Homeschooling on a Shoestring Homeschooler Discounts

Educators Discount

Many stores that offer discounts to teachers will offer discounts to homeschoolers as well. To obtain your discount, you will need an ID card. You can make your and your child’s identification cards. The first time I ever made our cards, I measured the dimensions on a business card in my wallet to make sure it would fit correctly. Then I used a word processing program to design the cards. I added the information I wanted the cards to have such as our names, our homeschool name, and the current year.

Over the years I have used programs such as Word Perfect, Excel, Word, Microsoft Picture It (it’s a photo editing and design program), and a few others. It is easier every year if you use the same program because you only need to edit the year and add a new photo if you choose to put a photo on the id cards.

Here’s an example scenario using me as the main character. For Michigan, I only need to show an id card to get a discount card. My daughter and I go into Jo-Ann Fabrics to get my discount card. Typically we go during the day, aka “normal school time”. First stop is the customer service desk. I ask for my discount card. The store asks me for my teacher’s certificate. I state that we are homeschoolers and I do not have a certificate. The store needs to somehow verify that we homeschool I do not, nor have ever, brought my curriculum to show a store employee. I show them our id card. The beauty of going during “normal school time” is that the store can see that my child is with me. I have shown cards form other stores as, for lack of better words, a backup source of verification. If you blog, have your own website, or run your local homeschool co-op group, make a business card for that as well. There have been a couple of years where I either did not update our cards or forgot them at home, so showing them my website on my smart phone has sufficed. Specific to Jo-Ann Fabrics, I have shown them their information on my website due to as seems as every couple of years an employee will disagree with me about getting a discount. You do not need to join any business or consumer group to receive your card in-store. Employees have said that and I set them straight. I have also made others in my local homeschool group know the discount is available. I have even offered other homeschool parents who had been given a hassle at Jo-Ann’s to go in with them to speak with the employees. Why it has at times been a hassle with Jo-Anns, I don’t know. It possible could be that some of the employees are just uneducated on the discount procedure.

Once you have your first new discount card from a store, obtaining the rest are much easier. You can show the next store the previous stores discount card along with your homeschool id card. Some stores you do not have to renew every year. For discount cards with card numbers that are scanable, you can enter the information into an app so you don’t have to drag your discount cards all over. Example is Staples. With StoCard, you can also type in the card number if it won’t scan in. If the discount card does not have a number, you cannot use the app and will have to show the card at checkout time to receive your discount.

Academic Superstore Homeschool Discount

Academic Superstore Software savings for students, teachers, & schools. Not all manufacturers listed on their website offer discounts to K-12 students or home-schooled students. Eligibility matrix and special restrictions: https://www.academicsuperstore.com/page/how_to_buy

Adobe Homeschool Discount

Shop direct from the Adobe Education Store and receive discounts on select software, including bundles and suites. Adobe requires proof of employment as an educator before applying the discount

Whether you’d like to purchase Adobe products for yourself or want to learn how your institution can buy for classroom or school use, you can get started here. They offer student and teacher discounts and licensing options tailored to institutions.
https://www.adobe.com/offer-terms/student_teacher_eligibility.html

Am I Eligible? Homeschooler – Yes! Teacher of a homeschooled student — defined by state homeschooling regulations

Apple Homeschool Discount

Apple Homeschool Discount Apple now recognizes the growing demand of homeschoolers, and they are making the full range of Apple’s educational products and solutions available to homeschools. More info is on their page sales and refunds terms and conditions.

ASTC Science Center Discount

The ASTC Association of Science and Technology Centers allows members to sample some of the world’s most exciting science centers and museums while on the road. The Passport Program entitles visitors to free general admission. It does not include free admission to planetarium and larger-screen theater presentations, nor does it include museum store discounts and other discounts associated with museum membership unless stated otherwise. Please see their website for program details at ASTC Passport Program https://www.astc.org/passport/.

