Hi all! I'm relatively new here. I've been lurking here for about a year, and feel I need to make myself official. I will starting HSing my dd-8 and ds-7 this summer. I've heard about HS discounts, especially Barnes and Noble, but can't seem to find anything online about it. Does one have to go to the store to obtain this? Can you use it online or only in person? Is there a fee? Also, are there any other retailers that offer discounts to homeschoolers I should know about? I'm always looking to save $ for my family. I've learned a great deal of information here in the past year while struggling to make the decision to homeschool. Thanks! Carol
Carol: Well I do get a discount from Barnes and Noble. I have never tryed online. I go to the store what you need to do is bring a copy of your lesson plans the first time then they give you a card. Half Price book stores give you a discount. Just have to tell them and they have you fill out somethings and give you a card. I really don't know of whole lot of other places. I have ask all over but alot of them don't do it. Good luck homeschol.
Barnes & Noble and their subsidiaries (B. Dalton, etc.) are different each place you go. The local one told me that HQ told them that homeschoolers can have the discount, but not the educator's card, which might be used online....and so they ask me if each item is for our "homeschool" or personal use. It's nice for those special order things, but it seems that Deena??? gets the whole shabang at her B&N....go figure Staples also allows homeschoolers to use their teacher's card.
I have been told there is grant money available for h.s. families. I don't know if it's true or not. I was asking a rep at Constructive Playthings about opening a credit account. She said her DIL h.s.'s her kids, and she has gotten grants to cover some expenses. She even gave me the DIL's email, but when I contacted her she didn't reply. Does anyone know anything about this?
Boy, Becky I would love to find those grants to help us right now with hubby not working and no money coming in it would be great. Think I will have to do some real looking on here soon. :lol:
Go to Barnes & Noble and ask for their educator card. Depending on what state you are in they might be use to seeing different things. Support group card, curriculum lesson manual, plan book, whatever. Just cal lthem and ask them what proof you need to bring in to sign up for your educator's card and that you are a homeschooler. Half price bookstore JoAnn's fabric Office Depot & Office Max both have teacher clubs that you are eligible for. I think Office Depot gives discounts on copies and then when you reach so much spending that's when the *reward* kicks in on both of them. I bet that Border's would have some type of discount but we don't have one locally I would ask at Micheal's just for fun as well. We don't have one locally but....never hurts to ask.
Hobby Lobby doesn't give anything. We even tried to get them advertise in our prorgram for our homeschool open house last year and the manager told Tina that he couldn't give anything - wow! You have to admit though....they have some pretty good sale prices on things. :wink:
Not Micheal's Thanks for all the ideas. I went into Barnes and Noble's this week, just stated I was homeschooling, and they gave me an educator's card. They also told me about an Educator's Week in October where you can get another 10% off the 20% off the card gives you. Good for those things you may want but can wait for!?! I also tried Michael's, but they don't give discounts. The sales woman did suggest that if enough of us call their central office this policy might change! Carol
Hlaf-Price Books also have a "special" discount weekend, but they don't give it "in addition" to your card. The card gets 10%, and that week everything is 20% off, so I thought I'd get 30%. NOPE!!! So educators were gyped out of their "special" savings! There were several things I wouldn't have bought if I had known that; next year i won't be going to their sale, because the long lines, etc. really aren't worth it for only an additional 10%.
Another "promo" if found out about... A friend of mine works at the public school and was complaining that this last week of school was full of field trips and no learning (yeah, and they wonder why I'm homeschooling???!!!)..... Anyway, she said they were going to a "Movie Day" at the local movie theatre one day to see a movie as a class. It costs them $5 each child that includes movie, box of popcorn and small drink. I called the movie theatre manager and explained that were homeschooling and wondered if we could get the same deal.....and he said "Sure - anything I offer to the public school kids, I'll honor with your homeschool family, too." How great is that?? I gave him all my contact number and he's going to be in touch each time they have a special during the day for the kids (usually 4 or 5 times a year). Something to check out in your local towns, too!!
Brooke, Yeah, you're right, I get the whole shabang...at least as far as I know. I've never tried using the Barnes & Noble card on-line. Our B&N is about a 5-minute drive from where we live, so it's much easier jsut to go there. Besides, we like spending time there sometimes anyway!
