Teachers Reveal Exactly How Much Of Their Own Money They Spend On Supplies Every Fall — And Wow!

Most people aren’t expected to shell out hundreds, and even thousands, of dollars on items that are necessary for them to do their job.

Think about it: An accountant isn’t expected to supply their own computer keyboard, a creative director doesn’t purchase a printer for their team, a doctor doesn’t fund the decorations for the patient waiting rooms in a hospital.

Teachers are the exception to this rule. It’s commonly expected for educators to buy decor for their classrooms, extra supplies for students and, in some states, necessary classroom storage. In many cases, these costs come out of a teacher’s paycheck (and we all know teachers are chronically underpaid) but it depends on the state and the district just how much is covered by the school, parent-teacher association or other funders.

Teachers from across the country spoke with HuffPost about the costs they pay out of their own pockets each year just to get the school year started.

John in California spent $500-$1,000 in the first years of his career but now spends $100-$400.