Barnes & Noble Homeschool Discount

Barnes and Noble Membership Collect stamps to save with Rewards. 1 stamp for every $10 spent in a purchase. Exclusions apply. 10 stamps = $5 reward. eBooks and audiobooks included. Check their website for terms and conditions.


Barnes & Noble USED TO OFFER PreK-12 educators, librarians and homeschoolers a 20% discount off the publisher’s list price on most hardcover and paperback books used in the classroom (school materials). https://help.barnesandnoble.com/hc/en-us/articles/12748207536923-Changes-to-the-Educator-Discount


My local Barnes & Noble has a used book section where you USED TO receive the Educator Discount on. Note: Not all Barnes & Noble has a used book section.

    Here is a list of the Barnes & Noble that have a Used Book Section:
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • Rochester Hills, MI
  • Roseville, MN
  • Paramus, NJ
  • Burlington, VT
  • Madison, WI
  • Pittsford, NY

UNKNOWN if they still offer Educator Appreciation weeks or Field Trips. As soon as I talk with my local store, I’ll update.

During their special Educator Appreciation Weeks, you’d save up to 25% on both classroom and personal purchases. For more info see B&N Educator Program Terms & Conditions


Field Trips – Looking for an interesting destination for your next field trip? Just call your local Barnes & Noble bookstore. The Community Relations Manager will be happy to help you plan an informative, fun-filled visit.

Book Warehouse Homeschool Discount

Book Warehouse For educators, librarians or home schoolers with a current ID, they offer an additional 15% discount off of their already low prices. It’s part of their Teachers of America program, and you can sign up at any National Book Warehouse, Foozles or Book Market location.

    The Three Michigan locations are:

 

  • Tanger Outlet Center in Howell, MI, 517-548-0941
  • Horizon Outlet Center in Monroe, MI, 734-457-3510
  • Tanger Outlet Center in West Branch, MI, 989-343-0568

Boulder Book Store Homeschool Discount

Boulder Book Store (Boulder, CO) offers a 20% discount to educators. View program info at http://www.boulderbookstore.com/Teacher.html.

Box Tops for Education

Box Tops for Education https://www.boxtops4education.com/s/ is a program by General Mills which gives nonprofit educational groups money for each box top they send in. The box tops have a special coupon on the boxes that state “Box Top$ for Education”.

For example, our local group used the money to bring in programming like Jim Weiss or on various field trips. Group members collect the specially marked box top, cut them out, and give them to their group coordinator. The coordinator will batch them and mail to General Mills.

Go to https://www.boxtops4education.com/s/ to sign up and designate your group as ’school’ and you can then access all kinds of information – including coupons for products that qualify for Box Tops for Education. This will give your group money to help defray building use fees and money to bring in extra classes and events at lower prices. Also, if you shop online, there are links to online stores that will give your group a percentage of what you spend. There are well over 75 stores including Oriental Trading Co., Target, and Lands’ End. Be sure to bring your box tops to your events, where your coordinator should have an envelope or other collecting bin to put them into. If you can’t get to an event, contact your coordinator to make arrangements to get them from you. Box Tops do have expiration dates.

The Box Tops for Education program is open to Internal Revenue Service recognized 501(c)(3) home school associations in the United States, organized and operated primarily for educational purposes and containing a class of 15 or more students in one or more grades from kindergarten through eighth grade.
https://www.boxtops4education.com/s/official-rules

Discovery Channel Homeschool Discount

Discovery’s program was called “Discovery Passport Rewards”. You sign up for the free program. You can also fill out an application in store and receive your card. Use it whenever you make a purchase from a Discovery Channel Store, from Discovery.com or from most Discovery Channel Catalogs. You will earn one point for every dollar you spend. Each time you accumulate 150 points, they’ll mail you a reward certificate good for $10 off your next purchase. If you want to check on your point totals or have other questions, ask a store associate, go to https://passport.discovery.com/ or call.

Discovery Channel Stores are closed.

