6 Tips For Saving Money While Homeschooling

Saving money while homeschooling is usually a top priority since we are responsible for the education bill (and we love the freedom that comes with it!). I have several tips and a FREE homeschool budget printable that can help!

Certain curriculum sets will take your breath away at the price they set per grade level, per year. You do not have to buy the expensive box sets!

As your children get older there are costs that will inevitably creep up as your children near college age; however, I believe for the majority of the homeschooling years there are ways to plan and trim that homeschooling budget that will greatly alleviate the stress during times of financial struggle.

1.) Research Curriculum

Please research your curriculum to make sure that it is in line with what you believe first and foremost. Secondly, by researching reviews you can make sure that you are getting the most bang for your buck. A quality curriculum that delivers exactly what your children need.

I love to check out Cathy Duffy’s website and read all of her thorough reviews on different curriculum per subject and grade level. I also will just google for reviews, or look them up on Pinterest. You would be amazed by how many bloggers (like me!) love to share their experiences with their homeschool curriculum choices.

2.) Create & Adapt to your Budget

This is the beauty, design, and rule of homeschooling – you must be flexible in nearly every aspect. Whether it is saving money on your curriculum, extracurricular activities, or even cutting other expenses elsewhere in the home to cover the costs of homeschooling, it is important to write a budget out and stick to it. Read the following for more ideas on how to make your budget work for you!

3.) Prioritize & Cut Extra-Curricular Activities

Not everyone is comfortable with cutting extracurricular activities, and I get that. It is a personal choice. However, there so many functions where the kids are able to “socialize” through church and such that I wouldn’t be overly worried about that aspect.

Music lessons definitely have a place in the homeschool schedule, but if you are financially unstable they are technically not “necessary”. See if you can find a family friend or church member who will teach for a smaller fee or even for trade (Do you bake, knit, sew? Get creative!)

Sports can get really expensive very fast. Look into an alternative sport that is less expensive or see if there are any community or church teams your child can join for free.

Sometimes you just have to pick your poison. What are you comfortable with cutting for the year, and what aren’t you? Prioritize according to your family’s desires and stick to it.

There is no need to feel guilty if your budget just can’t handle it. It is a good way to teach your children financial stewardship and living within your means. That is an important life lesson as well.

4.) Search Online for Free and Almost Free Educational Resources

There is SO much free curriculum online at every turn, especially for younger ages. From copywork and notebooking, to unit studies, and all-out full curriculum freebies that come out from time to time when a publisher or author is doing a promotion. Sign up for websites like Homeschool Giveaways and Free Homeschool Deals for the latest and greatest of all things FREE homeschooling.

5.) Use Your Library

Visit the local library. There are great educational resources there to create your own unit studies. It may take some decent work and time on your part to structure it but you could easily do a full school year just from library books, especially for younger ages.

Your library may allow digital rentals for ebooks. Worth checking out if you do not want to deal with borrowing physical books.

Buying physical books is usually really expensive. That is why many people are switching to digital curriculum or books. Digital (or printable PDFs) curriculum is easier to store and you can reprint it easily when your children need more practice on their worksheets.

6.) Think & Buy Creatively

The most important thing I have learned about making something work for your budget is that you have to learn to think and buy creatively. If you accept that you can make it really fun for the most part.

The joy of homeschooling is that you are not tied to the desks and noses glued to the workbooks mindset. Homeschooling gives you the freedom to teach in a way that works for you and your students. To cover material in a more creative way. If this means library books only for a year then so be it. It may not always look pretty or perfect, but the homeschooling journey is anything but ordinary.