How much have you spent as a teacher to buy supplies and decorate your classroom? We want to hear from you.

Business Insider is looking to talk to teachers about their classroom spending. Ariel Skelley/Getty Images 2026-04-07T09:03:01.231Z Share Copy link Email Facebook WhatsApp X LinkedIn Bluesky Threads lighning bolt icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.

Impact Link Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in. Teachers spend money to make their classrooms more welcoming and to buy supplies for assignments. Spending out of pocket can add up. We are looking to hear from more teachers about how much they've spent on their classrooms. AI-generated summary Summaries are generated by an AI model trained on Business Insider's articles. AI may make mistakes or provide inaccurate/incomplete information. We're unable to load that answer right now. Please try again. Why do teachers spend their own money? What are common items teachers buy? What are alternatives to out-of-pocket spending? How can schools better support teachers? How does spending affect teacher retention? Are you a teacher who has spent their own money to buy students' supplies, treats, classroom decor, or creative items for lesson plans? Loading audio narration... If so, we want to hear from you. Teachers have previously spoken with Business Insider about their spending on their classrooms. Longtime teacher Michelle Medintz told Business Insider she spent at least $5,000 in 2022 alone, largely on books. She created a "cozy corner" in her classroom with shelves filled with books, cushions on the floor, and stuffed animals."That doesn't make me a better teacher than my colleagues," Medintz said. "I'm not one to hold it above everyone else and say, 'I'm better than you because I'm spending money.'" Amelie Krikorian, who resigned from her teaching position in 2023, spent at least $4,000 in 2022 on her fifth-grade students and classroom, including on projects and a cheerful ambiance. She bought paint, books, flashcards, and more."Teachers who want to make elementary school a positive and enriching experience do feel pressure to spend their own money," Krikorian said. Spending on a classroom doesn't always add up to the thousands, but it can still get pretty costly. Rebecca Johnson spent hundreds of dollars on her classroom one summer, including posters, clipboards, and containers for headphones. Johnson said that she also got money for supplies from her school."They, like all of us, are living in a world where the cost of grocery items and all that, household items and gasoline and all of these things are more expensive," Steve Majors, the executive vice president and chief external affairs officer at Teach For America, told Business Insider in 2024. Business Insider is looking to hear from more teachers, whether it be first-years or people with years of experience, about how much they have spent on their classrooms and students.