How do you make homeschooling work financially for your family? Do you have to suppliment your spouse's income in any way?
We are very careful with our money, only buying what we need and when we buy a want it's something we've saved for. Also most of our curriculum is either bought used or paid for by gift cards. Also we don't take family vacations in order to conserve our money for other purchases and instead we visit local attractions. We use our tax refund each year for curriculum (the big stuff) and for the bulk of our clothing/shoes and other yearly purchases, which are also mostly used. I shop sales, collect gift cards from My Points, and Swag Bucks and my family gives us cash or gift cards for the children in lieu of gifts at Christmas. It works for us, though we've had a few rough years lately I'm thinking this year is looking up with hubby's new job!
My husband runs a business and I do some work for him. I also try to save money wherever possible and buy only what's necessary. Here's some info I gathered for a friend of mine who was considering homeschooling that includes some cheap/free options. ######################################### Before you buy anything for homeschooling, check http://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/ first to see if you can get a discount! ###################################### Here are some links for children that like learning visually: ....................................................................................... http://www.time4learning.com/ - Full English and Math curriculum online with printable worksheets and projects for grades Pre-K through 8th. Full Science and Social Studies curriculum for most grades (I think all except 7th and 8th). The English and Math curriculum are mostly animated and interactive. Some of the Science and Social Studies are animated for the lower grades I think. The older grades are mostly like an online textbook. http://www.brainpop.com/ - Great learning videos with quizzes, activities, and printable worksheets that go along with each lesson. You can preview some free videos here: http://www.brainpop.com/free_stuff/ http://www.cosmeo.com/ - Lots of great educational videos. When we did Time4Learning, I would often assign the girls complimentary Cosmeo videos. http://www.teachwithmovies.org/indexes-main.htm - Great site for ideas on movies to rent from Netflix. The movies are ordered by category for free, or you can pay $12/year to get lesson plans to go with each movie. ###################################### Lapbooks, and Hands On Learning: ....................................................................................... Lapbooks are a great alternative to tests, especially for younger children. Here's a link that explains lapbooking: http://www.squidoo.com/lapbooking You can purchase lapbook lesson plans here: http://www.currclick.com/ CurrClick also sells Unit Study lesson plans. Unit Study lesson plans are where you will take one topic your child is interested in and spend a whole week or month on just that topic. The lesson plans will usually tie in all major subjects related to that topic (English, math, science, social studies, etc.). ###################################### Free or Cheap Curriculum: ....................................................................................... Math ------ http://pgcounty.scottforesman.com/ - free, online math textbooks http://www.bigbrainz.com/ - free game that actually makes it fun to learn your times tables Social Studies ----------------- http://www.sfsocialstudies.com/index2.html - free, online social studies textbooks Science --------- http://www.sfscience.com/index.htm - free, online science textbooks English -------- http://www.sfreading.com/resources/ghb.html - free, online grammar and writing textbooks http://www.starfall.com/ - free reading curriculum & games http://www.spellingcity.com/ - spelling lists, games and activities Multiple Subjects -------------------- http://oldfashionededucation.com/- a ton of free links http://gapeachhomeschool.yolasite.com/ - more free links http://www.enchantedlearning.com/school/- free http://edhelper.com/ - some free, or $20/year for full access http://kids.aol.com/KOL/2/HomeworkHelp/Article/textbooks - more links to free, online textbooks http://www.watchknow.org/ - free videos organized by subject http://www.neok12.com/ - more free videos organized by subject ###################################### Other Great Curriculum: ....................................................................................... http://www.aleks.com/ - Online math curriculum that progresses at the child's rate. They learn until they master each topic. It's a neat system. http://www.mathusee.com/ - Video math curriculum that includes manipulatives for kids that learn visually and/or kinesthetically http://www.stanleyschmidt.com/FredGauss/index2.html http://www.pandiapress.com/ - Science & History Curriculum http://www.noeoscience.com/ - Science Curriculum http://www.amazon.com/Usborne-Inter...rld-History/dp/0794503322/ref=tmm_pap_title_0 - History encyclopedia that contains lots of pictures and each page links to websites with complementary activities http://www.amazon.com/Usborne-Inter...clopedia-Science/dp/0794502733/ref=pd_sim_b_3 - Science encyclopedia that contains lots of pictures and each page links to websites with complementary activities http://www.hwtears.com/ - Handwriting Without Tears ###################################### Workboxes: ....................................................................................... Many homeschoolers stay organized by putting their children's schoolwork in separate boxes the night before. Then they let their children do the work in the order they want. It's cuts down on the resistance to do certain subjects, because the children have a little control over what they are doing. Here's the official website - http://www.workboxsystem.com/ Here are some examples of how people are actually using the system: http://www.spelloutloud.com/2009/07/workbox-system-set-up-from-cassie.html http://heartofwisdom.com/blog/inside-our-workboxes-photo-journal/ http://homeschoolblogger.com/leslienelsen/662628/ http://journeyingwithjoy.blogspot.com/2009/05/workboxes-organizational-tool-for.html - manila envelopes instead of boxes http://www.squidoo.com/workboxes
Ok, as usual I am on late with no time. So, this is a tag so that I get this in my email and can really read it later. Thanks for all the links. This is what I love about the Spot. So much help.
