This is the third year I will be homeschooling so
I have done quite a bit of research on how to do this without breaking my budget. I heard someone on the radio state that you will probably spend about $500 per child to homeschool your child. It really does not have to be this way. I have done some research and talked to a lot
of people and have found some ways to cut these cost significantly. Here is what I will be doing. me and if I like it I will post it.
BORROW FROM FRIENDS
If you have some homeschooling friends in your church or circle of
friends, many times they will gladly let you borrow their materials if they are not using it
in the current year. I have an online friend who is letting me borrow Saxon Math for my
older child and a friend at church is letting me borrow a math book for my younger child.
All I had to do was order the workbook.
USE THE LIBRARY
I'm planning on using the library for much of my history stuff and
also reading material. If your library does not have the materials that you need they
can always obtain what you need using the interlibrary loan system. In some libraries
there is no charge and in other libraries they may charge a nominal fee to cover mailing fees.
HOMESCHOOLING ASSOCIATIONS
Some homeschooling associations will set up a curriculum swap at
the beginning of the year where everyone will bring their no longer needed curriculum
to the swap to sell or trade with other homeschooling families. You can also get a
good idea of what you need by talking with other familes. This way you don't waste
your money on materials that are of no use to your child. If you join a homeschooling association, you can often get discounts on activities in the community.
PURCHASE FROM SECOND HAND SOURCES
I have been able to obtain over half of my materials from used sources
such as the internet bulletin boards. I have listed some of the most popular. I have found
Vegsource to be my favorite.
Vegsource - A very busy message board. You can post your wants and needs. My favorite of all the
message boards.
Used Homeschool Curriculum - message board to post sales and wants
You can also find some good second hand books at library sales and yard sales.
SAVE ALL MATERIALS FOR THE YOUNGER CHILDREN
I plan on re-using all my materials for my child that is two years
younger than my oldest. I even plan on re-using the workbooks. We all know that
it is against copywrite law to photocopy the workbooks but I have a little tip where
you can recycle these books. Besides, at a cost of 10 cents to photocopy each page
it would not save any money to photocopy anyway. I found out about this tip from the
Tightwad Gazette. First you need to have some plastic page portectors. Cut
your workbooks apart at the spine and then put the workbook together in a three-ring
binder. You slip a workbook page into one of the plastic page protectors and use
the dry erase markers which can easily be wiped off.
USE THE INTERNET
Today's homeschooling families has access to lots of free resources
that was not available 15 years ago. There are literally hundreds of sites that lists
free plans, lessons, and activities for homeschooling. Check out some of these on
my homeschooling page.
FREE ONLINE HOMESCHOOL TOOLS