Family Video Report Card A Educational Rewards

Throughout the month of June, Family Video gave a free overnight movie or game rental to students for every ‘A’ the student receives on their final report card in a core subject. Their core subjects include math, language, reading, history, geography, science, and spelling. Limit 5 free rentals per customer.
Note: Family Video is no more, but we used to get a lot of fun and educational dvds from there.
Family Video Is Shutting Down All Remaining Stores

For current Homeschool Discounts view https://homeschoolingonashoestring.com/homeschooling/educator-discount/

FedEx Kinko’s Homeschool Discount

FedEx Educator Savings Program was called FedEx Kinko’s Educator Savings Program that offered 15% discount on most products and services at participating FedEx Office’s nationwide. To receive your discount, you presented your discount card when making a purchase in-store or at their website and the discount was automatically applied. Unlike other educator discount programs, the Educator Savings Program has no limit on the savings you can acquire each quarter and each year. You’d also received special e-mail messages from time to time with information and special offers geared specifically to educators. Card must be presented at time of order to receive benefit and is non-transferable. As of March 2024, I am not able to find any discount information on their website for educators.

https://psg.kinkos.com/educator/

GreatScopes Microscopes Homeschool Discount

GreatScopes GreatScopes Microscopes is now offering a 10% discount to homeschoolers on any microscope $149 or more. Their microscopes are already discounted 25% or more from retail, so the total value to homeschoolers is very high.

As a microscope dealer for twelve years and a homeschooler for twenty years, John Lind can tell you there really is no one-size-fits-all microscope for homeschoolers. At GreatScopes they have a microscope to meet the needs of just about any homeschooler.

How do you get the discount? Homeschoolers are invited to use the customer code “HS10″ at checkout, and the discount will immediately be taken off your microscope order of $149 or more.

Quality equipment, great prices. Contact Great Scopes or call toll-free 877-454-6364

Many thanks to John Lind for providing this information.

Half Price Books Homeschool Discount

Half Price Books You will receive a 10% discount card good at all of their brick-and-mortar locations. Homeschoolers should provide some sort of identification that verifies you’re an educator from your state or local homeschooling organization where applicable. Discount cards must be renewed annually. Apply in-store for their Educator’s Discount Card to save 10%. View program info at https://www.hpb.com/our-culture.html.

Hancock Fabrics Red Apple Homeschool Discount

Hancock Fabrics had educator discount cards offering 15% off purchases. Their program was called the Red Apple Card. Hancock Fabrics issued their discount cards yearly. Valid for in-store purchases only, not online. Hancock Fabrics also had a mobile club with text message coupons, a coupon page on their website, and an affiliate program. (Updated January 2015)
www.hancockfabrics.com
Permanently closed (Updated March 2024)

Jo-Ann Fabrics Homeschool Discount

Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts https://www.joann.com/ Offers a 15% discount card to educators for purchases in-store or online. https://www.joann.com/teacher-discount/ The discount is available for both regular & sale priced items. Discount excludes special orders, leased department merchandise and gift cards.

For this year 2007-2008, when you visit Jo-Ann’s, take your card from last year with you to the service desk and ask for the new one. The store can then provide you with the 2007-2008 Teacher Card. More info about the card and how to use it online is on the back of the Jo-Ann Teacher Rewards card. You do not need to join any business or consumer group to receive your card in-store. If you do not have a card from last year, bring along other information such as your homeschool support group membership card or the cover of a homeschool publication showing your subscription information, you could also bring your other educator discount cards — which are probably already in your wallet anyway :o). If you need any further assistance, please feel free to contact Cyndie Hood-Taylor of Guest Services directly at 1-888-739-4120 ext 6672. Ms Hood-Taylor gave me that phone number in 2005. If you cannot contact her there, you can email Guest Services through Jo-Ann’s website on their Contact Us page at https://www.joann.com/contactus/.

