How To Stretch Your Speech Budget

I’m writing this post based off a compilation of my own experience in a few different states and a few different districts. I realize some districts do have budgets for speech materials and that is awesome! The districts I’ve been in have been able to provide the testing materials that were necessary to qualify students for speech/language therapy. But a budget for therapy materials? I’ve found that it rarely exists. Now I usually have had the basics (articulation cards, workbooks, etc), but that’s generally not enough to hit all the goal areas you have to with a varying caseload.

So what do you do when you need to get creative and stretch your budget. When I say budget, I mean I spend my own money on my materials. I do this for a couple of reasons. If I leave my position, I take it with me. Purchasing it myself allows me some more freedom. Every year, I go through my stuff and sell things that I didn’t use as much to recoup some funds to purchase other items.

This is picture of my current “speech stash.” I could have A LOT more, but I’ve become much more careful with what I buy and am better about letting go of things I really didn’t use as much as I thought I would. It’s still a lot though! The bottom bin is chock full of TPT stuff!

Here is how I stretch my speech budget:

1. Goodwill or Thrift Stores – I’m lucky to have a pretty great one nearby that always as a lot of games and books. It is hit or miss, but the games tend to be quite cheap and sometimes aren’t even opened!

2. TpT: This one is a no brainer! You can easily search for the skill you need and find tons of creative speech therapy materials that are cost effective, even if you only have one or two students working on that skill. My store has a wide variety of informal assessments, language, articulation, and other activities! There are now TONS of SLPs selling their materials, and each seller has a unique approach to activities.

3. eBay: You can search “speech therapy” and find a bunch of used, but in good condition, games and other materials. Super Duper even has a store that you can find some good deals on their products.

4. Phone A Friend: If you have friends that are moms, see if they want to get rid of toys/games that their kids have outgrown. They will probably love if you take them off their hands!

5. Speaking of Speech Swap Meet: People can post new or gently used materials on this site. I’ve used this several times in the past. You have to work out the details of the sale, but it can often save you a bit of money.

 Hope this gave you some ideas of how to stretch your budget. Before I buy something, I like to make sure that I can use something with multiple students. What works for you? Where do you find your speech materials?