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As you’re planning your homeschool year, and especially this year with the cost of everything going up, you will want to keep your budget in mind. Homeschooling doesn’t have to be expensive! It certainly can be, but homeschooling can work even on the tightest budget.
Here are some things to think about when planning your homeschool budget:
Start with a number
Along with your spouse, give your homeschool budget a number, or at least a general idea of how much you’d want to spend. You can budget by semester or the whole year or you can assign an amount you want to spend per child.
If you have a general place to start, you can eliminate a curriculum that is way out of budget. The budget isn’t there to hold you back from giving your kids a good quality education.
Leave some wiggle room
If you spend your entire budget upfront, you won’t have anything left if midway through the year the curriculum you’ve chosen turns out to be a bust. Or if your child has a need that you didn’t expect. Or if an opportunity comes up that you really want to take advantage of this year.
Unless you are very sure (or your curriculum is inexpensive), I’d encourage you NOT to buy an entire year’s worth of curriculum at the beginning of the year. It’s a terrible feeling to waste money on a curriculum that doesn’t work for your family. This is especially true if you are new to homeschooling or trying out a new curriculum!
Prioritize your homeschool must-haves
What are the things you need to spend money on this year? A co-op, a sport, a math curriculum? If there are things you know that you need to use/do this year, plan for those FIRST.
If you’re on a tight budget, make sure that these must-haves…. are actually must-haves. If your math curriculum is going to cost $100, but you could get the same results with a $20 workbook, take time to consider how much you need that expensive curriculum.
It can be easy to get swept up in the idea that a more expensive curriculum, more sports or activities, or more money spent on your homeschool can make your child’s education better. But that isn’t always true! If your child needs a specific curriculum and you have the money – please do it! But most of the time, spending more money won’t get you better results.
Choose your main subjects
Not all subjects will require a paid curriculum. Some can easily be covered with some library books or a YouTube video. Which topics on your plan for the year must use a curriculum and which can be taught without one?
Family style or individual
What can you teach to all of your kids together, and what needs to be taught individually? It’s much less expensive to buy one curriculum that you can use with all your kids than one for each kid. This may not work for all subjects, but check out the video on how we do our literature based unit studies if you want to try family style learning.
Borrow or buy used
What can you find used or borrow from someone? There are many places where you can buy used curriculum (Facebook marketplace, eBay, homeschool swaps, etc). You can borrow books from the library or purchase them used. You might have a friend who can lend you part or all of the curriculum you need this year.
Avoid “Bright and Shiny Object Syndrome”
There will always be a new curriculum option, so don’t let yourself be distracted by the many choices! Some of the new options that you come across will be great for your kids. But others will just be a drain on your budget. You will find a new printable bundle, a new sale, or a new curriculum every month. The wiggle room you allowed will let you pick up something you do want when it goes on sale. But if you plan your budget accordingly, you will know what you should or shouldn’t purchase this year.
Quick tip:
If you’ve met your budget (or don’t really have one this year), try selling old curriculum (or old toys, clothes, or other things you aren’t using) to pay for this year’s books. You can also visit THIS POST for more tips on homeschooling on a budget (or even free).
