One of the most common questions I hear from those interested in homeschooling is “How much does homeschooling cost?” The answer is always the same, how much do you want it to cost?
One of the most common questions I hear from those interested in homeschooling is “How much does homeschooling cost?” The answer is always the same, “How much do you want it to cost?”
Homeschooling is a choice. You are choosing to educate your children at home. The reasons why you made that choice will vary, but the bottom line is when you homeschool, the ball is in YOUR court. You get to decide how much homeschooling is going to cost you.
Depending on what curriculum you choose homeschooling can cost a little or a lot. Many families use free resources for the bulk of their homeschooling, others buy boxed curriculum sets, or piece their curriculum together. Homeschooling costs for teens tend to be more expensive than homeschooling elementary school students.
Resources You May Need to Homeschool
There are a variety of resources you may need to homeschool. Notice I say *may*. This is because every family will have different needs, interests, and income available to purchase resources.
- Curriculum
- Map
- School supplies like glue, pencils, crayons, folders, paper, etc
- Globe
- Protractor
- Magnifying Glass
- Microscope
- Computers
- School Space Organization Resources
- Books
Expenses You Will No Longer Have Once You Homeschool
One thing to keep in mind when you begin homeschooling is that you will no longer have these expenses:
- Back to School Clothes
- School Fundraisers
- Transportation
- School Lunches
People tend to forget about the fact that public school isn’t always “free”. Keeping up with Joneses, buying school fundraisers, hauling kids back and forth to school, and paying $3-5 a day for a school lunch isn’t exactly free. Homeschooling will lower or eliminate most of these costs.
Additional Ways to Save Money While Homeschooling
There are also other ways to save money in regards to homeschooling. Here are a few ways that I have found.
- Buy Used
- Teach Children Together
- Save Curriculum for Other Children
- Borrow From Friends
- Utilize Free and Affordable Materials
Thanks to these things I have never spent more than $400 buying curriculum for all three of my children. I expect this cost may go up as my children get older.
The bottom line is that when you homeschool YOU have control over how much homeschooling will cost you. Your child can have a quality education no matter how much or how little you spend. Homeschooling gives you freedom! And perhaps, instead of asking how much homeschooling will cost, we should ask ourselves what our children will gain from homeschooling.
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Is Public School Cheaper Than Homeschooling?
Author Bio: Misty Bailey and her husband have been married for over a decade and have three beautiful children. She shares her struggles with time management, becoming unglued, homeschooling and finding joy in the everyday moments on her blog Joy in the Journey.
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