Lakeshore Learning Homeschool Discount

Lakeshore Learning offers the Lakeshore Rewards that is valid on in-store purchases only. You’ll save 15% on most teacher resource items; receive advance notice of upcoming sales & events, and more. Fill out the application in the store & they’ll hand you your card. You can sign up online at https://www.lakeshorelearning.com/rewards/.
Check to see if your local store has Saturday afternoon craft time for kids (usually for ages 3-up). Their website notes that craft time is currently not available. Meanwhile, they have a lot of free resources for kids that you can print out or view for learning enhancement. Their Lakeshore Learning YouTube Channel has over 5 playlists of teaching tips and learning fun.

Makin Music Rockin Rhythms Homeschool Discount

Makin’ Music Rockin’ Rhythms Fun, Educational Music for Families with Young Children. They offer a 10% discount. If you order online, just indicate under special instructions that you would like the home school discount, and they’ll make the adjustment to your final bill.

Missouri Botanical Garden Educator Discount

Missouri Botanical Garden (St. Louis, MO) The Garden is pleased to offer teachers a 15% discount in the Garden’s gift shop to purchase materials such as curriculum guides, children’s literature, educational toys, plants, and planting supplies, for classroom use. The cost of the discount card is just $1 and the card does not expire.
To receive a discount card, please bring proof as an educator and ask for an educator’s discount form. The discount applies only to educational materials. View program info at Teacher Resources.

March 2024 update: I found no program info for Teacher Resources. I did locate this: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/members/membership-faqs#la-20660409-does-the-garden-offer-any-discounts-on-membership The Garden also recognizes employees of our Corporate Partners, active educators, and other groups at special times throughout the year. Contact membership@mobot.org for more information.

View their online resources for some fun freebies Top 10 Ways to Explore your Neighborhood

Office Depot Teacher Discount

Office Depot The program is called “Office Depot Star Teacher Program”. The information sheet I picked up states that you’ll receive a 5% discount on every purchase you make, plus 15% off all Copy & Print Center Services. When you sign up, you can use the discount that day but be sure to get your enrollment confirmation sheet. It will take approximately 10 – 14 business days to receive your card. Office Depot was very courteous and helpful when I asked them about their educator’s discount, and they had their information sheet readily available. Savings not valid for purchases from Tech Depot, purchases of Gift Cards, computers, postage stamps, package delivery services, wireless, satellite or Internet services or online orders. Please see their terms & conditions for more info on the program. Discount valid for in-store purchases only. The snail mail address is: The Office Depot Star Teacher Program, P.O. Box 1276, Deerfield Beach, FL 33443 To phone Office Depot: 877.789.4544 Mon-Fri 9:00am-8:00pm EST. For more information or questions about the Star Teacher program please call 1-877-789-4544.

Update March 2024 https://www.officedepot.com/l/rewards/exclusive-savings

Office Max Homeschool Discount

Office Max teacher discount

See https://homeschoolingonashoestring.com/office-depot-teacher-discount/

Pine River Paddlesports Homeschool Days

Pine River Paddlesports Center & Quiet Campground located in the middle of the Manistee National Forest, one-half hour east of Cadillac, Michigan. Sunday thru Friday is “Home-School Discount Days” at PRPC. Throughout the 2012 season, they’ll be giving all homeschoolers a 15% discount on all PRPC goods and services, Sunday thru Friday, and also on Saturdays before July and after August.

PRPC has become a popular basecamp for families taking advantage of the limitless forest, river, and lake recreation opportunities in the neighborhood. They have dozens of inland lakes and streams, several area hiking & biking trails, Lake Michigan beaches are just a half hour away, and Sleeping Bear Dunes just over an hour. They also have a 27-hole Frisbee/Disc Golf Course, a Slackline, a super-safe auto-belay Rock Climbing Wall, and a Tree Identification Challenge that is both fun and educational for kids ages 4 to 104. For a better idea of the fun stuff to do here, please visit https://www.thepineriver.com/campground

Scholastic Book Fairs Educator Discount

Scholastic Book Fairs The link will take you to their webpage and you can find your nearest location. My first book fair was pretty amazing. Boxes of books all over the place, and they carry cd’s too! Scholastic does not advertise their book fairs. Since we are homeschoolers we may attend. I do not recall them checking my id when we went the previous times. I know public and private school teachers have their “card” and I also have one for the local homeschool group I belong to. You can always make a card if you do not have one and put your school name on it. I made myself business cards with my school name printed on them.

