Seven Ways to Homeschool on a Shoestring

Homeschool can get expensive.  Just like anything else, there are many options out there and the variety has a dollar sign attached to it.  The first thing you’ll need to do is shake the idea that learning has to involve a text book – oftentimes it doesn't have to.  For Preschool and Kindergarten, we've managed to keep things pretty cost efficient while not sacrificing our goals for our boys and the curriculum they learn from.

Here's seven ways you can homeschool on a shoestring...

1.     Go to the Original World Wide Web...the Library

In the day of the Internet, it’s easy to take this beautiful building for granted.  With all that you can do online, there’s still nothing that beats an actual book…for free.  Not only can you borrow books, but educational DVDs as well.  Take advantage of the library’s children programs and schedule them into your teaching week.  At our local library, weekly story time provides teaching of days of the week and weather, song and movement time and two stories with discussion.  After the story time, there is hands-on art or sensory time.  It’s a good opportunity to meet other kids and a huge bang for your buck considering it’s FREE!

2. Write it Yourself

It's not as hard as you think, especially for the early years.  Think of it more as systematic planning.  Pick something you want them to learn, say the continents then find a book (preferably at the library) and break it up into bite sized pieces.  Check out my Kindergarten Geography for a simple introduction to continents.  With Pinterest, there are so many ways to do things like this yourself without spending much money at all.

3.  Talk to your friends who homeschool kids a year or two ahead of yours...and be flexible

Some of the books I've used may not have been my top choice if I had a catalog to go through, but a science book for $4 can be pretty convincing.  I am blessed enough to be in line behind a couple different homeschoolers who have the habit of halving a book's price when they resell it.  This has been immensely helpful not only financially, but I have access to their opinion on the curriculum and even their lesson plan for the book.  

An offshoot of this is to get involved with a homeschool group.  Often times they’ll have used book sales online or in person.  We have not yet entered the land of cover schools and co-ops but I’m sure they will provide many curriculum benefits among other valuable things.

4.  Consider the Dry Erase Marker and Page Protector

For the twins’ Math this year, we used a page protector and a dry erase marker so they could share the book.  We also do a lot of partner work where they will work on the page together, one building the problem, the other writing, or vice versa.

The upside to this is you save money.  The downside is there’s no record of their work.  This may not be practical to continue, it but it's saved us money this year.

5. Look Around

Chances are, your kids own some books.  How about a unit study?  Or a Literature series on Bernstein Bears and one of their many books?  Most of our Literature has been from books we already have. Click here to see what on the Rinnagade Reading List.  We just read a story a night but you can easily plan an activity to go with the book the following day.

Or what about a study on plants…in your garden?  Sure you can pull in a book or website to enhance the study, but the hands on experience will likely leave the biggest impression on the kiddos.

6. Get Online

Our Phonics curriculum has been almost entirely online.  Starfall is an amazing site and although we've done some things with sight words and a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom tree, the boys have learned most of what they know about letters from this site.

Here's my other favorites:

The Bigsby Show

My Place with Jesus
PBS Kids
National Geographic for Kids

You Tube will help you find any song or video you can think of

Follow my "Homeschool Curriculum" Pinterest board to check out all the goodies I find online.

There are many homeschool blogs out there (besides mine ;)) so find one you love and follow it!  Many bloggers write and sell – or make available for free - their own curriculum.  

7. In the End...Know What to Spend Money On

You’ll have to spend some money so choose wisely.  Math  and Handwriting have been the only curricula we've been "married" to the past two years.  When you find something that works, stick with it; resisting trying every curriculum out there will save you a ton of money, too.  Don’t feel pressured to choose a “curriculum in a box” unless that will make your life much easier and you love everything about the kit.  Most of these choices are very expensive and you may be disappointed with one or more of the subjects.  For our family, the Eclectic approach to homeschooling has been the most rewarding (by giving us the most freedom) not to mention easiest on our checkbook because of flexibility.

If you are considering homeschooling but concerned about the cost, don’t let that be the deciding factor.  While there is cost involved, it is not a set in stone price and you can find many options for what works for your family.