Readers' Survey 2007: Amount You Spend Out of Pocket Each Year on Classroom Supplies
Edutopia readers weigh in on their favorites.
by Edutopia Staff
Credit: Getty Images
$500 or More
We can see those checking accounts shrinking before our very eyes! Nearly half of you told us you spend $500 or more. Shockingly, more than one in three of those heavy spenders shells out more than $1,000 a year, up to a high of $3,500. Oh, my. Responses ranged from the magnanimous ("I don't care what I spend -- the results are worth it") to the miserly ("$0 -- I refuse to pay for what I can put in the budget"). But the consistent message in response after response was simply "Way too much!"
Our Take
Payback
If you're tapping your own funds for the sake of your students, David Holmstrom, a licensed tax preparer in Brookline, Massachusetts, has advice on how to get some of that investment back from Uncle Sam. It's tough to deduct it the usual way, by itemizing purchases on Schedule A, because classroom expenses rarely outweigh the standard deduction anyone can take. "Congress therefore decided to give educators a special break not available to other employees," Holmstrom says. "They can take up to $250 as an adjustment -- that is, they can subtract it from their income -- whether or not they itemize deductions."
If you're in the 25 percent tax bracket, he says, this adjustment is worth fifty dollars to you -- not enough, surely, but something. The allowance covers out-of-pocket costs for classroom supplies and is available only to teachers, counselors, principals, and aides in private and public K-12 schools who worked at least 900 hours during the year.
Here's the catch: Congress approved the educator adjustment for this year after the tax forms were printed. So, Holmstrom explains, teachers must put the $250 on line 23 of Form 1040 (the line that says "Archer MSA deduction") and write an E on the line to indicate it's an educator expense. He adds, "Isn't the IRS great?"
NEXT PAGE OF READERS' SURVEY: Best tech tool
This article was also published in the April 2007 issue of Edutopia magazine .
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Out of Pocket Expenses
I suppose we should be greatful for being able to deduct $250 from our taxes but that doesn't even come close to what I spend! I try to get as much as I can on my budget but there are so many little things that come up throughout the year that I spend my own money on. Being a single parent, this makes my budget very tight.
Out of Pocket Expenses
Wow, I had no idea that I could deduct the $250 on my income tax, but I have to admit that is not even a fourth of what I actually spend in my classroom. I would love to spend more than I do, but my salary does not allow it. There are so many aides and ideas out there that help me with my students since I teach Special Ed.
Out of pocket expense
I also spend way to much on outside school needs. I use my budget for my big expenses but it seems like every week there's a little something I need. The pay is already low and when you duduct what is spent on the classroom it really doesn't look good.
Out of Pocket Expenses
I have heard of that deduction before, but I don't know any teacher who only spends $250 a year out of pocket! It is so hard to not just buy things when you see them, especially if you instantly see how you could use it in your own classroom. I think as teachers, everything in the world we see we try to envision how we could use it to educate our children. I guess we shouldn't complain $250 is more money then some industries offer.
Out of Pocket Expenses
Well, I don't think we get enough money to use in our classrooms. Because I like to do so many projects, I use a lot of money, and I don't think it's fair to continue to ask parents for money. They spend enough!
Out of Pocket Expenses
We don't really ask the parents for much in my district. It is a fairly poor urban district. I buy a lot of supplies for them so any deduction helps.
Our association dues alone are $588.30! Each year, classroom teachers in my Maryland school district receive a Monies of Instruction budget of $150.00 I used to be able to spread that pretty far. This year, we have to use part of that money to buy our own copy paper. Needless to say, I had enough left in my budget to purchase one box of file folders. So, my other classroom needs are filled on my weekly shopping trips. I try not to think about how much out-of-pocket money I spend until I have to face it at tax time. What can we do?
$$$
In order to deduct things on your taxes, do you have to keep up with your receipts? I have been because I thought that was what you had to do to prove you spent it on school.
My husband always complains about all the money I spend on my students, but I just can't seem to help it. I love doing projects with them and if it means I have to spend some of my own money, then I will do it. I want my kids to remember second grade as being a hands-on learning experience and in order for this to happen, I have to fork out the bucks!
Out of Pocket Expenses
It doesn't surprise me that teachers spend so much money on their classrooms. There are a ton of great resources out there that cost a lot of money. I try very hard not to spend a lot of money, but I find that I frequently buy clearance items when they catch my eye. Just today when I was at the grocery store, I saw a clearance rack, and my first thought was "I wonder what is on there that I can use in my classroom." I only spent $1, but small amounts spent frequently do add up. I think teachers generally love their jobs, which means it is constantly on our minds. We don't mind spending a little money to help our students learn in the best way possible.
Out of Pocket Expenses
Wow! It is amazing what you can spend and not realize it. I buy so much from garage sales for my classroom (including clothes for the class) so I do buy stuff cheaply, but I get so many things! Then there are always projects, someone who doesn't have crayons, etc., it is hard to know where to stop! But until we have more for our rooms, we will just have to do that. I don't think that most people realize how much in a classroom is actually the teacher's and not the school's.