]]]

Anybody have any ideas how to do THAT?? Do I bring-in a sample lesson program/curriculum (would it have to relate directly to the items I wish to purchase?)? Do I bring a letter of intent to hs? Do I need proof from the school district that I am hs (add to this I am in a different county than any of the stores mentioned, over 90 miles away!)?

What did YOU bring in to verify hs status to any of the stores mentioned? B&N, Staples, Borders, OfficeMax, JoAnn's, any others.

Is there a way to get any discounts from these stores on-line?

Thanks, in advance!

Leslie

[Mom4tot]

Hi Leslie! I had some confusion with Joannes also in the beginning. In our state we are required to provide quarterly reports on our homeschooling. Since we homeschool all year, every three months I send in a one page report. The school then sends a letter back saying they reeived it. ( they probably didn't read it : , but they received it). I took in that letter to Joannes. They wanted to keep it, I said "no, that is my copy". They gave me the card. I would think you can take in anything like a letter of intent, an IHIP if you do one.

I don't know about registering on line, it is certainly possible to fax them something, I would think. I have not used mine online, so I don't know. Why don't you email their customer service?

I also had to show a letter at Barnes and Noble. I didn't have to show anything at Borders since the manager there is a dad in our homeschooling group

[ohiomomma]

free newspapers!

Another perk for homeschooling families are free newspapers!

Most Newspapers deliver free papers daily to area schools for their students. As a homeschooler, all I had to do was call and say I was homeschooling. They asked me how many papers I needed and immediately began sending us the paper.

Carol

[CAmomto1]

Originally posted by Vanna's Mom
I use my teacher id card, every year I make id cards for the kids also so they get the student discounts as well, the art store dick blicks gives a good student one and that is great for color pencils and good paper.
On the card --
We have our school name in italcs bold
with city and state next to that smaller font
the school year ie 2003-2004 our family crest (that is the shield logo)
a shoulders on up head shot pic of the person sized down on the home puter down and glued into lower corner gently
that persons name in a dif font
all in a traditional size id card printed out on the home computer

I get the 3-M things that plasic coat/laminate and seal them up for a couple bucks at the drugstore and that is our id for the year, that is all the id I have ever shown at any of the places mentioned above and I was given a discount no ? asked. also used at the movies and on the bus/metro, also presented at the library, used these in at least 15 states of the US while traveling, even at the national parks camping. Joanns you can do online and it is much easier plaus you get more coupons that way.


HTH

I think I may do this for us. I was at a Lakeshore Learning store yesterday and they asked to see some sort of proof that I was homeschooling. As the clerk - who was sympathetic - said, "Anyone could walk in and claim to be homeschooling." I think as long as they have something to look at that says I'm an educator/DD is a learner, they'd be happy. Think they'd take my now-lapsed teaching credential? I bet they wouldn't even look at the date - come to think of it, it may only have the date it was issued and not say anything at all about when it would need to be renewed.