Educators: You Deserve a Break and a Discount

We wanted to end Teacher Appreciation Week with a reminder that an affection for educators can be found far and wide. Retailers, for example, offer all kinds of discounts in appreciation for all your hard work and dedication. So we'd like to share some of the discounts we know about -- and we're sure many of you have more tips for how to save money when shopping. Happy Friday!

Ann Taylor

Discount: Teachers get 15-percent off full-price styles purchased in the store.

How to Cash In: Sign up for a membership to the Loft Loves Teachers program from the Web site. You can print a coupon from this site, and bring it and your school ID to the store to redeem your discount.

Fine Print: This discount is only available at Ann Taylor Loft stores.

J. Crew

Discount: J. Crew also offers 15-percent off full-priced items for teachers.

How to Cash In: Present your school ID at the store, or provide your school email if you're ordering by phone.

Fine Print: This discount cannot be used for online shopping.

Apple

Discount: Apple provides $50-$200 discounts for educators on computers, software, and extended warranties.

How to Cash In: To qualify, your school must be registered with Apple. In the store, educators need to provide a school and photo identification to get the discount. ID isn't required online or over the phone.

Fine Print: The educator discount doesn't apply to iPods. There are also limits on how many items you can purchase per year.

Barnes and Noble

Discount: Receive 20 percent off the original price for items that can be used in the classroom, including most hardcover and paperback books, toys, and games.

How to Cash In: Enroll in the free program at any Barnes and Noble store by presenting a valid school ID or pay stub. You'll receive an Educator card valid at Barnes and Noble as well as B. Dalton, Bookstop, Bookstar, Doubleday, and Charlesbank bookstores, and online at bn.com.

Fine Print: You cannot enroll online. The discount also doesn't apply to textbooks, music or DVDs. The discount is available to home school parents, but not to substitute teachers.

Borders

Discount: Borders offers a Classroom Discount Card that provides 25 percent off the original price for classroom purchases.

How to Cash In: Fill out the free application in the store to receive the Borders Classroom Discount Card. You'll need to show your teacher ID.

Fine Print: This discount is available to preK-12 teachers, school librarians and home school parents specifically for classroom purchases. Twice a year, Borders has a week where almost everything in the store is 30 percent off for nearly all educators. Find out more info about this discount at their Teaching and Learning Zone.

Office Max

Discount: Some teachers swear by the MaxPerks Card offered for teachers. For every $75 spent in the store, you get $10 back. The refund has to be spent at Office Max.

How to Cash In: Teachers and other educators can enroll in person at a store, online or by calling 866.MAXPERKS. You'll receive a MaxPerks membership card, and will also need to set up an online account to view your balance and rewards.

Fine Print: The perk tops out at $100 per calendar year. Computer, gift and phone card purchases are not counted towards the reward. If you do not reach the $75 minimum be December 31 of that year, your account balance will be set to zero. The money back refund comes in quarterly. Cash it in by logging onto your account and printing out a return that works like a gift card.

Joann Fabric and Craft Stores

Discount: 15 percent off most purchases both online and in the store.

How to Cash In: Register at the store by showing your teacher identification and state ID, or register online and then activate the card in a store.

Fine Print: The discount excludes gift cards and remnants. As with most of the discounts listed, you can't combine this with another offer.

A.C. Moore

Discount: Teachers receive 10 percent off a regular priced purchase at this arts and crafts supply store.

How to Cash In: To apply for a teacher discount card, send proof of teaching status and an application to: A. C. Moore
Attn. Teacher Discount Program
130 A. C. Moore Drive
Berlin, NJ 08009

Fine Print: For questions or more information, send an email to TeachersClub@acmoore.com or call 1-888-ACMOORE ext. 143.

And whenever you're making a purchase, always ask if they offer a teacher discount.

Find more of your colleagues' favorite discounts, and suggest your own, by joining the Edutopia discussion.