Update March 2024 From Publishers Weekly is an article After Outcry, Scholastic Lays the Groundwork for Its Spring Book Fairs
I do not see any information for a Warehouse Sale http://www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/events/warehouse/

Staples Teacher Rewards

Staples Program is named “Staples Teacher Rewards“. Reward Checks – Earn 2% back in rewards up to $15 per quarter when you spend $200 or more at Staples within a calendar quarter on most items with a few exceptions. Get all your phone and online orders delivered FREE, no matter how much you spend. Find out more information on Staples’ savings programs such as Reward Checks, Teacher Bonus Seasons, Staples Bonus Rewards, Free Delivery, 20% back on Copy & Print Center purchases, Upgrade Benefits, Exclusive Offers by visiting their website. Staples also offers Upromise points.

The Teachers Store Homeschool Discount

The Teachers Store (Michigan) Sign up in-store for their Valued Customer program. They’ll give you a plastic card with a customer id on it. You’ll get get 5% of your total (before tax) plus the amount of sales tax to use toward future purchases in the form of a Store Credit Voucher (which expires in one year) — The savings begins when you’ve accumulated $100.00. I called to double-check the info and was told the saving offer fluctuates. When I first wrote of this discount, it was minimum purchase of $25.00 required to take advantage of the savings. Don’t lose the voucher – treat it like cash. I asked them if the credit voucher reflects on the card — it does not. Example of the discount: When I found the store the other day, I spent $58.72. My total (before tax) was 55.40 and the sales tax was 3.32. The next time I make a purchase there, I will get a store credit of 2.77 (5% of 55.40) + 3.32 (the sales tax) totaling $6.09. It’s a really neat store and has a clearance area.
Tell them Homeschooling on a Shoestring sent you.

 

  •  Lansing 517-393-0235
  •  Livonia 734-525-0720
  •  Sterling Heights, 14 Mile between Ryan & Dequindre, 586-979-8050 (<– I think this store is closed now)

Update March 2024: Both the Sterling Heights and Livonia locations are Permanently closed. The Lansing location has gone on to become a different store.

The UPS Store Educator Discount

The UPS Store The discount, if available, is store-by-store, you must ask for it. You must notify them you are a home educator. It would be helpful to show your homeschool support group card.  The discount, I believe (ask first!), is available on copying, laminating and binding services. It is a 10% discount.
More information on this program is in the works so please check back.

2 Comments

  • Karen

    The employees at my Barnes & Noble told me they absolutely offer discounts to homeschoolers via school ID number. The cashier said that people often just show the email on their iPhone because NCDNPE doesn’t give mailed cards anymore.

    Office Depot’s cashier told me that you have to be a public school teacher to get the discount. Per your instruction, I’m just going to apply online. I’m sure it’s simpler. Doesn’t it just ask for your school ID?

    My mom has an embroidery machine and has agreed to make me a feltie with my name as administrator (my son’s name), my cell number, and our school ID. I wanted a ruler, but now I’m thinking maybe an apple would be cool. My kid is always with me, but I’m thinking about getting him an Ident-a-kid ID to go on a key ring with his feltie for field trips…in case he is stopped by an authority on his way to a restroom or something. I want him to be able to respectlfully respond to authority on his own.

    • Jodi

      The Office Depot cashier is wrong. I would suggest speaking with a manager. If the manager does not know, have them call their Customer Service. I did not apply online, I just went to the store and got my discount.

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