We all know that living within your means is, in its most basic form, living within your household budget. However, I wanted to point out that there are many other ways that we overspend at work, for example, that can be adjusted and will help more people than just ourselves!
Let’s talk about being a teacher. It’s a truly stressful job. They have 100 students (at least) every day that need to be educated with not only the subject that the teacher is charged with teaching but also the life lessons that some of our more lackadaisical parents “don’t bother to” or “forget to” teach their children at home (FYI…it is NOT the job of a school teacher to teach your children the good morals and values of our society…that is in YOUR jurisdiction!). Needless to say, it’s a little overwhelming. What’s more, the money system set up around the education system (at least the parts I know about, as I am not an expert) is ludicrous. For example, the school system allots each teacher a certain number of copies that they are allowed to make per year on the copy machine, and if they want to make more, they have to pay for them! That puts added and undue pressure on the teacher, because let’s face it, toner and copy paper are cheap.
However, silly as it is, it is the workplace version of “living within your means”. But not all teachers do. They will either spend money out of their own pocket to buy supplies, or send home a list of supplies that the parent MUST provide for all of the various projects the teacher wants to do. All I have to say is, my oh my, what a mess! Teachers are given a budget. They should have to work within that budget (and yes, I am absolutely certain that their budget is too low and doesn’t help much, but it is what it is). By buying supplies out of their own pocket, they are saying that the budget is meaningless, and that sets the wrong example for the students. I love the generous nature, but they shouldn’t take the burden on themselves and set a bad example for the children. And if they decide to pass the cost onto the parent? Well, the parents at home have their own budgets and money problems to worry about, and the decision to have all of these wonderful projects impacts them too!
So, what is a teacher to do since they’re being squeezed on both sides? Get creative! If they figure out less costly projects and methods for teaching the same lesson, they will be able to stay within the budget the school set for them without passing the cost on to the parents! I know that the replacement projects won’t be as full of bells and whistles, but the object of the lesson is to teach something, and that usually doesn’t require fancy projects. Also, as long as the teacher has a computer with an Internet connection, she can show the students whatever she wants to show them! For example…let’s say the teacher originally wanted to have the students build volcanoes for science class. All she has to do is have them read the chapter, discuss it in class, then show the students this on the projector. It’s not AS cool, but it works and it’s pretty much free!
I’m not trying to pick on teachers, just so you know. I just wanted to give an example of how we have a mental disconnect between living within our means at home and at work. We shouldn’t be frugal at home and a spendthrift at work. Apply the same principles at both places, and get creative on your savings!
