Money Saving Ideas for Schools

Schools can save money in numerous ways.

Schools, just like any other business, can quickly and easily remove extra expenses and save money by simply looking at their budget and analyzing spending. Ask teachers and all employees to be involved in the process to help motivate employees and ensure employee buy-in to the task at hand. Implement these strategies to help save money at your school today.

Conduct an Energy Audit

Local utility companies offer energy audit services for free in most areas. Ask your local power company to come in and analyze your school's methods of using electricity. The audit will show areas in which you waste energy, as well as ways to reduce your electric bill. By reducing your electric bill, hundreds of dollars or more could be saved per month, depending upon the size of the school.

Reduce Paper

Reduce the use of paper by requiring that all communication be electronic between staff members. Request that staff members save the emails to a hard drive, as opposed to printing out the emails, for even more paper savings. This not only helps to reduce waste and save the environment, but also to save on office supplies as well.

Centralized Ordering

Do not allow individual staff members to order school or office supplies. Require each staff member to place a request for needed supplies and have one staff member approve all supply ordering. This can result in discounts from bulk ordering, as well as a reduction in unneeded or expensive office supplies.

Ask Your Staff

Ask your staff for more money saving ideas. Many will have ideas that the administration has not thought of that could easily save the school money and motivate them to find additional ways in which to save money throughout the school.

References

• National Association of Independant Schools: 50 Money Saving Ideas for Schools