6 Easy Tips for Homeschooling on a Budget
If you are wanting to homeschool and yet struggle with the thought of it because of the costs, here are some of my best tips for homeschooling on a tight budget.
You Don’t Need “All the Things”
One of the problems with all the blogs and IG accounts by homeschool moms is that it can make us feel like we need more than we really do in order to have a successful homeschool.
All those beautiful spaces with “all the things” certainly look nice, but we don’t really need that. You and your children can have many happy memories of homeschooling, and learn a whole lot, just by using what you have.
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I have often thought of this here in Costa Rica where we live. Shipping can make anything extra expensive. And our home just doesn’t have room for a bunch of extras. With tight finances often added to the mix, I don’t feel like I have a lot to show off school wise.
Every time I start thinking that I need more, I try to remind myself that we really don’t. We learn with what we have. I try to model excitement in learning with my children. We learn so very much without all the extras.
You can too!
Get Used Supplies
Our country has very few homeschoolers yet, and even less that study in English. Getting used books doesn’t happen that easily. But we are so blessed that one family who is finishing up their homeschooling journey is giving us a lot of the teacher’s manuals and supplies that they are done with. In a lot of things we use that same curriculum. This has cut down so much on our school costs.
Maybe you have access to more used curriculum options like yard sales and such. Check out if there is something you could use. It’s usually so much better priced than new books. Of course, you have to check that it is a version you can actually use.
Maybe you could also find some older homeschool families who would be happy to pass on supplies they are done using, for free or very reasonably priced.
Use Reusable Curriculum
Many books are for using once and done, but depending the subject you could use textbooks and write in notebooks.
For some subjects like Science from The Good & Beautiful, we just have to get the books once and then we have them for the rest of our years. It makes it an investment the first time around, but then it’s free the rest of the years.
Use Free Homeschool Curriculum and Online Resources
While I do like certain curriculums, and try to get what I know works, I have also found that there are free curriculums.
Most of these are online and so they might not be down your line. I like the basic subjects like Math, Reading, and Language Arts especially to be in actual book form. But I have found free online curriculums for some other subjects that I find really helpful.
The website Easy Peasy Homeschool has complete free curriculum for all grade level. While a lot of it is not my style, you could check out the courses and find something that works for you.
Another website that has good, free curriculum is Under The Home. This one just goes till 5th grade, but it is very complete. We are using it for art and music appreciation. In the future we might use more subjects from there.
Depending what you are looking for, there are many more free resources and learning options like Khan Academy (which I don’t have much experience with) that could be a great way for you to get started.
One other subject that we have found a free course for is piano lessons by Hoffman Academy. We love the lessons! You can upgrade to the paid plan for extra bonuses. I hope to do that eventually, but for now we all are learning a lot for free. If you are interested in more music lessons, you can read more about our music curriculum choices.
Don’t forget your local library! It can be a great place to start learning.
Make Any Curriculum Work for You
Sometimes I am surprised when I see these people who change curriculum several times a year because “it didn’t work.” I wonder how they can afford it because that can take a lot of money.
Sure there are times when we need to change curriculum, but especially if you are working within a tight budget it may not be an option.
Try sticking with what you have and adding or taking away as needed. When I am using something that doesn’t have enough practice, I add my own. When there is too much review for my child, I cross out what they don’t need to do.
Curriculum is a guide, not a master. Make it suit your family’s needs. Next school year make the changes as needed.
Use What You Have
Who says we need special sensory bins, or those certain wooden shapes? You can do so much with what you have at home.
When you see some beautiful educational toy that you wish you could buy, think about if you really need it. Many things around your home could serve the same purpose at no extra cost.
A lot of things are best learned from real-life experience anyway.
Another area I see people spending too much on is school supplies. We tend to buy a lot of extra art supplies, pencils etc., when we really don’t need it. Try using up all you have before you buy more, and don’t buy those pretty pens on impulse!
Save it for Later.
In Conclusion
Sometimes it boils down to whether we are content with what we have or not. But we can homeschool and learn and grow even on a tight budget. It certainly doesn’t need to cost as much as sending our children to a private school.
There are reasons not to homeschool, but don’t let limited resources be the reason. You can get by on a tight homeschool budget!
What are your favorite resources or tips for homeschooling on a budget? Share them in a comment below!
