The Vending Machine

If there is one thing that everyone knows about teachers, it is that there isn't a lot of money involved within the profession.  But that's okay, we don't get into it to be rich.  However, if we are being honest, money is always and will always be a large factor in our every day life.  If there is one thing teaching has taught me, it is the need to be financially creative.

At my school there are two soda machines.  One of the machines is for student use, while the other is for the faculty.  The student soda machine is filled with diet soda that you couldn't give away to students let alone charge them $1.50.  The faculty machine is filled with delicious products such as Dr. Pepper, Sprite, and my personal favorite Coke.  The complete irony of this entire system is that our soda is only $0.75.  So quick recap; student soda=gross and expensive, faculty soda=tasty and cheap.

I know what you might be thinking; why don't the students just use the faculty machine?  Well, that machine is located in the teacher workroom in which no student is allowed to enter.  If they are caught in the workroom they get an automatic 5 hours of detention.  That is a pretty hefty price for $0.75 worth of soda.  The administration really wants the students to steer clear of our work space, and they want the faculty to keep an eye out for any student entering without permission.

Here is where I come in.  Wouldn't you know that my room is directly across from the faculty workroom and nobody else is even around.  I've been put in charge of making sure there are no sneaky students trying to get discounted beverages.  I personally find it a little ridiculous that our students have to pay more for worse drinks.  I consider myself an equal opportunity person, I feel as if we teachers can enjoy a nice Coca-Cola than why can't the students?

So, I started an underground business!!!  Seeing how my room is directly across from the soda machine and no other teachers are around, I have conjured up some customers that would like to only pay $0.75 for delicious beverages.  So, what I do is I have them come to me before or after class and slip me a dollar, and in a sneaky voice they whisper what soda they want.  I usually look around to make sure there aren't any faculty members around and I proceed to purchase the soda for them.  But, as simple economics would state the middle man (me) should be able to get something in return right?  So I make a reasonable trade, since I am putting my back on the line and buying soda for the students for $0.75 I simply just keep their quarter as a profit for my business.  Needless to say I have saved enough for some free sodas of my own.

I like to consider myself the Steve Jobs of the education world, I saw a market and I took it.  Sure, my main job is as an English teacher, but these kids have now learned a very important business lesson from me as well. I like to think I am preparing these young minds for the real world.

The job of a teacher never ends; a few extra dollars never hurt.