Homeschooling on a Small Budget

Times are tough for many and paying for expensive homeschool curriculum can sometimes be very daunting for a homeschooling mom. Just today I was talking to someone on the phone who called for advice of where to get curriculum  that would to fit a tight budget . Here are a couple of thoughts:

1. Ebay--For years I would find my usually expensive curriculum way cheaper at Ebay. Teachers guides/textbooks and answer keys are also a wonderful find here!

2. Craigslist--Check out their book, garage sale, and free section.

3. Amazon--Amazon has great items at often rock bottom prices that you can find used. Click here for homeschool curriculum  and school supplies.

4. Garage Sales--Several times I have found other homeschooling families who have had sales in my area who were getting rid of some of their books. I was able to purchase whole boxes of items--what a steal! Be sure to go when teachers are having sales too, you can find all kinds of great teaching supplies.

5.  Homeschool Support Group--Moms in your support group are great for selling off their unneeded books. If you have a homeschool support group you could also do a book swap and/or ask a mom to let your borrow some books for a  year.

6. Online Groups--I am part of a Facebook Homeschool trading and selling group and there is so much available at such low prices!

7. Homeschool Used Curriculum Book Sales--Find out when these are in your area and save the date. Come prepared with list in hand of what you need and be ready to make a killing.

8. Homeschool Conferences--There are booths set up at these conferences that sell used curriculum and they also usually have a table for moms to sell their used curriculum. Be sure to check it all out and compare. Sometimes they will even have FREE boxes.

9. Library--Of course it is a great place to check out all kinds of items you need from books, audio and video--but also don't forget to find out when their used book sales are on. We have purchased loads of books and readers this way, all no more than a quarter each and sometimes less than that. At my library we have access to several other local libraries in the area and can request items from all of them.

10. Design Your Own--With the availability of the internet today, many ambitious moms are taking on the task of designing their own curriculum with low or no cost. Here is a book that I recommend which talks a bit about that: Homeschooling on a Shoe String.

11. Free Websites--There are free websites like Ambleside Online one that help you teach your children through the years.

12. Thrift Stores-I have heard of mothers finding workbooks, classics, art supplies and all kinds of other things here. One mother had found a math workbook for just 20 cents for her fifth grader!

13. Sell Your Books--List your unneeded homeschool items on websites to make back some extra money to buy new books/supplies for the following year. I would also hold a garage sale in the summer for this very purpose.

14. Think Outside the Box--Don't feel pressured to just use what you see in the glossy homeschool catalogs. Be creative--there is always more than one way to skin a cat! Are there books already available in your home to teach a subject? Are there printables online you could use to teach a concept? I have heard of one mom who fell on hard times and used her older childrens old workbooks for her younger children by typing the lesson for the day on her computer and printing them out as new. Smart!

15. Bonus Tip--if you are a blogger you might want to consider approaching a company and exchange advertising for free curriculum or ask to do a review of an item you are interested in. (If you want to learn how to advertise on your blog, click here, I am having a sale!)

And might I also add that the most important thing that you should also do before anything here on the list is to PRAY!  

I assure you that God has answered
many a homeschooling mothers prayers and needs.

A helpful book I highly recommend would be:

Homeschooling on a Shoestring

This book has lots of great ideas and you can get a used copy for as low as a penny!

What other ideas would you add?

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