We live simply to help make it work. Also, I do work part-time from home. It pays for schooling costs and a few other bills.
By being careful about what you spend. When I quit my job, our income was cut literally in half. But we're doing just fine. I don't spend a lot, and am careful about what I DO spend. My family also believes in tithing, and that God will bless those that give to Him first.
I'm with the rest.. we are careful with our money. I know so many talk about field trips and such.. we simply can't afford them. If I want an expensive item for school.. be it a piece of curriculum or a "toy" like a microscope I wait till income tax to buy it. We use lots of free things, and buy boat loads of books at yardsales and thrift shops. Many use the library a lot, we don't, our library isn't so great, so one place I budget a lot is on books.. but buying them at yardsales and things I get them dirt cheap.
I think it comes down to living within one's means. We don't have the latest luxuries or toys or cars or electronics or anything else like that. But we have more than enough. It's all about making a one-income lifestyle a priority. We don't live in a glam neighborhood, but are home is more than adequate. Sure, we could 'move up' in the world, to a nicer home or what-not, but then I'd have to work. That's just not where our priorities rest right now. We sometimes have to humble ourselves and downsize, too. We've had to get rid of services that we really wanted in order to stay within our means. For instance, DH works a minimum of 54 hours a week. He usually works a lot more than that (he's the store manager, so he's got to cover if someone calls in). He was really struggling with keeping up with our enormous yard, especially since his mower is really lousy. So I bought him lawncare for his birthday. He wanted to keep the service, and we did for nearly two months. Then the reality set in that it was just not something we could/should be spending money on.
We do garage sales a lot for everything we want. And we thrift store shop for most of the kids clothes except shoes, socks, underwear and winter gear. We try to do free homeschooling for curriculum. Except I find printer ink is expensive. I still have to check ebay for that. Check out our blog for free educational resources. I put all the links down the side so you can find them easily. There are soooo many free things on the net. And learning to do with less newer items for our home. Realizing that consumerism isn't going to make me a happier person when I am old but knowing that I raised my kids to be happy and healthy will. Knowing that I spend a lot of time caring for them enriches me as a human being and a mother. It's also a good lesson for our kids to realize that money isn't free flowing and that this is a choice we have made for our family and why is also important. For them to learn how to recycle and be less consumer driven will stand them in good stead I think. We are shifting in our society towards higher and higher prices for consumer goods. So it makes sense to be more thoughtful in where the money goes. Do we supplement. Yes we do. My DH works for a friend when money is tight at his sawmill. This is usually anywhere from eight to fifteen hours extra a week. And when he is laid off from his main job we really scramble. But so far God has provided with what we need.
We have been a 1 income family for 16 years now. No side money, we are lucky, my dh is paid very well and they gave him a company car so we don't have to pay for his gasoline and such. We: Cook from scratch , we eat low carb and hardly use any processed foods (so I rarely use coupons, but when I do I couple them with sales ad's). We eat out maybe 3 times a month and that is using a coupon/discount card too. I'm part of a food co-op so all my veggies and fruits cost me $16.50 a week. Books and homeschool stuff are purchased at thirft store or library sales. I hardly ever buy new but if I do I buy it at Borders or Barnes and Noble use a coupon, couple that with my teachers card and I go in on Teacher Appreciation days so that $12.95 book only costs me $5 after all the discounts. I borrow from the library a lot ( I have a great library system) and I print off lesson plans and worksheets everyday. Ink is cheap for me because my friend lets me use her discount card at Office Max but I used to get the (and still do) $5.00 refill coupons from Walgreen's. Paper is cheap for me cause I buy it at Sam's Club, last me forever. Outside classes for my dd's are cheap or free. Piano is $10 a week for a 45 min class (we play for the books but get a discount through the teacher if we use a certain store and we average 3 sessions a month). Pipe orchestra and drama are free through the library ( we have been doing that for over 4 years now) and they give a free public performance at the the end of the 12 week session. We go to the Michael's craft free events (jewelry, scrapbooking, cake decorating) and Lowe's and Home Depots free wood crafts each month. We go to free days at museums, parks and well anywhere that there is a free day. We attend homeschool days at the skating rink ($5 gets you skates, pizza and a drink) and the local bounce place (wall to wall trampolines) at $6 each kid for 3 hour blocks. They also attend church activities of Tuesday nights and often go on trips with them ( they pay for them with their babysitting money or sometimes the activities are free). I buy clothes at thrift stores or discount racks only. Same with shoes, we get them toward the end of the seasons or if they are to be bought new we use gift cards that we got on our birthdays , Christmas or my dd's use their own money to buy something they really "want" but they go to the clearance rack or use a store coupon to buy it. We pay cash for everything , including dh's college courses. Our vacations are paid in cash and usually involve National Parks (to keep cost low) and we go off season (when school is in). I keep an eye on the bills and try to maintain them. My water bill got higher so we have timed showers now ( and less filling up the plastic pool for the dog), gas was high last year so my heater stays at a lower temp, electric is high so my cooler is set to 82-84 degress ( with it being 113+ out here thats pretty good), dish was high so I went paperless billing and asked for the new customer rate and got $25 slashed from my bill each month. You just have to be careful with your bills and "extras" spending. I spend around $500-$700 a year on homeschooling and that includes supplies, field trips and books. We hardly ever go to the movies (we have Netflix), we don't go on fancy vacations ( our last trip to Yellowstone was for 9 days which cost us $900 that included our cabin), I use coupons for everything ( movies, field trips, food, clothes, books) and just really try to maintain the bills and look at ways to cut costs ( call ins. companies for rate changes and phone/sat. dish to see what deals I can get)...I also borrow or barter when I need to.
You know it really depends on where you are in life. At one point the ONLY thing we could do to make it work was for me to take a night job four days a week (Fr.-Mon). We did that for about a year. While we paid off hospital bills during DH's job loss. Since then it is definitely sacrifices.We had a whole thread on feeding your family for less. Curriculum is usually overpriced stuff that you can get off the internet for free but if you have a way to make a decent amount of money then perhaps it is worth it for you and you could use a portion of that money for prepackaged food or curriculum. It just depends on how much you can make per hour and what things you are willing to sacrifice.
Homeschool for almost free, using the internet (someone gave a ton of info there) and library, with a few books bought used (mostly atlases etc). Go on free field trips: recycling center, bakery, local farms, police department, fire station, we found a free zoo, look for days/times when museums are free, check out local universities.. they usually have a few free museums, local parks and lakes, state parks are usually cheap or free, camping, become a Facebook fan of places you want to go that cost money and wait for a deal (we just got a deal where one adualt and up to four children can get into the aquirium for only 3 dollars more than the regular price for one). Buy groceries with coupons, cloth diaper, keep the house at 80 in the summer and 65 in the winter, rarely eat out (when we do we usually use gift cards), ask for gift cards instead of presents, cut our own hair, do all of our own home repairs and maintenance, never pay for others to do a "service" (hair cut, paint, repair, oil change, yard care, etc), buy everything used, trade with others for babysitting and lessons, started my own free co-op, no cable tv, no home phone, only a Straight Talk cell phone from wal-mart (really cheap), we get most of our paper from my husbands work (one side is printed on and we just use the other side), grow our own fruits and veggies, shop at the cheapest grocery stores (here ALDI has amazing prices), buy our chicken directly from the Tyson plant,
We're moving back into my parent's house in order to pay for the things we NEED. Plus, my parents can help with teaching the kids, and I help them by taking care of my autistic brother. We're helping each other out in this dark financial time that, IMO, is only going to get 100% worse.
DAVE RAMSEY!!!! Really check him out. We are debt free, we have our own business and will hopefully have our house paid off in DEC! (God willing it is all his doing anyways) I second what everybody else has said. We just do with out. We don't do the field trips and outside activities unless they are free or really cheap. I feel like it is my "job" as a SAHM and HS Mom to make the budget work. So I scrim and save where ever I can. We have worked really hard to pay off all debt, and build our business debt free. That way it takes very little for us to make it each month. We have dial up internet ( which is horrible) basic phone, my in laws pay for us to have a cell phone (because we wouldn't get one) as our Christmas present each year. I us the clothes line instead of the dryer ( $100 a month saved) We don't run the A/C unless the temps are 100+ outside. Pretty much we have very limited "stuff" and do just fine. When we get the house paid off we will get faster internet as a treat. We also have a paid for junky car that has 250k miles on it, we paid 1500 for it and have put almost 100k miles on it. I agree with Meg. We are in manufacturing and are seeing a steep decline in the number of orders. It is almost scary how quickly they are stopping. I think the election in Nov will have a major effect on how it progresses from here. We are stocking up and preparing for a long time without work, and rising inflation.
Well, we've been homeschooling now for almost 9 years and the entire time I've been a single mom, so you just have to prioritize. I work from home most of the time now, and my kids are older so one is out of the house and the other one works independently most of the time. But you just find a way. What I don't do is skimp on curriculum. I buy what works for us and will sacrifice in other areas first...which reminds me, I just got a box from Home Science Tools so I'm going to go open it! :lol:
Holy crap... you got a box from HST and were on here instead of playing in that box???? What is wrong with you woman??? :lol:
